The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-08-19

nation must now be trained in that dtrec-
ton, or the republic will be destroyed
Everybody knows now that the Money
Devil was a bogy man. We do not accuse
Mr.. Bryan of insincerity. We believe s'la1
he was honest in raising the alarm but he
was mistaken, and We believe that he is
mistaken now. We do not believe tnat
any man or any party is plotting 20 over
throw the republic and set up an empire.
Hence we refuse to let the alarmist throw
us Into Mysteries
But while we are not alarmed ABOUT III
periaiism as that term is now employed
III this campaign, we 90 belc:e that tbs
r.ton must, OF very necessity, take
moe active part than ever before in the
worlds affairs, and this Will be, no mat
ter which party is successful in Novem-
Der. We are now one of the greatest ma
tons earth and our Importance Is
recognized abroad. We are expanding
in spite of ourselves, and will continue
to expand. We are not even politically
superstit:ous about our manifest des-
tiny as the term is frequently employed,
but there is a divinity which shapes our
ends, and we believe that the great Ruler
of the Universe intends that the blessings
OF liberty and progress. as they are en-
joyed by the American people, shall pc
long to the whole world. for when that
shall have been accomplished the whole
world will be Christianized.
In our war with Spain we demonstrated
to startled world that we We're first
class power, and have a standing and
a prestige as result of that war, that
we had not hitherto enjoyed. In the for
tunes of war, the Philippine Islands fell
into our hands, and, whether or not in the
providence of God we shall not say, but
it is nevertheless a fact that the outbreak
in China did not occur until We had taken
possession of the Philippines and assem-
bled at Manila ships and troops that gave
us a commanding position in the situation.
Without Manila, where would the United
States have been in the Chinese crisis, and
if the United States had not been in evil
dence at Pekin, where the ministers were
rescued, what would have become Of
China?
But we were in evidence and our en-
fuence in the situation commanded the
respect and consideration Of the European
Powers
The United States IS the conserving
force in China to-day and the Chinese
Government recognizes the fact. II the
integrity of the Chinese Empire is to be
preserved, it will be largely through the
conserving force of the United States, and
the effective use of that force is based
not at Washington, but at Manila.
AS to the final disposition Of the Philip
pine Islands, we have contended that that
is a question of the future. 1t cannot be
decided now. But whether or not we
retain the islands, we have a sphere of
influence" in the East and it will grow
larger and larger, no matter who is elected
President, no matter what party is in
control at Washington.
If this be Imperialism, there Will be just
as much of it under Bryan as under Nc
Kinley. 1t is the logic of conditions, and
as sure as the law of cause and effect.
The Times is not in favor of waging wars
of conquest, is not in favor OF apins the
monarchies of Europe. The Times is OPP
posed TO Repubicanism and in favor OF
Democratic institutions. But that does
not alter the fact that the United States
has a mission to perform in the East,
and the nation viii measure up to its
responsibilities whether Mckinley be
President or Bryan be President. We are
not arguing in favor OF imperialism. We
are simply trying to present the facts
as we see them, without fear or political
bias.