The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1899-03-02

herring 10 the right under all clrcum-
stances. Whether man steals much
or little depends much on his oppor-
tunities, but whether he steals at all
depends upon his own volition.
So with our Nation. If we en-
bark upon career of conquest, no
one can tell how many islands we
may be able to seize or how many
races we may be able to subjugate:
neither can any one estimate the
cost, immediate or remote, to the
Nations purse or to the Nations
character, but whether we shall enter
upon such career is a question
which the people have right to de-
eide for themselves.
WHAT is NATIONS PURPOSE
Unexpected events may retard or
advance the Nations growth, but the
Nations purpose determines its des
tiny. What is the Nations purpose?
That purpose is set forth clearly and
Enthusiastically in the first sentence of
the Constitution:
eve, the people Of the United
States, in order to form more per-
feet union, establish justice, insure
domestic tranquility, provide for the
common defense, promote the gener-
al welfare, and secure the blessings
of liberty to ourselves and our pos
terity, do oidain and establish this
Constitution for the United States of
America. "
1t will be seen that one of the main
purposes of the founders of our gov
ernment was to secure for themselves
and posterity the blessings of liberty
That purpose has been faithfully fol-
lowed up to this time. Our states
men have opposed each other on
economic questions; but they have
agreed in defending self government
as the controlling national idea. They
have quarreled among themselves
over tariff and finance, but they have
been united in their opposition to an
entangling alliance with any Euro
pean nation.
WHAT HAS BEEN ACcoMPLIsu HE'D
Under this policy our Nation has
grown in numbers and in strength
Under this policy it's beneficient in
fluence has encircled the globe
Under this policy the taxpayers have
been spared the burden and the men.
ace of large military establishment
and the young men have been taugh
the arts of peace rather than the sci
ence of war, On each returning
Fourth of July our people have me
to celebrate the signi g of the Dec
laration of Independence their hearts
have renewed their vows to free in
stitutions aad their voices have praised
the forefathcrs whose wisdom an,
: courage and patriotism made it p IS
sible for each succeeding generation
to repeat the words: "My country
: It's of thee, sweet land of liberty
: of thee | sing
This sentiment was nearly univcr
sal until a year ago. 1t was to thi
sentiment that the Cuban insurgent
appealed; it was this sentiment tha
impelled our people to enter the wa
with Spain. Have the people s
changed within few short month
that they are now willing to apollo
gize for the war of the revolutio
and force upon the Fllipinos the sam
. system of government against whic
y the colonies protested with fir
:, and sword2
| THE TEMPTER is HERE.
. The hour of temptation has come
but temptations do not destroy, the
+ merely test the strength of indivic
s uals and nations; they are stumblin
! blocks or stepping stones; they lea
it to infamy or fame, according to til
8 use made of them Benedict Arnol
) and Ethan Allen served together
e the Continental army and both wei
offered British gold Arnold yielde
9 to the temptation and made his nam
n synonym for treason; Allen It
e sisted and lives in the affections c
It his countrymen Our Nation
d tempted to depart from its 'standar
l. of morality and adopt a policy {
V criminal aggression. But, will
yield?
10 1T | mistake not the sentiment {
1T the American people, they will spm
d the bribe of imperialism, and, by II
81 sisting temptation, win such vlct'
i ry as has not been won since the ba
h tie of Yorktown. Let it be write
J. of the United States: Behold a r.
sa public that took up arms to aid
k neighboring people, struggling to
a free, republic that in the progrei
al of the war, helped distant rae,
Al whose wrongs we're not in contempl
ton when hostilities began; a r
public that, when peace was restored
turned deaf ear to the clamorol
5. voice of greed, and to those borI
j, down by the weight of a foreis
a yoke spoke the welcome words, stal
II, lup, be free.
al bet this be the record made {
er history's page and the silent examp
III of this Benublic. true to is primo