Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-07-05
TIE NATION LOOKS TO THE YOUNG
MANDY JAMES CREELMAN


The young men of the United States will
decide the approaching struggle for con-
troi OF the Nationa! Government. and 1t
is interesting to observe the attitude of
the TWO great political parties toward the
youth of the nation.
opportunity fair chance to compete.
,The Republican party says. In effect. to
the young men OF the country that the
natural and inevitable development of the
trust system is narrowing opportunity ut
home. that to attempt to cramp or pre-
vent the growth OF trusts would he UNI
scientific and hopeless, but that there is
boundlesS opportunity for young men in
the Philippines and In China, and that an
American colonial system will furnish an
outlet for the energy and ambition which
seek in vain for Il field on the American
The Democratic party says to the young
men of America that there is room
enough for them on their own soil and
mercal developments tend TO lessen or
destroy opportunity 1t is the duty of the
channels of competition which human
greed Is closing.
, Or One e, is poiieiy stained with the crimes
policy.
Mr.. Hanna seems to he convinced that
United States has been fired by visions of
empire In the Far East, that they are
or independence and the provincialism of
lhe Monroe Doctrine, and that they wfll
cntnusiasticailE support policy of con-
quest and adventure. So every Republi-
can orator dwells cnchantingiy on the
glitterinS, mysterious, easily-got wealth
of Asia: lie points to the possessions al
Great Britain and other nations in the
East as an evidence of their wealth and
progress But he says nothing about the
wholesale butcheries of half-armcd Asia
tic peoples. of the burning Of cities the
laying waste Of prosperous agricultural
countries the plundcring and extortion.
the violation OF innocent women and Il
hundred other c,Snes which have attend
ed the extension of European power in
Asia.
Talk to Republican leader to-day
about the necessity for restraining the
trusts and restoring to the young men of
which their fathers had. and he will toll
yot about the great future of the Ameri-
can in China and the PhilipineS-twO over
crowded countries.
The idea of empire is and always must
be associated with tho idea of force. EN-
pire can only rest on force. and tho Re
voters TO follow Theodore Roosevelt. the
slashnE. dashing Rough Rider. the man
who believes in war for the sake of war
1t hopes to arouse in America the corrunt
and corruptins spirit of miliarism which
and made them tho unconscious enemies
of their own liberties.
There is nothing OF this in the Demo
cratic appeal to young men this year-no
CLEAN OF war. no fascinating national
cover of adventure. no colonies 10 be-
ruled and plundercd. The Democratic
party asks the young mon of America 10
have confidence in their own institutions
to shun the bloody example of European
nations and to believe that Americans are
better employed in the fields and factories
of America than in subjusating distant
colonies.
Tho question which confronts the young
man In America to-day is this: is tho
American continent exhausted and must
Americans look elsewhere for opportuni-
ties? If not. how are opportunities TO he
found at home?
Is it truo that the government has no
right to interfere with the trusts? The
government intcrferes with "A man who
drives his horse too fast In the streets
Why? II ia his own horse. The govern
charges his gun in the streets Why? 1t
Is his own gun. The government inter
fercs with a man who sets fire to his
house. Why? 1t is his own house. The
Interference of the government is justified
by the old-fashioncd idea that one mans
rights and where nnothcr's mans rights
begin. that one mans property must not
the basis OF the appeal of the Democracy
to the young men.
This is the policy of Jefferson and of
Lincoln. The highest duty which the gov
eminent owes 10 its citizens is to see that
ir-chAnces III Lie arc not lenrca sd
All must start equal in the race The
man of brains will rise and the stupid
the government. No system OF lawyers
Will put virtue or energy into n vicious or
lazy man. But the chance of each must
be the same. 1t Is the duty of the gov
crnment to preserve that equal chance. 1t
Is 4 poor mans only Inheritance in Amer
lea. And when trusts or any other forms