Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-03-23
,rica in The World.

The emerccnce of China from her old
seclusiun into the general movement
Of the modern world has been adj
vanccd 50 rapidly by recent events
that It has deeply impressed the i'm
aginaton Of men Of every race. who
are not slow to recognize that il is a
pivotal event in history. and marks the
opening Of a new era in the develop
ment of humanity. There is another
event. however. not Yet So clearly
recognized. but even more significant
Of movement and change; the emery
cnce Of the United States from its
scclusion into the world wide move
ment of modern life. For. in a certain
sense. this country has been as much
detached and isolated as China. There
has been no material wall about our
territory; tho country has been open to
the whole world; there has been the
frecSt Grange of books, ideas, knoWl-
edge: Europe has influenced us deeply
and we have influenced Europe deeply:
and yet we have gathered our skirts
about us. and. sharing the profits Of
world wide civilization. have refused
to bear its burdens or accept its re-
SponsibiltieS.
! This seClusion was necessary for our
growth as a nation: for we have not
been nation until within the last two
decades. 1t was necessary for the
ettlcment of a new continent. the or
ganiZation of new society, and the
clear and definite realization by the
people at large of the principles for
which we stand and the deep and vital
tendencies which. in a true sense, are
making our destiny. For destiny is
not, as some critics of recent move
ments have tried to make us believe
a passive acceptance of external con-
ditionS as the determining elements in
national life: it is the shaping of
events and the setting in motion of
tidal influences by the working out of
racial character. The only manifest
destiny" for the American people is to
be found in the energy, the inventive
ness, the faith in man. and the conf
dence in his ability to better his con-
dition, which lie deep in the character
of the American people. We have
passed into an era of expansion, not
because we have been driven on by
blind fate, but because we have been
driven on by an inward force-the
force which has made men of our race
discoveries, explorers. settlers. Or
ganizerS, leaders. administrators. re-
formers. and artists for many centu-
ries. The victory at Manila was not a
cause; it was an occasion. 1t did not
abruptly and blindly open a new
chapter in our history; it threw a
sudden light on a situation for which
we had been long preparing. but which
we had not clearly recognized
Nations. like men. depend on events
for opportunities of showing what is
in them: but events are of Importance.
not for what they create, but for what
they reveal.
Our seclusion on this side of the
globe and our long absorption in our
own affairs furnished the conditions
which our education as a nation re-
CURED; but that process has now
ended; we shall not cease to learn but
we have entered higher school. Our
period of apprenticeship is over; we
are now called upon to show OF what
STUN we are made and how far we
nave mastered the science of govern
lnent. OF social order. and of national
development. There is now clear al