The record-union., 1899-05-17

grown small. When was a boy it
was very big thing
II we'll remember the sad parting
which took place in my own town when
| one of its families left there to lind
new home in the Genesee country, in
| New York State. Twas a long journey
and those who said good-by never ex-
pected to meet again. To-day that
family could have started out in the
morning, got their luncheon at the place
| they moved to.and returned to Con-
necticut the same night Benjamin
Franklin once said, as + reconect, that
he fully expected to see the time come
when the mails would be carried be-
tween Washington and Boston in ten
days, with ! considerable regularity.
What change the close of the nine
teenth century has brought US! We can
read in to-night's paper the events
which have taken place all over the
civilized world this same day. We ring
a bell in San Francisco and talk with
our friend a thousand miles away with
the same readiness and ease as if he
simply stood behind a curtain.
LAS / said before, the young man of
to-day has a field of action before him
that is simply bewildering. In San
Francisco we stand opposite the open
door of the Orient, with all the varied
possibilities of trade and commerce inn
piled therein The telegraph has put
the nations of Asia and ourselves into
the position of neighbors, and we want
to reap some advantages from that
close connection, for We are nearer to
China than Western Europe is, with
no expensive canal tolls to pay I do
not see why We should be any more
afraid of the Chinaman than the people
of other countries are, and they will
welcome him as a factor in their de-
velopment. 1t seems to me that we can
afford to give to all fair chance and
trust to the survival of the fttest-not
4 through the sword, but by the test of
industry, energy, economy and ma
terial practical progress in the things
that make nations great and men in
vincible.
The outcome in the Philippines, so
far as the control of them by the
United States is concerned is concerned,
is not doubtful. When we have once
established peace there, the next ques-
ton will be how to maintain it. The
/ FilipinoS have shown us that they do
llOL ldCh independence Oh SDlT1I, COu1
age determination and perseverance,
These are qualities which make good
citizenship in a republic; although there
are others which are necessary in con-
junction with them. These others can
be cultivated, and, if the present gen
Grafton should not prove susceptible to
such education, the next one may be.
1t will become our duty as citizens of
a nd AL.
give to the Filipinos a fair representa-
ton with respect to the establishment
of government on those islands, and
in the meantime, having ourselves OBJ
tanned, through the exigency of cir
cumstances arising out of our war with
Spain, foothold in the Orient, the
American Republic must have a voice
among the great nations which are as
it were settling the future of China.
believe we can, if we will, prevent
the disintegration of that magnificent
old empire, whose history runs back
into a past so dim and misty that no
man knows the record of it's years.
believe it to be in the interest of the
world that the unity of that empire
should be maintained; and I believe
further that her preservation and safe
ty will depend upon her commercial
renovation; in short, if she locks her
doors against foreign trade they will
be broken down and the land will be
overrun by hordes of greedy and am
bilious peoples; but if she swings them
wide open to the whole world guar
anteeing equal rights to all who may
wish to enter her marts of trade. she
will be quickened with new life and
fulfill better destiny than seems to
confront her at the close of the nine
teenth century. In a new political
policy Of such a character China would
OR she should-find in the United
states willing and powerful ally. I
think we are in the East to stay, and
If we are our attitude before the ma
lions should be that of an equal COM
petitor with them in fair race for
the legitimate prizes of commerce. We
want no share in the partition of China.
but we do want the other nations to
keep their hands off and let China
stand. We do want China to give to
us and to all the commercial privi-
leges which obtain in successful ma
lions, and we ought to give to her in
return what is her due under the
golden rule.
I have talked longer than, I wanted
to. but the subject is always fas-
cinating to me because I have been a
student of life and labor and not OF
books, and from my standpoint of ex-
perience, which gives me a wide field
of vision, I think 1 can see the weak
as well as the strong columns of our
American army of progress, and you
and young men like you will have to
. lead them in the future"
Mr.. Huntington was followed by
other speakers, prominent among them
being William H. Mills, w F. Her
rim, William Sproule Horace Platt, J.
G.. Stubs and DR.. Gardner
NOtaries Pub1ic