The Saint Paul globe., 1900-06-10
FOR THE Nancy IN TT

When the Christian civilizers CT the
Mark Hanna administration first brought
forth the theory that the. .imperialist mis-
sion in the Philippines was heaven-in-
spired there was so much fun indulged at
their expense all over the country that
the idea was dropped wholly out of
sight as speedily as possible There has
been nothing since said on the subject
OF the divine motive underlying the
operations Of the syndicates. 1t is some
circumstances that the heavenly design
Of the money-grubbers and SPECTATORS
has been revived and that certain politi-
cal parsons have recently been exploiting
this view of the situation. For instance
in the last issue of Grants Magazine,
writer who is styled the Rev s. M. John
son tells the world that Expansion Is
the inevitable outcome of the Gospel"
The way in which the Reverend John,
son reaches his conclusions IS rather
characteristic of the weak minded cleric
who conceiyes himself to have an in
spiration and accordingly proceeds to In
termingle his Scriptural and poetic fig
ures until he makes it plain that he un-
derstands as little about the spirit Of true
poetry as he does of the genesis of true
religion. Here is a specimen of the lit
erary rubbish which is piled up in the
advancement of this Cheap-John style Of
public advocacy:
"Our nation today has It's offer of
Providence. That God is ambitious for
America, who can doubt that has traW-
ersed her length and breadth, and seen
her mighty rivers and chain of lakes.
and 1mmeaSurable resources, her schools
and Temples of Justice, and Churches, her
men and her women, and all the riches
of her civilization. Here is uplfft UpItft
means outpush, the outpush Of a Divine
Hand. That outpush should cause out
the sending Of the best we have When
! God led Dewey safely through the gates
OF Mania Bay, and sent Cervera's S fleet
to the bottom Of the sea. He showed
confidence III the Stars and Stripes Shall
we. through love Of a cherished and holy
past, through fear of change through
lack of courage. faith and vision, fail to
! follow where He leads?"
There is, Of course, but little in this
sort of rhodomontade to justify its re-
production. As an argument it is fatal
ity. AS a statement of motive for a
| given public policy it is a shocking mis-
carriage-almost imbecfle in its array of
considerations designed to affect the pub
! lie thought But it is useful in showing
how class in every community animated
| by the most patriotic and exalted pur-
poses may be either played upon or de
| ceived. There are thousands of excellent
men and women of the highest inteIli-
| gence in ordinary matters, of good social
! and political motives. who Will yield to
| the influence of sentiment of this descrip-
ton, and will join their advocacy to that
| of those who use this sort of method
either because they know no other on be-
cause they understand how effective 1t is
in moving the minds and emotions of this
excellent class of people
There is a large common sense, which
some people mistake for Indifference.
some for ignorance and some for sheer
stupidity. which enables the people in the
mass to comprehend readily the worth.
lessness of a given line Of argument 1t
is in this instructive possession that we
find the universal acceptance of a good
story or an apt figure of speech by the
masses as conclusive. They are never
| deceived by the attempt to lug sacred
considerations into the consideration of