Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1899-05-11
Lest We Forget,
Charlotte Obse1 Yer.

and have taken a step-Which, if
not retraced-wili lead far on the
way toward destruction, 1t is the
step taken by every nation that
has reached tins zenith of power
ia the worlds hislory-the step
taken by the Ten Tribes of the
children Of Israel when they des
MED the devine right Of Reno
boam, son CT Solomon; the sep
taken when the four generals Of
Alexander divided among them
The kingdom aud corquests of
Greece; the step taken when Jul
Jus Caesars hand was reluctant
TO pushing away the crown Of
Tered by Mark Anthony; the step
taken when Spain inaugQrated
ths Irqaisitior, the step taken
0hen Napoleon dared the power
lof England. Let history keep US
mindful how dangerous is com>
plication seeking imperialism;
for the American people have
taken a step upo1 the slippery
lstairs to the throne. All history
teaches, In the incidents recited
and in many others, that a rapub-
lican form Of government can on
Iy prosper as strictly republican,
conservative ana consistent. We
nave as q people. through our
public servants abandoned con~
sistency, and are ABOUT to scoff
at conservatism. This is unpieas>
ant to believe, out it is the truth
and the proof Of it is found il
our recent history.
In conversation with Admiral
Dewey, some time after that
great commanders victory, Of
May /, 1898. q newspaper man
said, cit does seem that the hand
lof God directed and aided you,
throughout.
4 believe Isl firmly believe
it," replied the admiral, How else
Icould it have been possible for
US 10 do what We did, and with
hardly The loss Of a mani"
From every pulpit in the Uoit~
ed States and from thousands. Of
|chancels in Britain this doctrine
has been preached; and thu PEG
pie Of two countries believe it..
The same is true Of The battles,
land aud sea, of Santiago, and
Of the whole Spanish<American
war. The American victories
we're miracles which pointed out
that the God of Battles was on
the side Of the right in the war
Tor humanity's sake. Nothing in
all history can be compared to
them less than the victories Ct
he Children Of Israel ia the con-
quest Of Canaan. The purpose Of
the war was the deliverance Of
Cuba from tyranny and inhuman
oppression, and by the direct
help Of the God Of our fathers,
who sought and were given his
aid in the War Of the Revolution
that purpose was gloriously ac@
complished and with msrvelously
little loss. Then the people. thro'
their public servants, began a
war Of conquest, and is the help
Of the Almighty any longer with
our armies? Do we ever receive
from the Philippines such news
Of victory as a year ago the news
columns Of this paper were
crowded with? Instead of read
ing OF our raw troops driving
disciplined soldiers in superior
numbers Ike chaff before them.
We read in the daily news budget
Of our by army in the Pacif
islands baing daily harassed by
bands" aad # our young
nen going ;ato captivity terri
BILE to thirk Of. and. worst OF all,
tha6 q better naruy than was 1t
cannot conquer an ar=
my by far inferior to thai which
Joe Wheeler aud Shafter SO east
ly forced to surrender. We can
readily believe hat tbs Almighty
decreed cur Success against
Spain, bus not cur conquest Of a
people fighting for exactly what
our forefatne1s fought for-to
prove that taxation without re-
presentation is ".yranny' and
that government should be des
rived from the ''consent of the
governed".
The fimsy arguments that We
are 5going to 'Chri5tianiz9" a
people who do not believe In the
Christianity Of nation that has
no state religion, and that we are
going to "civilize" them by prac-
ticing barDarity in destroying
~ " r1