The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1901-01-24
Grover Cleveland Saws England
and America Follow Same
Policy.
NATIONS GREED FOR LAND.
Anti Expansion Speech from Ex-Presi-
dent That Would Have Been
Democratic Vote Getter Be-
fore the Election.

society held It's sixteenth annual OH
ner at the WaldOrf-Astoria las
night. The Rev. DR. Henry VanDy Ike
president of the society, presided
On his right sat exPresident Cleve
land and Tunis G. Bergen at hi,
left, while covers were laid for BOX
and all places were taken.
The speakers were Grover Cleve
land,IDr. Andrew Smith and Charles
W. Dayton.
Ex-President Cleveland said:
"War even with the worlds ad
yanced civilization may still be some
times necessary and justifiable; but
whether necessary and iustifiable or
not, the decentralization that follows
in its train can never be eyaded. 1t
teaches bloody instructions which,
in country whose citizens do the
fighting, can not fail to leave their
impress for time at least upon pub
liz and private life in times Of peace.
Thirty years after the close Of the
war for the preservation OF the un-
ion. n treaty OF arbitration was for
INFLATED between the United States
and Great Britain. which, ii com
pleted, would have gone far toward
removing every pTeteXt OF war be
tween the twocountries. Thus these
two great English-speaking nations
assumed leadership in the path OF
peace. and i'll advocacy of the abOli-
ton of war. with the hope and eX-
be followed by other nations, and
that IA more general adoption Of ar
bjtratiOn as ii means OF settling in
tarnational disputes would result in
great advance toward the abandon
mant of war throughout the world.
This treaty failed OF confirmation in
the senate of the United States. Less
than five years passed, and these
English-speaking champions of peace
and arbitration are still operating
in parallel lines-one on the Philip
pines and the other in South Africa
but no longer for peace and arbitra-
ton. Both are killing natives in an
effort to possess their lands.
This indicates Il sad relapse; and
in our case it is a most serious one.
If England succeeds in her attempt
in South Africa she will but add an
other to her list of similar acquisi-
tions; a brave people will be subju |
ment in Il similar venture in another |
quarter they will miss the express
siOns OF American sympathy which |
we are accustomed to extend to |
those who struggle for national life |
and Independence. On the other |
hand, with success in our subjuga- |
ton effort, new, untried and eX-I
ceedingly perilous situation will be |
forced upon us. We can conquer the
Philippines, and after conquering
them can probably govern them
| is i'll the strains upon our institu-
tions, the decentralization of our peO-
pie, the evasion of our constitutional |
limitations, and the perversion of
our national mission that our dam
ger lies. As a distinguished bishop |
has said; The question is not what
we shall do with the Philippines, but
what the Philippines will do to as
Our country will never be the same |
again, For veal or woe. we have |
already irrevocably passed beyond |
the old lines.
The republic will in some sort be
saved Shall it be only in name and |
-emblance, with fair external ap- /
pearonce. but with the germs of de
cay fastened upon its vjrals: orshall |
it. though changed, still survive in
sach EiGor and srreu@thast remain
lie hope and pride of free Americans? |
This problem Is "a momeurouS
one. LIS solution depends upon the
extent 10 which the old patriotism
and good sense OF our cuuntrvmeu
can be rescHed from impending dan
ger Thus these are sober DAYS for
thoughtful citizens. days Tor preach
.ng, days for sermoniziug, live areto !