The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-01-18
Our People Yield to Temptation of
Greed and Aggrandizment.
THE CONSTITUTION CALLING
Old Love of Peace. Honor and JUS
tice Have Been Weakened. and
Erusality and Contentment Are
Not Now Traits lnscparable
from A IN e r an
Oh arac ter.
(RY Associated Prcss.l

NEW YORK, Jan. 1.-THE Holland
Society held its sixteenth annual dinner
at the Waldorf Astoria tonight. The
Rev. DR.. Henry Van Dyke, president Of
the society, presided. There We're six
hundred persons present. Ex-President
Cleveland was the principal speaker.
Mr.. Cleveland prefaced his remarks
with an acknowledgment that on such
occasions as this he was Il sermonizer
and pleaded as an excuse the pressure
of great responsibilities in past, and the
need of Dutch Conservatism to steady
popular impulse. He referred to this
time of head long national heediessness.
Mr. Cleveland said:
The question is suggested whether in
present conditions this conservatism
characterizes the conduct or guides the
sentiment of our people. There can De
but one answer to this question. Gonser-
vatism has in a great degree been Jauntiy
cast aside or condemned as opposed To
our country's welfare and glory y
strange voyage has been entered upon
without count of cost and without chart
n
tions of our liberty and national happl-
Hess have been discredited. Reverence
for our national traditions has been re-
laxed, and satisfaction with our couh-
trv's mission has been undermined Inc
restraints and limitations of our consUtu-
ton have become CALLING and irksome
under the temptations of national greed
,art On
peace honor, and justice has been weak
ened and frugality and contentment are
not now traits inseperahle from American
character.
BLOODY INSTRUCTION.
Even in our advanced civilization war
may still be necessary and justifiabie, put
whether necessary or justitiahle or not,
the decentralization that follows IN It's
train can never be evaded. 1t teaches
bloody instructions, which, in 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.
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 prospect of
war between the two countries rms
treaty failed of confirmation in the Sen
ate 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 Afri-
ca-but no longer for peace and arbitra-
ton. Both are killing natives in an ef-
fort to possess their lands.
A SAD RELAPSE.
"This indicates a sad relapse, and, in
our case, it is a most serious one II Eng
land succeeds in her attempt in South
Africa. she will but Add another to her list
of similar acquisitions; brave people will
be subjugated, and. because of our engage
ment in a similar venture in another quar-
ter they will miss the expressions of
American sympathy which we are accus-
toned to extend TO those who struggle for
national life and independence. On the
other hand, with success in our subju-
eating effort, a new untried and exceed
ingly perilous situation Will be forced upon
us We can conquer the Philippines and
after conquering them can probably govern
them It is in the strain upon our iasti-
tutions, the Generalization of our people.
the evasion of our constitutional lnnita-
tions. and the perversion OF our national
mission that our danger lies.
MOMENTOUS QUESTION
"As distinguished Bishop has said:
The question is not what We shall do
with the Philippines. but wtlat the Philip
pines win do to us?' Our country will
never be the same again. For veal or
woe we have already irrevocably passed
beyond the old lines.
.,rhe Republic will in some sort be
saved Shall it be only in name and SEM
blance, with fair external appearance.
but with II. germs of decay fastened
upon its vitals; or shall it, though
changed, still survive in sucsl vigor ana
strength as to remain the hope and pride
OF Americans?
1.-THE problem is momentous one. In
the midst of reckless tumult and in the
confused rage of national greed and blood
mess, let it be proclaimed that American
freedom and popular rule cannot perish
except through the madness OF those
who have them in their keeping, and by
the blood and sacrifices of our fathers:
by the lofty achievements OF the free
Institutions they established; by our
glorious victories of peace and by our re-
lance on the promises of God, let the
Dutch conservatism enjoin upon our reo-
nle faithful discharge of their sacred
trust"
DIR. Andrew H. Smith spoke on Dutch
Discoveries and the Hon. Charles w.
s.,,f,ll.a t}a ttTba n fch