The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-08-31

as protest against th. political intervention
Of Europe and tho extension Of European domin
ion in this hemisphere, still stand as q guar.
antee Of the Independence Of governments and
the freedom Of commerce,
o
In the east, the United States has sought the
preservation Of the autonomy and territorial In
tegrity Of the independent governments there eN.
isting. Especially IL this true OF China and
Japan. The latter country has al length been
einancipated. China, however, suggests an un'
certain future The United States has lately
obtulned from the powers an engagement TO Cd.
serve throughout the empire the principle OF
commercial equality its policy in the grave
crisis that has since arisen is expressed In the
circular Issued by Mr. Hay, secretary OF state
on the Sd OF July last ana is 'to seek solu'
tion which may bring about permanent safety
and peace to China, preserve Chinese territorial
and administrative entity, protect all rights
guaranteed to friendly powers by treaty and IN
ernational law, and safeguard for the world the
principle Of equal and impartial trade with all
parts of the Chinese empire"
As affecting the liberty Of in tho individual,
the United States has maintained in its later di.
potnaoy the principle Of expatriation. Since
1872, however, no treaty on the subject has been
concluded This fact may be explained not only
by an unreadinex on the parC Of various gov.
crnments TO accept q compliance with the nat
uralization laws Of the United States as a suf'
hcicnt act OF repatriation, but also by the cxi.
gcncies OF military service and the numerous
cases in which IL has been alleged that the
treaties were abused for the purpose Of evading
military duty.
The United States has contributed to the &c.
velopment of the system Of extradtion But
| Of still greater importance 10 the fact that the
United States has given weight Of its example
Ntyv
| as means OF settling disputes not only as to
the rights of individuals but also as to the rights
| Of nations II IL universally admitted that the
results OF international arbitration have been
benefcent, and this opinion is attested by the
efforts lately made to establish permanent sys-
tenn
But In all the history Of the diplomacy Of the
United States during the past hundred years,
nothing is more striking than the record Of the
national expansion. First Louisiana, then the
Floridas then Texas, next a half of Oregon, soon
afterwards California and New Mexico, and later
the Gadsden purchase, the national advance still
continued. Distant Alaska, far reaching in Its
continental and insular dimensions, was added
to the national domain; the Hawaiian Islands,
long an object Of special protection, were at
| length annexed; and Cuba, as the events OF
| century had foreshadowed, was detached from
the Spanish crown, while by the same act all
other Spanish islands in the West Indies, to-
gether with the p. lippines and Guam in the
| Pacific, were ceded TO the United States. BY a
treaty since made, Germany and Great Britain
-enounce in Ine favor OF the United States all
their rights OF possession or jurisdiction as to
Tutuila and certain other islands In Samoa.
The record o. the century lies before us. We
| survey IL perhaps with exultation, but we
| should not forget its graver meaning. With
! the growth Of power and the extension OF boun-
darics, there has come an increase of national
| responsibilities. The manner in which we shall
| discharge them will be the test Of our virtue
| Today, reviewing the achievements Of a hundred
| years, we pay our tribute to the wisdom, the
| foresight, the lofty conceptions and generous
| policies Of them men who gave to our diplomacy
its first impulse. II remains for us to carry for
ward, as our predecessors have carried farward,
the great work thus begun, that at the close of
another century the cause Of free government,
free commerce and free seas may still find in the
| United States a champion.