Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1901-01-24
DISMAL PROPHECIES.
They Are Made by Ex-Preside emit Gloves
land In N speech Relative 10 the
POLICY of ExpansIon.

Policy of Expansion.
New York, Jan. 1S.--The Holland
society held its sixteenth annual din
ner at the Waldorf-Astoria last
night. Covers were laid for 300
and all places were taken. The
speakers were Grover Cleveland, DR..
Andrew II. Smith and Charles W..
Layton. Ex-President Cleveland said:
The question is suggested whether
in present conditions conservatism
characterizes the conduct or guides
the sentiment of our people. There
can be but one answer to this ques-
ton. Conservatism has in great
degree been east aside, or condemned
as opposed to our country's welfare
and glory. A strange voyage has
been entered upon without count OF
cost and without chart or compass.
The tried and sure foundations OF
our liberty and national happiness
have been discredited. Reverence
for our national traditions has been
relaxed and satisfaction with our
country's mission has been under
mined. The limitations of our con-
stitution have become calling and
irksome under the temptations OF
greed and aggrandiZement. Our old
love of peace, honor and Justice has
been weakened, and frugality and
contentment are not now traits IN
separable from American character.
"War may still be sometimes neces-
sary and justifiable; but whether
necessary and justifiable or not, the
generalization that follows in its
train can never be evaded. 1t teaches
bloody instructions, which in "A coun-
try whose citizens do the lighting
cannot fail to leave their impress, for
a time at least, upon public and pri-
vate life in time of peace
Thirty years after the close of the
war for the preservation of the
Union. "A treaty of arbitration was
stimulated by the United States and
Great Britain which, if completed,
would have gone far towards remov-
ing every preteXt of war between the
two countries.
"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 in the Philippines
and the other in South Africa-but
no longer for peace and arbitration.
Both are killing natives in an effort
to possess their lands.
This indicates sad relapse; and
In our case it is II 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. and on account OF our engage
ment in a 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 independence. On
| the other hand, with success in our
mbiugating effort a new and perilous
situation will be forced upon us.
"We can conquer the Philippines
and after conquering them can prob
ably govern them 1t is in the
strain upon our institutions, the de-
mora liZation of our people, the eva
| sion of our constitutional limitations
| and the preservation of our national
mission that our danger lies. As a
| distinguished bishop has said: The
| question is not what we shall do with
| the Philippines but what the Philip
pines will do to us
''The republic will in some sort be
saved. Shall it be only in name and
semblance, with fair external appear
ance, but with the germs of decay
fastened upon its vitals; or shall it,
though changed, still survive in such
strength as to remain the hope and
| pride of free Americans?
"The problem is momentous one.
Its solution depends upon the extent
to which the old patriotism and good
sense of our cOuntrymen can be res
cued from impending danger. If we
are to be saved from disaster, it
must be through the cultivation of
! conservatism. In the midst of reck-
less tumult and in the confused rage
of national greed and bloodiness, this
conservatism should defiantly stand
| forth and demand a hearing"