Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-18
CLEvELAND's GLOOMY VIEW.

Ex-President Thinks This Country IL
Going to the Dogs.
Former President Grover Cleveland at the
sixteenth annual dinner Of the Holland So
ciety of New York, given last night in the
Waldorf-Astoria, expressed himself clearly
on the issue presented by the conflict now
going on in the Philippines and in South
Africa.
Mr., Cleveland. who frequently was inter-
rupted by applause. said, in part:
"In this time of headlong national heed
lessness, 1t Is time 10 invoke the cultivation
and saving grace of Dutch conservatism.
Conservatism has In q great degree been
jauntiiy cast aside. or condemned as OPP
posed to Our country's welfare and glory.
The tried and sure foundations Of our lib
erty and national happiness have been DIS
credited. Reverence for our national trddi-
tons has been relaxed, and satisfaction
with our country's mission has been UNDER
mined
1.-The restraints and limitations of our
Constitution have become CALLING and frk-
some under the temptations Of national
greed and aggrandizement
"Our old love Of peace honor and Justice
has been weakened. and frugality and .on-
tentment are not now traits inseparabie
fl ON American character.
Thirty years after the close OF the war
for the preservation of the Union treaty
of arbitration was formulated between the
United States and Great Britain which, II
completed, would have gone far toward re-
moving every preteXt Of war between the
two countries. Thus these two great Eng
disappearing nations then assumed leader
ship in the path Of peace and In advocacy
of the abolition of war. This treaty failed
of confirmation in the Senate. Less than
five years passed, and these Engltsh-speak-
ing champions of peace and arbitration are
still operating in parallel lines-one in the
Philippines and the other in South Africa
Both are killing natives In an effort to pos
sess their lands.
This indicates a sad relapse; and in our
case 1t is a most serious one If England
succeeds in her attempt In South Africa,
she will but add another to her list of SINH
lar acquisitions; brave people will be
subjugated: and because Of our engagement
In similar venture In another quarter they
will miss the expressions Of American SYM
pathy which We are accustomed to extend
to those who struggle for national life and
Independence. On he other hand with Sue
cess in our subjugating effort, new. I'M
tried and exceedingly perilous situation will
be forced upon us. We can conquer the
Philippines. and after conquering them can
upon our Institutions. the decentralization Of
our people, that our danger lies. AS dis
tirguished bishop has said: The question is
not what we shall do with the Philippines,
but what the Philippines will do to u.s.
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 1t be only in name and semblance
with fair external appearance. but with the
germs of decay fastened upon its vltals. or
shall it. though changed. still survive N
such vfgor and strength as to remain the
hope and pride of free Americans? If we
are to be saved from disaster 1t must be
through the cultivation and enforcement of
conservatism. In the midst Of reckless
tumult and in the confused rage of national
God md lIrnnc ,
should defiantly stand forth and demand q
hearing"