Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1899-01-07
AMERICAS DESTINY.
Henry Clews' New
Year Sermon on
Expansion.
The Old World Amazed at
This Nations Wealth
and Power.
Review of the Past Year and
Forecast of the Great
Strides of 80.


Henry Clews, in his New Year let
ter reviewing the events of 1898 and
predicting the prosperity that is to
come in go. says in part:
tThe closing year has been a re-
markable one in many respects. Ar
unexpected war has been fought and
won within its limits. About TO-
600. 1000 additional population have
come under our control; thousands of
square miles of the most fertile terri
tory in the world have been added to
our domain; civilization has taken
momentous step forward, and the
United States, conscious of its matur-
ity and strength, has suddenly taken
forem most position in the family of
nations, involving changes of policy
and vast possibilities concerning the
future which can only be dimly FORE
seen. Whether we will or not, events
are forcing upon us policy of expan
sion, which, in spite of dangers,
means an era of great opportunities
for American enterprise. A revolu-
ton has taken place within a few
short months; the curtain has been
drawn, and our people are rapidly
beginning to realize that their field is
the world, and that in future we must
adopt more liberal ideas and work on
larger plan.
Next year we will strike the high
est notch of prosperity that this coun-
try, or any other, has ever reached.
Good times will embrace the entire
nation; all industries will enjoy great
activity, and in consequence labor will
be in full demand at good wages. The
people of this country will be content
ed, happy and loyal beyond precedent,
The glorious results of the American
Spanish war are going to be more far
reaching than the most brilliant
dreamers OF Americas destiny have
ever pictured. The worlds commerce
will be revolutionized. The acquisi-
ton OF the Philippines makes our
Pacific coast of immensely greater
Importance and value to us than ever
before. We are placed in possession
OF a front door entrance to the vast
commerce of all Asia. From ocean to
ocean run our great railroads, and
under this new Impetus these great
arteries of trade will infuse life into
the remotest corners of the land. The
construction of the Nicaragua Canal
in our interests must soon be under
taken. Their completion will make
the Caribbean Sea the commercial
rendezvous of the world.
The enormous benefits to accrue to
US may be only imagined. Porto
Rico, our new outpost. and Cuba will
share in the great distribution. We
are now fast approaching a 100, ooo,-
900 population, which will certainly
come within the next ten wears.
Rejecting men now begin to realize
that fact, and that then we cannot fail
to surpass all other countries in wealth
and international importance. Hither-
to they have not dreamed of what the
United States is to the rest of the
world, and now that their eyes are
open to the inevitable expansion OF
our commerce and power, a great hope
is inspiring the public consciousness.
This new inspiration must henceforth
be great impulsive force behind the
industry and wealth of the country,
and its effect can hardly fall anything
short OF great bound in national
enterprise.
The great financial and commercial
developments which have been
manifest in the United States for the
last decade, are now assuming larger
proportions than our forefathers ever
dreamed of. The theory OF expansion
which our victories over Spain have
forced upon us will develop the
wealth and prestige of this country in
way that will make the nations of
the earth regard our progress with
amazement and profound respect.
Already they are predicting future