The times., 1899-04-29
but weird, splendid and thrilling history.
What will be the outcome. and who will
be the great American poet? Time alone
can tell.
Our Eastern Len.en.

Our Eastern Leaven.
There are provincials and traitors in this
| country. Thank heaven, there are not
many, even in the New England States.
William p. Frye is from that section, but
he is loyal American and sturdy pa
triot. Being so, he is an expansionist with
convictions and the courage of them. At
dinner in New York on Wednesday even
ing, given in his honor by leading citizens
of New York, Senator Frye scattered fire.
brands in the camp of the anti-expansion-
ists He referred to the struggle for life
which the conditions of our time are i'm
posing upon the nsrican people, and call
ed attention to the industrial war in which
we are engaged with the teeming popula-
tions of Europe. Taking our competition
with Germany as an illustration, he said:
The commercial war upon which the world has
entered Will become fereer and fercer. Germany
VIII he our most dangerous rival. Her wages
PAID are not one-half ours. Shall we reduce ours
TO the plane of hers? That might breed dis
content that might endanger the Republic
would certainly reduce the purchasing power OF
our people and still more increase the surplus.
Shall We run our mills one-thrd One-half
timeY That would reduce our purchasing power
and largely increase the cost of our product.
Continuing Senator Frye made one Of
the most lucid arguments in favor of the
nearly universal policy of expansion that
1t has ever been our pleasure TO read.
Treating of the Nicaragua Canal, our CO.
lonial possessions, and particularly our
control of the Philippines, Senator Frye
spoke as follows:
Consider for moment another and in my
opinion, most important aid to our foreign
commerce. Where is the most promising field
for II in the future? Surely, in the Orient
Humboldt, more than fifty years ago, declared
that the commerce OF the Pacific would in time
exceed that OF the Atlantic; and what intell-
gent man today doubts the realization in the near
iurtre OF what then seemed dream? Do not
England, France, Germany, Russia, and Italy
by their conduct recognize that the prophecy is
to be fnlflledT How shall We secure our share
Of this commerce?
Our Government should construct the Nicaragua
Canal, some other lsthmian water route, at
the earliest possible time. making il neutral to
the world. except TO nation at war with u.s.
This would bring us days sail nearer Shang-
hal than Liverpool will be; on an average
thousand miles all the northern ports of
China, where look for an export trade
and shall hereafter: eighteen hundred miles
Yokohama. two thousand miles nearer
Korea, thousand miles nearer Melbourne. eight
cen hundred miles nearer Sydney and thirty Eight
hundred miles nearer New Zealand; from three to
five thousand miles nearer to all the western
coast OF South America; it would bring us from
one thousand 10 five thousand miles nearer peo-
pie whose imports last year amounted to 81 l20,-
600. 600.
am silent 10 the magnificent advantage
such route promises to our domestic trade
bringing this city 10000 miles nearer by water
TO San Francisco, the Columbia River and Puget
Sound, shortening the time by steam from forty
to twenty days; by sail, from one hundred and
twenty TO sixty-fve and reducing freight rates
at least onethird, for my discussion this evening
is confined to export trade and its extension.
While all the nations OF Europe are our COM
mercial foes; while Just they fear US more
than ever before, and China witnesses, are
lining up to stop our advance, We have abundant
cause for courage and hope. The unexpected has
happened increasing our confidence in the future
teifold. Humanity and a decent selfrespect
forced US to declaration OF against Spain.
The conflict was Short sharp, and decisive. A
Treaty was signed has been ratified and pro-
claimed. Under its terms Cuba is commercially
ours, for while we refuse to accept sovereignty
there, and intend TO yield all claims to author
ity whenever stable government is formed, that
government will owe its life to us, and its peo-
pie cannot fail to remember their freedom from
oppression. Gratitude and contguity will surely
give us the trade. Porto Rico is ours and its
trade will be-
But promising than the requirement Of
many such islands is the acquisition by us, un-
der the terms of the same Treaty, Of the Phil
ippine Archipelago, undoubtedly the most fer
tile and productive unexplored land under the
sun. For 800 years under Spanish dominion
more oppressive and cruel than known elsewhere
in the world; treated as a mere sponge to be
squeezed by the hand Of the oppressor; burdened
by taxation most ingenious and intolerable
without railways or highways; without any labor
saving machinery; third of lis product rotting
on the ground for want OF transportation to the
sea; its revenues plundered by Spanish officials;
vet, in 1897, with rebellion rife, according to
he
were 81, ,352, 0D0 the imports sl7 343. .000 the bal
ance in favor s23,9J9000.
But the value 10 us of the domestic trade Of
these possessions is insignificant compared to that
regarded from commercial strategic point of
view. They front the entire China Sea; are only
two days sail from HongkOng; they introduce us
TO the Orient, with its eight hundred
millions of people, with imports now exceeding
$, 500 100000 annually, which advancing civil.
zstion Will double in few years.
They give US, for the first time, tremendous
moral force, most potent voice for the preser-
vation Of the open door in China. Who can es-
innate the value in the future OF such COM
manding position to foreign commerce2
Are we 10 fold our hands and allow this harvest
TO be gathered by our rivals? We have trea-
ties with China, guaranteeing to us commercial
rights and privileges equal to those Of the most
favored nations Are we 10 sit silently by and
see treaty rights invaded, the doors closed
against usY The nations OF the earth are today
near neiglbors. They all heard the thunder OF
btNSs EbllSs anu ittuSiliSeu luis hfpubbc IoI
the first time as one Of the great powers of
the world. Are we, alone of these all, to ig-
more the stupendous facti
No, indeed, We are not TO be the only
people whose ears are open 10 the sound
or meaning of Dewey's guns. Americans
will be developing the mines, forests pearl
fisheries, and soil of the Philippines ages
after the provincial traitors OF the present
day are dead, buried, and forgotten.
Too much honor cannot be done to Col
Frederic Funston, the Kansas hero who
has had so much to do with the crushing
Of the rebellion in the Philippines He
will undoubtedly receive the thanks of
Congress when Congress meets. In the
mean time the President can do no less
than offer him a brigadier generalship.
New developments in the Dreyfus case
may be expected il the Court of Cessation
does not speedily settle the aggravating
affair. It is said the German Government
has informed the French Foreign Office
that II the matter is not soon terminated,
Germany will feel compelled to publish the
whole truth, which is believed to be rather
an alarming prospect for certain persons
high in French army circles.