Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1900-06-21


and ushered into existence government
deriving its just powers from the consent
OF the governed.
THE CRISIS REACHED.
We have reached another crisis. The
ancient doctrine of imperialism, banished
from our land more than century ago,
has recrossed the Atlantic and chal.
lenged democracy to mortal combat upon
American soil.
Whether the Spanish war shall be
known in history as a war for liberty or
as war OF conqu ,st whether the princi.
pies OF self-government shall be strength
ened or abandoned; whether this nation
shall remain homogeneous republic or
become heterogeneous empire-these
questions must be answered by the Amer
lean people-when they speak, and not
until then, will destiny be revealed.
Destiny is not matter Of chance, it is
a matter Of choice; it is not thing to be
waited for, it is thing to be achieved.
No one can see the end from the begin
ming but every one can make his course
an honorable one from beginning to end,
by adhering to the right under all cir
cumstances. Whether a man steals
much or little may depend upon his op.
portunities, but whether he steals at all
depends upon his own volition.
So with our nation. If we embark
upon career Of conquest no one can tell
how many islands we may be able to
subjugate; neither can any one estimate
the cost, immediate and remote, to the
nations purse and to the nations charac-
ter, but whether We shall enter upon such
career is the question which the people
have right to decide for themselves.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE?
Unexpected events may retard or adj
vance the nations growth, but the ma
TONS purpose determines it's destiny.
What is the nations purpose?
The main purpose Of the founders Of
our government was to secure for them
selves and for posterity the blessings OF
liberty, and that purpose has been faith.
fully followed up to this time. Our states.
men have opposed each other upon eco.
nomic questions, but they have agreed
in defending self-government as the con.
trolling national idea. They have quar-
relied among themselves over tariff and
finance, but they have been united in
their opposition to an entangling alliance
with any European power.
Under this policy our nation has grown
in numbers and in strength. Under this
policy its benefcent influence has en-.
circled the globe. Under this policy the
taxpayers have been spared the burdens
and the menace of large military estab.
lishment and the young men have been
taught the arts Of peace rather than the
science Of war. On each returning
Fourth of July our people have met to
celebrate the signing Of the declaration
OF Independence their hearts have re.
newed their vows to free institutions and
their voices have praised the foreiathers
whose wisdom and courage and patriotism
made it possible for each succeeding
generation to repeat the words,
my country, it's Of thee,
Sweet land Of liberty,
OF thee I sing"
This sentiment was well.nigh universal
until year ago. 1t was to this senti-
ment that the Cuban insurgents appealed !;
it was this sentiment that impelled our
people to enter into the war with Spain.
Have the people SO changed within few
short months that they are now willing
to apologize for the War Of the Revolution
and force upon the Filipinos the same
system Of government against which the
colonists protested with fire and sword?
The hour OF temptation has come, but
temptations do not destroy, they merely
test the strength OF individuals and ma.