Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-05
THE NATIONAL DESTINY
Independence, Union, Empire, Always the
Aims of American Ambition.
Impressive Grafton Delivered at Bos-
ton by Former Democratic Mayor
Nathan Matthews, Jr.

iiSS IVoH anu sunset DeilS were runZ, the
sound of almost every kind of noise-pro-
ducing instrument was heard from midnight
to midnight. and the usual parade band
concerts and games were held Fireworks
as usual were the closing features. The
day was fair, but extremely hot
The city's formal exercises were held at
fremont Temple at 10 am. Nathan Mat
thews. jr., ex-mayor of Boston, by invita-
ton of the city authorities delivered the
annual Fourth of July Grafton, taking for
his subject Expansion" Josiah Quincy
mayor of Boston, presided.
Mr.. Matthews was greeted with hearty
applause, and his address was frequently
interrupted by outbursts of a commendatory
character. Mr. Matthews said in part as
follows:
What shall be the policy of the United
States toward the nations of eastern Asia
particularly the Philippine Islands and
China, and toward the European powers
who assume the right to partition the lat
ter country among themselves?
II Is not question Of the Philippine ISL
ands merely. If 1t were, the answer might
be simple. The real issue is far greater,
and reaches round the world.
Shall this country play its part in the
clos1ng scene now being enacted in the
world-long struggle between the east and
west, between Turanian and Aryan. be-
tween barbarsm and civilization? Shall
we retain the Philippine Islands. govern
ana develop them as best We can in the in
tereSt OF their Inhabitants, and use Manila
bay, together with such other naval sta
tons as We may from time to time secure.
10 promote our commercial interests in
eastern ASA, and to spread the civilizing
influence OF American institutions among
the dlsorganized populations of the orient3
snail the United States of America be-
come an Asiatic power? This is the prob
rem rem Whlch confronts the nation in the clos
ing Gays OF the nineteenth century 1t is
essentially new question, now presented
Tor the first time in our political history.
ana upon its determination depends the
prosperity of our country during the next
hundred years, and the whole future of
civilization.
Many intelligent and patriotic citizens.
rearing the consequences of so great an in
noVatlon in the foreign policy of the conn
Try, laVCr the surrender of the Philippine
Islands to their inha bitants and the confina-
ment of our activities and aspirations to
me continent of North America. They pre-
Ter isolation to expansion. These views
seem to be more widely entertained in this
part of the country than elsewhere: hut I
am unwilling to believe that tney represent
Inc nIaI Judgment of the people of New
England when fully enlightened as 10 the
consequences, commercial, industrial and
pontical, of an adoption by the United
states OF that policy OF self-satisfied isoIa-
ton which has brought the great emnire of
emma TO stagration and decay
American Principles of Goverpman,
Inc principles of government enumerated
III the Declaration of Independence, which.
according to the opponents of expansion.
will be violated by ruling the Philippine Is
lands as dependencies are contained in the
statements that "all men are created free
and equal'' and that governments derive
their just powers from the consent of the
governed 1t is to be observed however.
that among the inalienabIe rights of man
which the Declaration sets I'D the right TO
poltlcal equality Is not enumerated; and if
the phrases in question, literally interpre-
ted, We're intended a statement of organ
&c poIicy, we have persstently departed from
IL IN establishing various property and edu-
cational limitations on the suffrage in de-
nylng political rights to the Indians in gov
erning the territories when first acquired
Jana some OF them stilD by federal agents
IN Withholding the right of self-government
from the inhabitants of the District of CO.
lumbia, in refusing to let the people of the
southern states set up an independent gov
eminent or their own, and in many other
particulars. We do not find either in the
Articles of Confederation in the Northwest
Ordinance or in the Constitution, any refer
ence to the inherent equality of men or to
the proper dependence of government on
the consent of the governed.
These documents and the Declaration of
Independence, read together show that DO
litical equality and self-government were
regarded as ideals merely, to be realized as
soon as the people should be capable of liy-
ing up to them; but that civil liberty not
political equality, was the immediate aim of
the fathers.
The Justification of Expansion.
History has indicated the ''imperialists'
of other days, from Jefferson to Seward; it
will justify the expansionists of the present
time. Independence, union, empire; these
have been the steadfast aims of American
ambition. The traditional policy of the
United States has been Expansion"
From the revolution to the civil war, from
Washington to Pierce, our foreign affairs,
like our territorial governments, were con-
Quoted in the interest, as it appeared under
the conditions of the day, OF the United
States of America; and not in unintelligent
adherence to the letter of political papers
written under special circumstances and for
special purposes.
The continental scale by which Wash
fngton desired to measure the honor, peace
and true interests of the country has be-
come a world scale now; and if the events
of the last few years have brought about
conditions of far greater Importance to us
than the cession of Louisiana to France
could possibly have seemed to involve
hundred years ago, can there be any doubt
that the statesmen of that day would in our
circumstances follow the precedent estab-
lished under somewhat similar circum-
stances by the Louisiana purchase, and
make the most of present opportunities?
We can either take the part in the move
ments of the twentieth century that our
position, abilities, necessities and the in
herited aspirations of the people call for or
we can stand aloof in selfish, timid, unen-
lightened isolation, and let the march of
commerce and civilization roll round the
globe without us.
The American people never yet have fail
ed on great occasions. They will not now.
They will not permit the foreign policy of
the country to be determined by consdera-
toms fish fnnr
will not shirk the duties or lose the oppor
tunities which Providence has placed before
them. They will cross the Pacific. When
there, may they act so wisely and so justly
by all the great interests committed to their
care that in after ages the chief anniver-
saries to be celebrated by the regenerated
and grateful populations of Oceanica and
China will be those of the battle of Manila
and the Fourth of July.
FATALITY AT A MEMPHIS FIRE.