New-York tribune., 1901-05-01
BUILDING THE NATION,
FREDERICK W. SEWARD SAYS THE
SPIRIT OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
FOLLOWS THE FLAG AND
WORKS IN A PRACTI-
CAL WAY.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The close Of our Spanish war left con.
fronted with four perplexing problems-one in
Hawaii. one in Cuba another in Porto Rico
and another In the Philippines. In each case the
conditions were different. the characters and
prejudices OF the people were different. and so
I'm each case there were needs requiring different
treatment.
Political philosophers. naturally enough
sought for some general rule that would meet
all the cases. some panacea that would cure
all Ills There were three leading theories One
set of theorists maintained that all these ac-
quisitions were to be treated Territories and
held as incipient States. otherwise not to be
held at all. Another set Of theorists assured
that we must adopt the British East India sys-
tenn of vast machine of governmental ap-
pointees holding down ignorant and rebellious
natives A third set of thsorizers insisted that
under our flag the islands would continue in
vassaIage under the same medieval tyranny.
oppression and slavery they had experienced
before.
1t was easy for men not charged with the
responsibilities OF government 10 formulate
these theories. But those who had the responsi-
bity and the governing TO do-that Is, our
administration and Congress-had little time
for theorizing They dealt with the problems
in an eminently practical. American way They
met each question it came up. solved each
difficulty as 1t presented itself. crossed each
Fox River when they came TO it. and not be-
fore
And now, rather To our own surprise and
certainly to the surprise OF the rest OF the
world the problems are nearly solved already!
The Hawaiians are safe. contented and prosper
GUS The Porto Ricans are quite as ready 70 be-
come Americans as we are TO have them The
Cubans have elf-government under our guard
ianship opening before them: and even the
Filipinos are waking up to the advantages or
becoming a part OF the great American repub-
lcan system.
Perhaps the most striking fact about II all is
that we find we have not made a Heterogeneous
conglomeration OF discOrdant parts. but have
built up a vast massive structure of repubh-
can government differing everywhere in It's
details. but harmonizing everywhere In its scope
and purpose Between our States there dif-
ferences OF laws and administration: between
States and Territories greater differences. and
between the continent and islands differences
greater still And yet they all work har-
moniousy together. Whether the constitution
does or does not extend everywhere. the spirit
of the American people does. and IL demands
whether In islands on the mainland. that
every man shall have the benefit OF the liberties
enjoy; safety and protection 70 ife liberty
and property, freedom OF worship, OF education
and OF the press. judicial safeguards of personal
rights and participation in governmental az
fairs. We have not asked the islanders to share
with us the burden Of governing the continent
when they have not yet learned 10 govern them
selves. But are earnestly striving 20 INSTRUCT
them In the art Of self-gOvernment. giving them
lust as much OF II they can safely handle or
stand and Just fast as they are ready for H.
Any bricklayer can lay up wall by plling
bricks and mortar each other But u re-
quires the intelligent skill OF an architect 70
build up huge edifce. There are angles and
corners TO be turned. openings TO be made, roofs.
cornices and supports TO be added. all requiring
different treatment, vet all dominated by the
same idea OF combined use and harmony
Just that has been the work OF the Auneri-
can people. Consciously or unconsctously we
have built UP a great nation Of worldwide IN
fiuence that will probably endure longer than
any empire ever devised The proof IS that
men flock toward II from all lands, 20 better their
condition and that all civilized governments are
adopting some of it's liberal ideas IN place OF
their old absolutism.
More than thirty years ago American
Secretary of State, standing in West India
island. near the tomb of Columbus. said;
we have built up in the northern part OF the
American Continent republic We have laid
for II a broad foundation. 10 has grown up on
our hands TO be imposing. possibly majestic,
empire. Like every other structure Or large
proportions IL requires outward buttreSseS.
These buttresses will arise in the development
of civilization. They will consist OF republics
like our founded in adjacent countries and
islands. upon the principle of the equal rights
of men, To IL matters not OF what race
or lineage those republics shall be You are
quick to perceive the OF the main edihce IN
protecting the buttresS you have established
here And thus it happens that the republics
around only inpart TO us the strength which
FREDERICK W. SEWARD.
Montrose-on-the-Hudson April so 1901.