Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-19
DUTY AMERICA OWES
President Clark on the Question of
National Expansion.
NO SORDID POLICY WILL DO
Our Mission Must Be to UpIift the
Natives.
SPEAKS FOR c. E. SOCIETY

BOSTON, January 19.-President F. E
Clark, D. D., of the United Society of Chris
tian Endeavor, has undertaken to set be-
fore EndeavCrers certain principles to be
considered in determining the attitude of
the members of the society to imperial !
ism or national expansion. President Clark
says:
THE great questions involved are not
whether expansion will increase our ex-
ports or imports, not WHETHER it will in
volve a great standing army and a vast
navy, not whether it will increase our
national prestige and Importance. not
whether it will involve a strict or a liberal
Interpretation of the Constitution not
whether it will involve the shelving of the
Monroe doctrine, but whether or not i'm
perialism will enable America better to
perform its mission among the great ma
tons of the world as a civilizing uplifting
and christianizing force"
In enlarging upon the matter, President
Clark continues:
Room for Different ODinfOns
"On this subject there is room for de-
cided differences of opinion We should
not be led on by dazzling visions of ma
tlonal greatness, which certain imperialists
would bangle before our eyes, nor should
We be scared out of our duty by the timid
fears of some who dare not attempt great
things for God and humanity.
The events of the past eight months
nave given America a special mission to
lhe Cubans, the Porto Ricans and the
fllplnos. And now the quest ion is how
can We pest perform it? We cannot, if we
would, place ourselves back where we were
year ago. The boom of Deweys guns in
Manila and of Simpsons at Santiago will
never cease to echo: We owe peculiar
duty to at least twelve millions of people
who a year ago were not under our par
tlcular sphere of influence
can we most quickly elevate these peo-
pie and bring them into the front ranks of
me ciVllzed Christian races by annexing
them, or by converting their lands into
colonies, or can it best be done by fostering
them and protecting them for little until
they are able to go alone as free and indie
pendent states? That, it seems to me, is
the great question of the day so far as
these nations are concerned.
May Be IA Sorry Day for Us.
IF this question is not settled as God
would have 1t settled it will be a sorry dav
Tor America. If it is settled right it will
not only bring untold blessings to these
peoples of the West Indies and the South
seas but 1t will bring the dawn of a new
era to the worli, for it will show that a
strong nation can interfere with the af-
lalrs OF another nation even to the point of
war not for its own glory and aggrandize-
ment, but for the elevation and advance
ment of a weak and downtrodden people.
IF this, Americas avowed purpose
proves to be her real purpose it will be a
prouder thing than ever to be called an
American. If it should prove that we have
gone to war and are exploiting these peo-
pie simply for our own commercial advan-
tages. with little thought of their interests
or advancement, We should become, as we
deserve to become kissing and by-word
among the natio u.s."