The evening times., 1899-04-11
suAns1oN OF TIE NATION.
/ Promsnent ssuthern Baptist Minis
ter Discusses the situation.

ter Discusses the Sttu9et0m.
Richmond, Va. April 1.-THE '.Relig-
ious Herald'' Of this city. Baptist paper
Of much influence In that denomination.
publishes an article concerning expansion
ing in Dallas. Texas. and widely known as
one of the most influential ministers Of the
Baptist denomination in the South. The
article reads as follows;
"our Government has had consistent
policy of expansion almost from the very
beginning. That pert Of our territory In
cluded in the original thirteen States low
makes but a fractional part of our vast
domain. Every step in the acquisition OF
territory has been met by stubborn oppo-
sition by the prophets Of evil; but We have
continued to expand. Josiah Quincy said
Of the Louisiana purchase that the whole
dream of 1t was so foreign to the purposes
OF the Constitution that the bill to acquire
the territory, IL passed, would dissolve the
Union. The fathers, he affirmed. did not
fight to extend the blessings Of free gov
ernment to the world. and the reckless
people in the West. Webster looked with
profound forebodings on the acquisition OF
Texas, and Senators looked with horror
upon the idea that Oregon would ever De
an American State. But the Louisiana ter
ritory was acquired, the Gadsden purchase
was ratified, Texas was admitted into the
Union. and we expanded to California.
when it took three months any way we
could 90, to reach the new territory from
our Eastern possessions The spirit c1
nation is stronger always than the theories
even of the greatest men.
"a few months ago. this Government, In
an altruistic spirit. undertook to settle
difficulty between Spain and one OF her
colonies. There was plenty to say. from
the standpoint Of international law, against
the proposed interference OF these states.
Just as u man who numerically abuses his
family may still claim the right to the
control Of his own home and his AFFAIRS.
Albeit. his humane neighbors WOULD, IN
time. march him of to jail. and settle all
the questions OF interference later In the
prosecution OF the war with spain. forto
Rico and the Philippines ISLANDS ieii unce.
the control Of America in an untcou8nt-ot
way. We found ourselves possessed Oh
them when the time came to settle up with
Spain. The Peace Treaty recently Iatined
transfers the sovereignty of these ISLANDS
from Spain to the United States. We are
nledeed by open declaration to allow Cuba
10 decide her own fate for herself. Al
presept we have military occupaiion- we
are proceeding rapidly TO AmerlcahiIe .he
,.,an6-cleausing her cities. introducing
the American system Of postal service.
teIseraphs. and telephones, preparing them
to decide on their future Ihere wiz ue'
nm doubt. an election held, IN which 'ne
Cubans themselves VIII determine "ne.n
er they will annex to the united o'A's1 ,,.. y.
heeome an independent government WIN
the American soldiers on the ground noh-
inc the election, Republicans representing
,hs nos, neopIe of the North. and Demo
Gratis representing the best people OF .he
South there Is every reason 10 ihihA '""'
an election will go right :. ,
..The nresent state of the case Is. we
,.ra exnanded. There will be. OF course,
, large amount OF barking on coid tran
but we have expanded The oniy REMAIN
ing question is. Snail we SHRINK Sni IN
age is contrary 10 the American sp..''
san in this great American tree runs glow
;nr and il may be regarded as certain tnat
We will not shrink. The result OF the late
war will be that America Will controi Nu-
ba Porto Rico. and the Philippine Isles.
..Sunnose We look at things from the
| s,andnoint of expansion already accom-
nIished One OF the early results Will oe
the building Of the Nicaragua Canai. i"eie
will be an urgency for it hitherto not eA-
istine. There will be less Inclination W
,r;ae with the robust American sentiment
ard With that wisdom that belongs to the
masses which has already virtually decreea
tho canal With that canal constructed
.nd with our possessions in the East giving
MS n footing and a hearing in that remote.
quarter of the Orient. America VIII pecohie
=, No distant day the first maritime power
in the world. The acquisition Oh remu'e
California and our large interests N ,ae
pacitic immensely promoted railroad ouiiu
inc The acquisition of louisiana I'M
l raI
| grea. interior rivers. The acquisition OIL
,he philippines will expand the PUBIC
mind enlarge American commerce. anu
make US a great maritime power.
II, was Lord Macaulay who said that tne
| Eastarn trade had enriched every nation
| that ever touched it. Our enterpr'sins
| people are certain to go after H. anu ,hes
| will be sure to get it. Of course thls
means an increase in our navy and army
| but a proper understanding OIL 'ne 'i'u''o''
will make this a mere trine.
| ..The importance in the far East of the
ea1 Of the great American Republic, at
| This iuncture in the affairs OF tne Wotiu'
| cannot be overestimated. The dissotu'io,'
or subordination of China Is near al manu-;
This involves the destiny OF almost third
of the human race Russia, ioiio"ins
| national instinct, had built mere thah o.
600 miles of railroad reaching down INTO
4
the railroad Her policy in China IS what
10 known as the closed-door policy. and
| the final assimilation of the people TO Mus
/ covite ideas OF civilization and reiigion.
| The English already strong IN the East
| odyocate the open door. or free trade
and religious liberty. and hold policy in
! general which will finally assimilate thai
| innumerable throng OF human Deines to
| the Saxon ideas Of civilization and reii-
gion Such is the grouping OF forces that
without America in the East, 1t is nex'
IN certain that within a generation the
! Anglo-S Saxon must yield TO the Museovite
i with America acting in line of her own
| interests and in concert with England, II Is
| certain that Japan will join the two, ana
| the destiny of China turns toward the
| Cross and the civilization that comes IRON
| the preaching Of the purc gospel Tnat
! God has placed us in the East to work Out
| the destiny of America. and to heip prine
all that vast region under the DOMINION Oh
| the Cross. seems certain.
| Eve may look nearer home. The law
of life for a nation is the same as for an
| individual SelfshnesS cramps and hurts
/ and in the end destroys. Altruism is the
| only wisdom for q government or nation
| IL we pursue our destiny as people in this
new expansion as in the past. we Will
| greatly enrich the national life. enlarge
! the footing of our people. rejuvenate all
| OF our greatest virtues. and win blessings
for posterity.
sIf we look to our own section, it mus
!! be plain that domestic results. great and
gracious. must follow expansion. The
Nicaragua Canal and the Chicago Canal
now far advarced toward completion. con-
Meeting the Ikes of the North with the
Mississippi, insure mighty changes in the
| ,,n,,arco of this continent The prod