The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-10-21

time for action to study the problem as
it has taken in the Sandwich Islands,
or even in Alaska, the president 5
power would still be equal to the
emergency and the policy while hex-
ible could still be made as continuous
coherent and practical as his best IN
formation and ability would permit
What planted US in the Philippines was
the use of our power in the most eff
clent naval and military defense then
available for our own institutions
where they already exist against the
attack of Spain. Since the response
biIity entaiIed by the result of these
acts in our defense does involve some
extension of our institutions, shall we
therefore run away from 1t. If a guar
antee to chaotic tribes of the civil
rights secured by the American con-
stitution does prove to be an incident
Spr1ng1nS from the discharge OF the
duty that has rested upon US from the
moment we drove Spain out, is that
a result so Objectionable as to warrant
US in abandoning our duty? There is it
is true one other alternative-the one
which Aguinaldo himself is said to have
suggested and which has certainly been
put forth in his behalf with the utmost
simplicity and sincerity by a cOnspic-
uous statesman at Chicago. We might
at once solicit peace from AguinaldO-
We might then encourage him to ex-
tend his rule over the whole country,
Catholic, Pagan and Mohammedan, will
ing and unwilling alike and promise
him whatever aid might be necessary
for that task Meantime we should IN
dertake TO protect him against outside
interference from any European or
Asiatic nation whose interests on that
oceanic highway and in those CONNER
cial capitals might be imperiled.
THE constitution we revere was or
datned to promote the general welfare
and he is untrue to its purpose who
squanders opportunities. Never before
have they been shOwered upon US in
such beWildering profusion. The two
richest archipelagOes in the world are
practically at our disposal The great
est ocean on the globe has been put
into our hands, the ocean that is to
bear the commerce of the Twentieth
century. In the face of this prospect
shall we prefer with the teeming pOpu-
IatiOn that century is to bring US to
remain in a ''hibernating nation. living
off its own fat-a hermit nation?"
Mr.. Davis was right when he said
that not to enter the open door in Asia
means the perpetual isolation of this
continent
What then is the conclusion of the
whole matter? Hold fast. Stand firm
you, and do the duty Of just RESPONSE
biltty, which your own past acts inn
poses. Support the army you sent
there Stop wasting valuable strength
by showing how things might be diff
ferent, if something different had been
done a year and a half ago. Use the
educated thought of the country for
shaping best its course now, instead Of
chiefly finding fault with its history
Bring the best hope of the future. the
colleges and the generations they are
training to exert the greatest influence
and accomplish the most good by work
ing intelligently in line with the patri-
otfc aspirations and the inevitable ten
denotes of the American people rather
than against them. Unite the effort of
all men of good will to make the ap-
pOintment of any person to these new
and strange duties and beyond seas
impossible Of recall save for cause Rally
colleges and the churches and all the
influence, the brain and the conscience
of the country in a combined and fr-
resistfble demand for genuine, trained
and pure civil service in our new pos
sessions, that shall put to shame our
detractOrs. and show to the world the
Americans of this generation equal still
TO the work of civilization and colon
ization, and leading the DEVELOPMENT
of the coming century as bravely as
their fathers led it in the last