The Topeka state journal., 1900-01-31
President of State Bar AssOcia-
tion Makes a Departure
Discusses a Subject Of General
Interest.
HE Is APPLAUDED.
Lawyers Appear to BE in Accord
With Administration.
A. G. Otis Wants Kansas Capital
Punishment Law Amended.

c. c. Coleman, of Clay Center, pres
ident Of the bar association, made an
expansion speech in his address to the
members last night. The utterances of
the speaker were warmly applauded.
The subject of Mr.. Coleman's address
"The Evolution of a WOrld-Power' was
treated in a manner somewhat new.
This was explained by Mr.. Coleman
saying at the outset:
After careful reflection it has been
thought best to make the theme of this
address somewhat different in nature
from those which the bar association
has been accustomed to expect on sim
liar occasions. Most of the great sub
5ects of the law seem to have been al
ready ably and sufficiently expounded;
no impending emergency seems to de-
mand a keynote from this desk; no
fragrant abuse in our system appears
to cry aloud for a champion all belted
and armed with precedent to prove II
unconstitutional; the jury system IS de-
manding no further exposition and the
gentlemen of the bar are ceasing to
find fault with the bulwark OF our hb-
critics; the lawyer and the citizen seem
TO be dwelling in peace and harmony
and even the lawyer in politics has not
called upon your president to elucidate
his pOsitiOn-in truth he doesn't want
1t elucidated; the lawyer in literature
has not invaded our realm to an eX-
tent warranting quarantine agitation;
the judiciary seems sound ana Wen
cared for, and the bar at large fairly
prosperous and content"
In. introducing the principal part Of
his address Mr.. Coleman called atten-
tiOn to the progressive march OF the
continents of Europe to the markets Of
the east. He suggested that retaining
our former position the United States
could not hope to compete with those
countries in a commercial way. We
were. in effect" he said shut out from
the vast possibilities of the Pacific
ocean, which is and ought to be our
ocean just as the Atlantic is that OF
Europe" He then calls attention to
the fact that one articulation of the
evolution of the country thrust into the
hands of this country the Philippine
islands. "They stood at the gateways
of all Pacific commerce. Now that they
are thrust into our hands, short-sighted
aye, blinds he who would say Cast
away the golden key
Replying to the argument that the
government seeks to enslaVe the Fill
pinos, Mr.. Coleman asks if the states
of Missouri, Kansas, Alaska or Hawaii
are enslaved because they render allie
glance to the federal government. Com
batting that theory he said: "Luzon
win De just as free as Missouri; Manila
no less so than Topeka.
Even AguinaldO, if he otherwise be-
haves himself, can be just as free as
any American citizen We seek to save
them from slavery to wild hordes of
pngOVerned savageS-tO the unbridled
ambition of venial and merciless Agui-
naidos; from the slavery of some new
tyrant who would weld again the riven
fetters that Spain forged for so many
years. We seek to give them in its
stead q government that secures prop
erty, Furnishes only crime and guaran-
tees liberty to every one deserving it.
These simple people thrust by the hand
of Providence and the evolution OF
Time into our hands have a right to
demand of US all of this; and the great
republic of Washington and Lincoln
will give them no less. To do other than
this" Mr. Coleman says, would be to
change the course of our national and
racial growth. It will not be because
the rising tide of our national evolu-
tion is already rolling westward. Who
rides not upon it must sink beneath
if"