The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-20
Mr.. DEWHURST ON PHILIPPINES
An Address ON Washington Occasions
His Remarks.

At Plymouth Church last night Rev.
Frederic E.. Dewhurst, in an address on
Washington, discussed the question of eX-
pansion, in this connection holding that the
question Of the hour is not so much What
shall we do with the Philippines, but what
will they do with us?"-that is, whether ac-
curing them would create the tendency to
revert to a less ideal condition of govern
men than has been established i'll the
United States. Al the outset of his talk
Mr.. Dewhurst read from Washington's fare
we'll address, quoting his advice to avoid
all foreign entanglements, political or COM
mercial," as far as possible. Mr.. Dewhurst
thought that in considering this advice it
would be we'll to take into consideration the
conditions that then existed. Washington
saw a sparsely settled, struggling republic.
The trend Of DR.. Dewhurst's remarks was
that sometimes too much reverence is given
the work of the fathers and the literal
word of their counsel is followed rather
than the spirit.
Our Constitution" said he, great as it
is, ties us to traditions which no longer
have any real meaning. The Electoral Col
lege has no relations to the Nations present
life, and yet it is still in vogue, because we
~ III a SlillDI6I way " eject Jul
Presidents, and so it stands a sentinel over
nothing. Why should we follow the coun-
sells of the fathers-in what sense? What
means the cry so often heard in the church,
back to Christi Does this mean that the
church should go back two thousand years,
do what He did, speak what He spoke? To
go back in the true sense is to go back and
IND His spirit and act as He would act now,
not as He would have acted in Jerusalem
two thousand years ago, but in New York,
chicago or Indianapolis to-day. Back to
N4QninRfOn' mICf n1nnn mot HtoTa1 lhXralfxv
TO his counsel and words, but rather to turn
back for a deeper understanding of his mo-
tlves for an entrance into his spirit, and by
day.
1T is the destiny of nations to come to-
gether and f~raternize. The great christian
izing movement for arbitration was as much
an ENHANCEMENT with foreign powers as an
offensive or defensive alliance with Eng
lana or France would AVE been. The thing
to consider is what in Washington's coun-
sci mas meaning and bearing on the Nations
current life."
But, DIR. Dewhurst said, this was only one
SIDE OF the question, and then he quoted
o n Fisk concerning the three great meth
DDS of matchmaking. First was the Ori-
tribes were conquered, but not incorporated
with the state. Instead they were enslaved.
Then came the Roman method of nation
making, under which the conquered nations
were incorporated. The vanquished nations
to the far east Of Rome and as far west
as Spain claimed that they were not only
QCRCAiQOAALS VI INO1ICt Dul ClllLGIlS as well.
Paul said: Am 1 not a Roman citizen?
Therefore I will appeal to Caesar" Their
out of the Saxon forests came an influx Of
freedom, and the Teutonic system granted
incorporation, followed by the English
method Of not only Incorporating the van
quished nations, but giving them representa-
ton, the gift Of franchise. On these western
shores the Teutonic idea found it's most
daring expression and in America means
faith in man."
There have been times, it is true, the min
lister said, when there has not been complete
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. the Indians and the
negro slaves. The great duty of the hour
is that this type of matchmaking shall MOI
revert" said he. Have we not learned
that in matchmaking the tendency is to re-
vert to some lower type? Speaking in al
seriousness, it seems to me that the ques-
ton of the hour it not What shall we dc
with the Philippines?' but What will they
do with us?' Will our contact with them
through war lower our ideals? Here. on the
anniversary Of Washington and so soon after
the anniversary of Lincoln, let us highly
resolve that these mighty dead shall not
have died in vain, that government of the
people, by the people, for the people shall
not perish from the earth
At Plymouth Church next, Sunday night
the topic of the address will be Two Great
PopeS and Their Plans"