The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-26

cur soldiers and seamen. The uprising of
the Nation was a sublime spectacle. Past
who wore the blue and of those who wore
the graz, bridged with their lives the
chasm made by civil war.
A GLORIOUS YEAR.
THE year that followed was a glorious
enc New names were written in Ameri-
can history. n something was added
hourly TO the prestige of American arms,
and to the renown and glory of the Re
public. The superb quality of American
manhood was again demonstrated in a
manner that won the admiration and
applause OF the world. a century hence,
aged sires, sitting in the evening wi
light. will tell to listening children the
story of San Juan, Ell Caney, Santiago
and Manila. But these battles were not
won without cost. Victory and respon-
sibility went hand in hand. The last
as the price of the first.
w did not intend tive did not even
know it-but the tragedy of fate was in
Dewey-I refer to Admiral Dewey and
rot 10 the brother-in-law of John r. Nc
Lean-when Admiral Dewey sailed into
the harbor of Manila on that May-day
morning, two years ago, we were an in
sular nation. Four hours later, the isola-
ton, fixed by the waters of the two oceans,
and maintained by the UNMARRIED policy of
a century was broken. We awoke the next
day TO find ourselves no longer a provin-
cial people. We had become cosmopolitan
in a night. Thus, without volition or choice.
did We become participants in the affairs
of the far East. The battle of Manila
opened the way. and the republic found
herself at the worlds council fire, with
out desire or invitation,
MY countrymen. / believe her going was
providentfal, and that it is we'll for the
world that she is there. She went as free
dom's advocate. taking her navies and her
armies with her, it is true, but for all that
she went on an errand of peace, in mercy
and not in anger. In the insurrection that
followed she struck without malice and
only for the worlds veal. She destroyed
but to recreate. She burned, only TO build
again.
Our awakening came at an opportune
time. We live in a great age. The far
East has become the center of interest.
eyes of the world are turned to Asia.
the ~gray-haired mother of nations.
Throughout the East there is the stir of
new life. Little Japan has just obtained
a place among the nations. Her feet are
upon the road to a splendid national ca
reer. Old institutions have been abandoned.
Incidence has given place to industry.
With a glad thrill she feels the breath of
the morning upon her brow, and is impa-
tent for the start.
I'm China. Oldest of nations, new forces
are at work. The germs OF civilization
sent out by her centuries ago have been
multiplied a million-fold, and are now
returning in a flood-tice that cannot be
stayed. Already her people are grasping
at new ideas and adopting new methods of
life. Assailed from every side, her crumb-
the sea- She cannot live unto herself much
longer. The world will not be kept out.
She must look twa or die.
Even now her territory is the theater of
great deeds. There Russian and English
man, German and Frenchman. are con-
tending for supremacy. The domain con-
tended for is continental in area. Its peo-
pie represent one-fourth of the worlds
populatiOn-4O0, 600, 900. What becomes of
them must needs be some concern of ours.
When the walls crumble, when the dikeS
break, we should be near.
Il repeat that 1t is opportune that fate
should have given us the sovereignty of
the Philippines at such an hour, and it is
equally fortunate that a man like the Pres
ident should at such a time be the Pres
ident Of the Republic. He has been able to
events. Slow enough to be deliberate and
conservative. he has been quick enough to
save TO the country every advantage of the
hour: No opportunity has been lost.
BY war and by treaty We lave acquired
territory In the islands of the sea. 1t is
now too late to discuss the propriety of ex-
pansion. We have already expanded. The
opportunity OF the an-ti-expansionist is
past. He has had his day in court and
cannot now be heard. 1t will be useless
for the Kansas City convention to ask the
American people for an injunction. They
will not undertake to enjoin an act that Is
already contaminated.
There still remains, however, the ques-
ton as to how we are to govern the terri
tory which we have acquired. This pre-
sents one of those far-reaching world
wide. hi~story-making problems that come
TO a nation but once or twice in a century.
In 1t is wrapped something of the destiny
OF all nations and of all peoples. Yet / am
not afraid.
INV COnntrymon will NOT abandon the
solution of this problem because it is diff
ficult. nor will they refuse to bear their
share of the white mans burden because
1t is heavy. 1 know and trust the people of
the Republic. l believe in their honor, In
their strength and in their courage. 1 know
the stock of which they came. The lions
whelp Is not yet a stranger to its fathers
blood. The American Saxon has not for
gotten his English mother. He is not ac-
customed to shirk responsibility, but Is
wont to meet it at the threshold. When In
the past opportunity has offered he has
dared to put destiny to the touch. He will
not fail to do 1t now. In his veins runs the
blood OF Runnymede. of Agincourt, of Ira
falgar and of Waterloo; Of Bunker Hill, of
Lundy's lane and of Chapultepec: of Chick
amauga, of Gettysburg and of Spottsyl-
vania. He will not fail.
I'm his heart is enshrined the memory
OF Magma Charta and of the great Decla-
ration. The Federal Constitution is to him
the ark of the covenant By his blood
she'd on a hundred fields of battle, he nut a
new price on human freedom. He will rot
betray IL now.
JUST LAWS.
mo, my countrymen, we will give to
the several peoples of these islands the
most liberal forms of government. suit
able to their condition and consistent with
their intelligence. They shall have lust
laws. Laws which shall be conducive to
the promotion of their highest welfare. but
which shall at the same time be calcu-
lated to develop that sturdiness and indi-
vidual independence of character so esse.
tial to the safe exercise of free citizenship.
They shall not be treated as mendicants.
nor as helpless wards of an indulgent guar
dian. They shall not be the victims of i'm
perialism; nor shall they be the dependent
subjects of paternalism. On the contrary.
they shall be taught the price of liberty
by being required TO bear such portion of
the burden of their own government as
their resources shall fairly and Justly war
rant. At present they have it all to learn.
They would not know what TO do with the
jewels of freedom. did they possess them.
It shall be our holy province to lead them
some measure the value of free govern
ment and have acquired the ability to con-
serve Ii and the desire to maintain IL.
When they shall have learned this lesson
then free constitutional government shall
be theirs.
II know of no organized agency I. all
the world so capable of conducting this
great work along just and safe lines as
the Republican party. And 1 know of no
AA<%s L. H.