The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-10-12
Chief Address By Rev. Dr.. T. I.
Clark.
Dwelt Entirely On Co.
lohial Problem.
Liberal Treatment For Ameri-
can Colonies Urged.

Cnlcago. Cctoher IL "A patriotic mass
meeting at the Central Music hall closed
the fall festival exercises tonight. The
hall which will seat about $500 persons
was packed and many people were turned
away.
The principal address was made by
United Society of Christian Endeavor.
His theme was "our Future Responsible
ities-A lesson for young Americans from
present day history he said;
Three islands in the Caribbean Sea
afford us today striking object lessons
| concerning three different types Of civil
ization. These islands are jamaica,
Cuba and Hayti. The first shows the
result of two centuries of English rule,
the second of four centuries OF Spanish
domination, and the third Of many years
of native self government. just now the
| study Of these three types Of civilization
Is especially instructive to the American
people. All are washed by the same blue
southern sea, and swept by the same
tropic breezes. The great differences be-
tween them are differences In the type of
civilization and in the mode Of the ad-
| ministration of government They have
been largely blessed by nature and cursed
by politics.
Jamaica, the first OF the trio men toned,
has had Its ups and downs. Its staple
industries of sugar and coffee have de-
clined In the worlds market so that no
longer Is 1t possible to rnise them to adj
vantage. Financial vioissitudes have
fallen to this island In their full proper
ton, and yet for the most part the PEG
pie are conte1ted and happy, fairly pros
porous and more than fairly well gov
| erned. A good railroad stretches from one
extremity to the other, and also across
the breadth OF the island. and magnin-
cent carriage roads are found in every
section. l hays rarely seen such roads in
any part OF the world outside of Switzer-
land and France. the people are poor
and live in small huts for the most part,
bat their wants are few and they seem
oontented and happy Their attachment
| to the queen Is undoubted, and there Is
slight evidence of any desire for a change
of government Good elementary schools
are found in all parts Of the island, the
children have chance TO read and write
ana protestant churches or chapels are
found within easy access of ALL
Another feature of life in Jamaica
which struck me most favorsbly Was the
! evidence of good courts of Justice. Sub
stantial justlos can be obtained by ALL
| black and white. In no other part of
the world have ] seen such good under.
standing between the black and whits
races as in Jamaica.
Hneu We COul6 To OuDh we seem TO nave
moved to n new continent, and yet only
hundred miles of salt water rolls be-
tween the two islands There are no
passabie roads In The interior OF the is
land. The sea is the only highway be-
tween the most of the elites. as 1t was in
the time of Columbus. The filth of the
city streets under Spanish rule must be
| smelled as well as seen to be appreciated.
| The restitution of its Inhabitants the
Ignorance of It's children, the unuttsrable
| corruption of the Spanish officials from
the highest to the lowest, can hardly be
conceived in free country. The virus of
the Spanish diseases of official dishonesty
entered into all the life of Cuba, 1t Slapped
the very foundations of the country, IL
kept the people in ignorance and where
| they resisted IL tumult and rebellion fol-
lowed 1t resulted In laying waste the
island, In destroying millions worth of
| property, and what Is far worse, In de-
basing the very manhood and womanhood
OF Cuba. The harbor of Santiago was no
| more foul than has been the political and
official life of Cuba during all these CEN
| turies under Spanish dominion. The
! morals of the people must be fumi-
gated as well as their streets The
political highways must be cieansed
| and repaved, as we'll as the car
rage roads. Cuba has been q political
| cesspool which must be- drained and dis
infected as the former Colonel of the
Rough Riders, now General Wood, is at
tending TO the sanitation.of Santiago.
Another island lin the Caribbean Sea
gives us still another lesson in the science
of government. Hayti Is practically I'M
der the same physical conditions which
prevail in Cuba and Jamaica. But here,
too, the trail of the corrupt political SER
pent Is over it all. For many years 1t has
been under native ruls with no friendly,
powerful hand of sister nation TO guard
1t from almost inevitable evils. The
wretched state of Hayti aud San Domln.
| go Is the result of political corruption and
seltishness, corruption unrestrained by
| the courtliness and chivAlry of Castilian
life, a corruption unmodifed by the high
er ideals OF contiguous European nations.
The elections are a farce. The people do
not think of voting. though 1t is their
constitutional right to do so The ballots
cast by the soldiers of President Sam are
often the only ones cast at an election,
and yet it is contrary to the constitution
of Hayti for the soldiers 60 vote at all.
Assassination is resorted TO wherever con-
venient TO get rid of q political enemy,
and there seems to be little chance OF the
uplift of Hayti under the present political
regime. These three islands OF the Carih-
bean teach their own lesson, lessons
which every American needs to CON we'll.
Jamaica shows us how comparative
| prosperity follows the exercise of substan-
tial justice. There are many things in
6ribish RUE Which no one can approve of.
Her own better Statesmen look upon some
of the history which she has made with
aversion and sorrow, but of late years 1t
| can DO said that wherever the British
| flag has been planted substantial justice
and equal rights between man and man
| have prevailed. This Is marked even
more pointedly by the histary of British
rule In India, where q small handful of
British soldiers and few magistrates
keep vast Continent with It's teeming
millions from anarchy and rebellion.
II as nation we would prosper ct home
and abroad, If We would have any place
among the nations of the world as a
oivilizinR, uplifting force, justice ana
equity must ne marx our dominiql at home