The evening times., 1899-02-04

ferson and his associates when they ef-
fected the purchase of the immense tract,
then almost unexpIored, known as Louis
lana. We do not know very much about
the people OF the Philippines, compared
with our knowledge of Americans, Euro
peans, and even Chinese and Japanese;
but our ignorance of their natures and
customs is not greater than was the ig-
Eorance OF our forefatheTs concerning the
great West.
There were many tribes of savage In
dams in the mountains and on the plains
cf this mysterious region; there were
Spanish settlements in the southwest and
French settlements in the northwest and
along the Mississippi; and the people of
these settlements were not unthinking
sayages, but intelligent citizens with pre-
jUdices entirely different from those Of
the people of the East. II was considered
highly improbable that any considerable
part of this territory could even be
brought under cultivation; and the golden
wealth of California was as yet unsus-
pccted. The only way to reach the Pacific
from the East was TO travel by caravan,
over a desolate and barren country, half
desert and half preciPitou5 mountain.
From a myopian point of view, nothing
could have been more foolish than TO
spend money in purchasing such a useless
and inconyenient piece of land as this 1t
was perfectly possible in the view of the
short-sghted political economists of that
day that such a purchase might involve
Us in war with foreign power, since half
is settlers were already French, with
a strong dislike Tor the Americans; ana
rebellion might easily be hatched among
them by skiliful emissaries. The task OF
Incorporating this mixed population OF
French, Spanish, aud Indian clements i4to
the body polite must have seemed rather
q severe one TO the "ants' Of that DAY.
II really seems as il. in taking ana ke- ping
the Philippines, We are as nsar to the
Declaration Of Independence and the Con-
stitution as Thomas Jefferson was.
One OF the great mistakes OF 4 conseTva-
tive party is that it continually assumes
that the great men Of the past would, if
alive to-day ana in the prime of their pow
eTs. oppose any change in The condition
Of the world in which they lived. Moss
backed fanatics have argued that they must
hold TO the literal commands OF their par
tlcuIa. reform in church or state; slow
Eittei politicians are always hunting II
the past for examples TO justify some par
tiCulaTly stupid action in the present. 1t
should be remembered, first. thar all great
men make some mistakes which should not
be copied; and, second. that if any great
rcfcrmcr in religion, society, or states
IDarsbip could he reiHcarnated today with
q thorough understanding of present con-
G.tio-s. he would be found in the front
rank Of modern rcformevs. even If It upset
every one Of his former principles. This
is inevitable. because leaders are always
live men. in touch with the thought Of their
time. They are origiaators. inventors,
igoaocla5ts. Your great leader is never
found With his nose in a book hunting
. among the sayings Of his predecessors for
something TO Justify MS oan actions. The
only country which develops that kind OF
leader 10 amy extent is China AMI
even she is beginning 10 awaken 10 the
. fact that the type is not as useful as it
might be
No; If Washington We're alive today he
would be found either in the Wos. Indies
or The Philippines, striving for the glory
Of The Union.