The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-01-18
In an Address Delivered Before
the Holland Society.
The Former President Points
Out Impending Danger
TO HAVE AND TO HOLD
The Philippines, He Says, Is
Not Impossible
But 1t Will Severely Rack
American Institutions.

New York. Jan. 1s.-The Holland so-
ciety held it's sixteenth annual meeting
at the Waldorf Astoria last night Rev
DR.. Henry VanDyke president Of the
society, presided. on his right sat ex-
President Cleveland. Covers were laid
for 300 and all places were taken.
The speakers were Grover Cleveland.
DR.. Andrew H. Smith and ex-Postmaster
Charles w. Dayton. Mr.. Cleveland
said:
I am quite willing to take an humble
place among the sermonIzers in this Time
Of headlong national heedIessness and to
invoke the cultivation Of the saving
grace OF Dutch conservatism This IS
the kind of conservatism that counts
the cost but for the sake Of principle
and freedom will disregard the cost that
lays out voyage by chart and COM
pass and follows chart and compass TO
the end; that loves the liberty and na-
tional happiness which rest upon tried
and sure foundations. that teaches rev
erence for national traditions and en-
courages the peoples satisfaction with
their country's mission. 1t is the kind
of conservatism in which our constitu-
ton had its birth and which has thus
far been the source of our nations safe
justice, Of honor, of honesty, Of industry,
Of frugality and Of cOntented homes
In this assemblage Of those VINO
know so well the meaning Of these
things the question is suggested Wheth-
err in present conditions this conserva-
tism characterizes the conduct or guides
the sentiment of our people There can
be but one answer to this question
Conservatism has in a great degree been
jauntiiy cast aside, or condemned as op-
posed 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. Rev
erence for our national traditions has
been relaxed and satisfaction with our
country's mission has been undermined.
The restraints and limitations Of our
constitution have become CALLING and
irksome under the temptations Of ma
tional greed and ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. Our
old love of peace, honor and Justice has
been weakened
War, even with the worlds advanced
civilization may still be some times nec-
essary and justiaable; but, whether nee
essary and Justifiable or not the de-
n1oralization that follows in its train
can never be evaded. 1t teaches bloody
instructions, which in a country whose
citizens do the fighting can not fail to
leave their impress for time at least
upon public and private life in time OF
peace.
s'Thirty years after the close Of the
war for the preservation of the union
a treaty of arbitration was formulated
between the United States and Great
Britain. which if completed would have
gone far to removing every pretext or
war between the two countries. Thus
these two great English speaking ma
tions then assumed leadership in the
path of peace ana in advocacy Of the
abolition of WARMTH the hope and e,s-
pectation that the example would be
followed by other nations and that a
more general adoption Of arbitration
a means Of settling international dis
putes would result I'm a great advance
towards the abandonment Of war
throughout the world. This treaty
failed Of confirmation in the senate OF
United
have passed and these English speak
ing champions Of peace and arbitration
ere still operating in parallel lines-one
on the philippines and the other III
South Africa-but no longer for peace
and arbitration. Both are killing ne
tiyes in an effort 10 possess their lands
This indicates a sad relapse; and in our
case it is 8. most serious one. II Eng
land succeeds in her attempt in South
Africa, she viii but add another TO her
list of similar acquisitions; brave peo-
pie will be subjugated. and because of
our engagement in a similar venture I'm
another quarter they viii miss the eX-
pressions of American sympathy which
We are accustomed to extend to those
who struggle for national life and indc-
pendence. On the other hand. with sue
cess in our subjugation effort. a new.
untried and exceedingly perilous situa-
tion will be forced upon us. We can
conquer the Philippines. and after con-
quering them can probably govern
them. It is in the strain upon our in
people, the evasion Of our constitutional
limitations and the perversion 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. Ddt what the Phil
ippines will do to us
Our country will never be the same
again For veal or woe we have all
ready irrevocably passed beyond the
old lines.
'sThe 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 fast
ened upon its vitals: or shall 1T. though
changed still survive in such vigor and
strength as to remain the hope and pride
Of free Anericans2
ssThe problem is a mOmentous one It's
solution depends upon the extent to
which, the old patriotism and good sense
Of our countrymen can be rescued from
impending danger Thus these are SOBER
days for thoughtful citizens-days for
preaching, days for sermorizina- IL we
are to be saved from disaster IL must
be through the cultivation and enforce
nent Of that sort of conservatism that
sAeuId find a congeni3l home ~ the
Holland society. In the midst Of recS-
less tumult and IN the confused rage
OF national greed and bloodthirstiness
this conservatism should dehantly stand
forth and demand a hearing.
DR. Van Dyke read a message which
win be sent to Queen Wilhelmlna q
Holland as an address from the soctety
on the occasion Of her approaching mar
riage A. the conclusion of its reading
health 10 the queen Was drunk stand