Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-01-18
THE HOLLAND SOCIETY
Entertained by EXPIRES. cleyeland's ki.ack on
Our Foreign Policy.

New York, Jan. 1.-THE Holland So
ciety held its 10th annual dinner at the
Waldorf-Astoria, tonight. Rev. Dr.
Henry Fandyke, president Of the soci-
ETY., presided. On his right sat ex-Pres-
idelt Cleveland and Tunis @. Bergen
at his left. Covers We're laid for 300 and
all the places were taken. Among the
speakers were Grover Cleveland, Dr.
Andrew Hermance Smith and Charles
w. Dayton. ExPresident Cleveland
said:
TT has been my lot to be much on the
sober side of life and 20 feel the pressure
OF great responsibilities. ! am quite will
ing to take a humble place among the
scrmoniZers. i'm this time Of headlOng ma
uonal heedlessness. ana to invoke the
cultivation and saving grace OF Dutch
conservatism. This Is the kind of con-
SerVatism that counts the cost bur for
disregard the costs: that loves the liberty
and national happiness which rest upon
tried and sure foundations: that teaches
reverence for national traditions and en-
courages the peoples satisfaction with
their countries mission. Ii is the kind Of
conservatism in which our constitution
had its birth and which has thus far been
the source OF our nations safety and
strength-the conservatism Of justice. Of
honor, Of honesty. Of industry, OF frugal
ity ana of contented homes.
But conservatism has in 4 great de-
gree been 1auntily cast aside, or con-
demned as opposed to our country's wei
fare and glory. 4 strange voyage has
been entered upon without count OF cost.
and without chart or compass. The re-
straintS and limitations Of our constitu-
ton have become CALLING and irksome un-
der the temptations of national greed and
ACKNOWLEDGMENT. our old love Of peace.
honor and justice has been weakened and
frIgality and contentment are not now
traits inseparable from American char
acter.
War. even with the worlds advanced
civilization. may still be sometimes neces-
sary and justifiablc: but whether neces-
siry and justifable or not. the demoraliz-
alton that follows in its train can never
be evaded.
Thirty years after the close Of the war
for the preservation OF the Union, a
treaty Of arbitration was formulated be
tween the United States and Great Brit
ain which If completed would have gone
far towards removing every pretext of
war between the TWO countries. This
treaty failed OF confirmation in the SEN
ate Of the United States. Less than five
years passed and these Notwithstanding
champions Of peace and arbitrati ton are
still operating in parallel limestone in the
Philippines and the other in South Africa
but no longer for peace ana arbitra ton
Both are killing natives in an effort to
possess their land
This indicates sad relapse: and in our
case IL is 4 most serious one. If England
succeeds in her attempt in South Africa |
she will but add another to her list OF |
similar subJugations, and a brave people |
Will be subjIgated. On the other hand, |
with success in our Sublugating effort a !
new, uEtried and exceedingly perilous |
situation viii be forced upon us We can |
conquer the Philippines and after con-
Quering them can probably govern them !
1t is in the strain upon our institutions. !
the decentralization of our people. the eva |
sion of our constitutional limitations and /
that our danger 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 us.
"Our country Will never be the same |
again. For veal or woe. we have already |
irreV"cahly passed beyond the Old lines 1
The republic will in some sort be saved 4
Shall il be only in name and semblanc-. |
with fair external appearance but with /
the germs of decay fastened upon its 4
vitals; or shall 1t though changed still !
survive in such vigOr and strength rs to H
remain the hope and pride ct free Amer /
leans?
The problem is a momentous one. Its
solution depends upon the extent to
which the old patriotism and good sense /
of our countrymen can be rescued from 4
impending dangers. Thus these are sober /
days for thoughtful citiZens-days for 1
preaching. days for SermoniZing. If we 4
are to be saved fruIn disaster. it must be /
through the cultivation and enforcement /
Of that sort OF conservatism that should !
find cungCaial home in the Holland So |
Getty.
Following Mr.. Cleveland. DR.. Andrew |
II. Smith spoke on Dutch Discoveries
ana the Hon. Charles w. Dayton spoke .
70 the toast The Dutch Danes"
At the conclusion of his speech DR..
Van Dyke read a message which will \
be sent to Queen Wilhelmina Of Hol-
land as an address from the society on
the occasion Of her approaching mar
riage At the conclusion of its reading /
health to the Queen was drunk
standing.