The Newtown bee., 1901-01-18

especially, of abstinence from terri
torial expansion in foreign chimes, has
been practically abandoned. And yet
this policy has been svnchronous with
our history from the very day of the
birth OF this republic: it has been one
in which we gloried, and, in reference to
Which, we stood alOne-proud in our
lsolation-amOng the great powers.
But, the memorable trend of mighty
events has borne us on, and we have
felt ourselves in the inextricable clutch
of destiny. The forces of law-ethical
and physical, as we'll as economic, social
and diplomatic-have impelled us; and
we have at times felt as truly subject
to them, as ARE the planets to the
their orbit and binds them to their
system. No prophet would have been
considered sane three years ago, had
he predicted those things which have
actually come to pass. When the
present Chief Executive took the oath
of office, we were sailing in sea the
tides and currents OF which we could
determine, and whose shores, though
distant, we could discern. Now we
have launched upon the broad, untried
ocean OF international activity, and
our sphere is the globe, not a portion
of it. Whether we wanted the whole
earth or not, there is a sense in which
we have come to possess it, and with
this requirement also come new re-
sponsibilities, vast and complex.
Now what confronts us is not merely
the fact, abstractly viewed, of a change
in our time-honored principle and
policy, in accordance with which
change territory of another continent
has been added to our own. This in
itself is matter of weighty import.
But what does face us is this: We now
stand in relation to the rest of the
world that is radically new for us.
Heretofore we have been only specta-
tors of diplomatic games, and the most
we have done is. occasionally to utter
a cheer of approval or hiss Of disap-
proval. To-day, all is reversed: we are
IN the game as truly as is any other
power, and it is pretty generally ad-
mitted that we are in to stay, too! We
now view the rest of the world in a
totally different light from what we
did only three short years ago, and, in
turn we ourselves are differently re.
garded by all others. Yesterday we
were looked upon as a child among the
nations-very precocious, to be sure,
ambitious and singularly promising,
but yet physically weak, and not
worthy OF much serious attention in
matters wherein the final appeal was
to be to the arbitrament of war. To-
day, however, instead of being child,
, we are a guardian of other children.
, What Il transformation in such brief
space OF time: aye, one might say,
| what Il miracle!
Corresponding to this external
change, there has inevitably followed
an internal one, a reactionarv move.
ment. Into the veins Of our national
organism drastic element has been
injected: and the nerves of our polit-
zeal, social and Industrial life, yes,
and of our intellectual, ethical and
religious life, are vigorously respond
ing to it. The national existence is
vitality affected at every point, and
thoughtful men are asking,
WHAT IS TO BE THE ISSUE OF IT ALL:
u The Spanish war, and the events
Immediately following in it's wake
were still occupying the thoughts OF
: citizens, and the various problems
5 brought into existence directly or in.
| directly by it were swarming before
! their aStonishcd gaze, when presiden.
tial election appeared on the horizon.
Speedily, in view OF this, all the ideas,
the principles, the convictions. of men
were focused into two party pla tforms,
and, forthwith, two new parties sprang
into existence. | say 'new parties y
advisedly: they certainly were new,
though they took the old names, dem
oc1tic and republican. One Of these
new parties nominally espoused the
cause Of deprecated currency, in
volving the Reputation of inviolable
debts: the cause Of truculent antago-