New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-16


history OF this continental colonization bred In his
bone and leaping In his blood? or is II some refu-
gee from foreign country he was disconnected
with. who now finds pleasure in disparaging The
capacity OF the new country he came 10, while he
has neither caught its spirit grasped the mean
ing OF It's history:
Some bewail the alleged fact that our system
gives us no fitness for managing colonies or Deepen
denotes. Has our system been found weaker then,
than other forms OF government. less adaptable TO
emergencies and with people less III TO cope with
them? Is the difficulty Inherent. IL n possible
that the emergency may show. emergencies have
shown before, that whatever task Intelligence en-
ergy and courage surmount the American peo-
pie and their Government rise to?
II Is said the conditions In our new possessions
wholly different from any have previously
encountered This is true and there is little doubt
the new circumstances will bring great modifca-
tons IN methods That is an excellent reason. among
others. for not being at the outset that
we know all about IT, but for despairing OF our
capacity 10 learn. II might be remembered that we
have encountered varieties OF conditions
already. The work In Florida was different from
that at Plymouth Rock. Louisiana and Texas
showed gain new sets OF conditions; California
others: Fuget Sound and Alaska stil others. and We
did not always have unbroken success and plain
sailing from the outset I'm any OF them.
II Is said We cannot colombo the tropics. because
our people cannot labor there Perhaps not, espe-
clally IL they refuse obey the prudent precautions
which centuries Of experience have erjoined upon
others. But what. then. are We going 10 do with
Porto Rico7 How our people going TO fee
from Arizona? And why IL life impossible 10 Amer
leans In Manila and CebU and loio, but attrac-
tive 70 the throngs Of Europeans who have ouilt
up those cities? Can mine all over the world
from South Africa to the Klondike but not In Paa-
wan? Can we grow tobacco IN Cuba but not IN
Cebu; or rice In Louisiana, but not In Luzon?
An alarm is raised that the labortng classes are
endangered by competition with cheap tropical LABOR
or It's products How? The Interpretation or the
Constitution which would permit that Is the IN
depreciation which has been repudiated In an I'M
broken line Of decisions for over three-quarters OF
century. Only one possibility Of danger to Amer
lean labor exists In our possessons-the lunacy
or worse Of the dreamers who want 10 prepare Tor
the admission OF some OF them as states IN the
American Union. TIL then we can make any Ia
we like 10 prevent the immigration OF their laborers
and any tariff we like to regulate the admission OF
their products.
II is said we are pursuing fine method for re-
storing order in proonging the war We began TOT
humanity by forcing liberty and justice on an uh-
willing people at the point OF the bayoneI ne
sneer is cheap. How else nave these piessi"e'
been generally diffused? How often In the history
OF the world has berbsrism been replaced BY civil
,zation without bloodshed? How were our own lib
erty and Justice established and diffused on TINS
continent Would the process have been less bloody
If part Of our own people had nosily taken the soe
OF the English. the Mexican or the savage anu
protested against extreme measures
Some saw a war to extend freedom In CUBA OF
elsewhere Is right and therefore duty; but the
war in the PHILIPPINES now il purely selhsh' anu
therefore all wrong The statement IL inaccurate
# is a war We are In duty bound to wage til oru'7
Is restored-but let that pass. suppose II 10 O1
merely a war In defence OF our own just rignls anu
interests Since when did such war become
| wrong? Is our National motto 70 be 'Cuixouc OIL
| the one hand; Chinese on the otner'
How much better it would have been. say others
m mind our own business. No doubt; but II we
are TO begin crying split milk in that way tlie
place to begin is where the milk was spieo-ih Inc
Congress THAI resolved upon war with spain oihoe
| that Congressional action we have been inihuihs
what II mgse our own business quite diligently
| and an essential part Of our business now Is the
| responsibility FOR our own past acts. whether IN
! Havana Manila
Some say we began the war for humanity ana
| are therefore disgraced by coming out OF IL win
| increased territory. Then a penalty must Always
| be imposed upon a victorious nation Tor presuil-
| ing to do a good act. The only nation 10 De ex-
| empt from such a penalty upon success Is TO De
the nation that was in the wrong 1t Is to have
! a premium; tor 1t is thus exempted from the pen
| atty which modern practice in the interest OF
civilization requires. the payment or an indemnify
| for the cost of unjust war Furthermore the
representatives OF the nation that does good act
are thus bound TO reject any opportunity for light
ening the national load It entails They must leave
the full burden upon their country. to be dealt with
| In due time By the individual taxpayer!
Again we have superfine discussions OF what the
United States Stands for" II does not stand we
are told for foreign conquest, or for colonies or
dependencies or other extensions OF Its power ana
influence II stands for the development OF the In
divldual man There s a germ OF great truth
| hui. - devel mi Of he lost
sight or Individual initiative is good thing. and
our institutions do develop itand is consequences!
There is a species OF lndlvdualism. too. about a
bulldog When he takes hold he holds on. II may as
well be noticed by the Directors that That Is a
characteristic much appreciated by the American
people They too hold They remember besides
a pregnant phrase Of their fathers who ordained
this Constitution" among other things, TO pro-
mote the general welfare" That Is thing Tor
which this Government stands also; and woe to
the public servant who rejects brilliant opportunl-
ties TO promote ton the Pacific Ocean as well as
the Atlantic-by commerce as well as by agriculture
/ or manufactures
II is said the Philippines are worthless-have In
fact already cost US more than the value Of their
entire trade for many years 10 come So much the
more then, are we bound to do our duty by them.
But we have also heard in turn. and from the
same quarters that every one OF our previous
acquisitions was worthless.
Again It is said our continent is than
enough for all needs; and our extensions
should stop the Pacific. What is this but pro-
posing such a policy Of self-suficient isolation as
China has been practising for thousands OF years
planning 10 develop only on the soil on which
We stand and expecting the rest Of the world
to protect our trade II We have any? Can
nation with safety set Chinese limits TO its
growth? When a tree stops growing our foresters
tell us II is ripe for the When a man stops
I'm his physical and intellectual growth he begins
TO decay When business stops growing # IS
In danger OF decline. When a nation stops grow
ing II mas passed the meridian Of Its course. and
its shadows fall eastward
Is China 10 be our model. or Great Britain?
Or batter still. ere We TO follow the instincts
Of our own people? The policy Of tsolating our
selves is a policy for the refusal Of both duties
] m