New-York tribune., 1901-04-23
A NATION TO BE PROUD OF.

The leaders of the New South give evidence
more and more that notwithstanding the still
unsettled questions about which their section
takes a different view from that prevailing
among Northern people. they are at one with
the North In their devotion to the Union and
their faith in its prospects. A happy example OF
this spirit is found in the recent speech of Judge
William H Brawley before the Hibernian Soci-
ETY. of Charleston, S. c. Judge Brawley, re-
spending to the toast THE United States,
declared
This sentiment in which we all unite now
in absolute good faith and without reserve, was
but few years ago abhorrent to most OF us
around this board 1t is just forty years lacking
a few days since I marched down Meeting-st.
in front of this hall with a musket on my shoui-
der. eager to join in the attack on Fort sumter
and to pull down the then hated flag which
hoated it's ramparts Nurtured in the faith
that the United States was confederation and
not O nation; that the State of South Carolina
had the first claim to allegiance, there was no
other answer possible to her loyal sons than to
obey her call, and during all these forty years
there has never been moment of doubt or re
gret that did my duty as then saw it, nor Is
there now any reason or any call for self-re-
specting Confederate soldier to abjure the faith
in which his fathers lived and for which his
companions died IN order to maintain perfect
loyalty to the government of his country.
Opinions to the nature of the Federal Gov
ernment, to whether ii was nation or a con-
federation. had been greatly divided since its
as Thomas Jefferson and. John Marshall differed
radically to the Interpretation of the Consti-
tuition. no man can say that there was not room
for honest differences of opinion. The war has
settled one question. and settled 1t irrevocably,
and that is that the United States is nation.
that John Marshall right, and henceforth
there is and disposition to doubt
what duty and honor and interest require Of us.
These words are so full of the spirit of opti-
mism and nationality that it was hardly to be
expected that the speaker in discussing the Phil
ippine problem would repeat the old complaints
that the American race is not fitted for coloni-
zation and that the Monroe Doctrine forbids us
TO take a hand in the affairs of the Orient. to
which we are as near Europe. No essential
difference in administrative power is discover
able between the two branches of the Anglo
Saxon race. The English have been the most
successful people in the world in dealing with
external possessions for the common benefit Of
protector and protected, and fears that the
American cannot discharge the same duty when
1t is forced upon him are founded timdty
rather than reason. The Monroe Doctrine I'M
dertook to protect America from European in
reference and promulgated policy OF non-in-
reference in the affairs of Europe but II never
isolated America from the rest of the world and
promised that in regions neither European nor
American the United States. like European ma
tions would not guard the interests which 1t
might have there.
Judge Brawley thinks the terms offered TO
Cuba are not in themselves unreasonable. but
makes the rather unjudicial assumption that
the Teller resolution is violated and Cuban
freedom infringed by conditions wise and
reasonable and calculated to subserve the in
terests of both Cuba and the United States
and carry out the nations century old policy
of preventing the possible Judgement OF any
troublesome enemy close to our coast. be-
lever in the nation who casts aside the talk
about 'militarism'' and "commercasm" and
tyranny as bogies should not be the person to
take t1p some of the texts of these agitators as
subjects for serious thought, hut should realize
that it is neither tyranny nor an evidence Of I'M
worthy greed for the nation TO face actual con-
ditions in Cuba and consider realities rather
than phrases He should also remember that
the awful dangers of colonial dominion are
largely conjured up by the bogie makers for the
confusion of serious thinkers. Even though they
do seem TO confuse him for a moment they do
not faint his spirit with their own little Ameri-
canism. He NAV not Just now think our Cuban
and Philippine policies wise. but. notwithstand-
ING. he is assured that we have country to be
proud of. and says that, if those policies with
fuller consideration and ampler knowledge seem
best 1--WE shall enter upon this new career with
full confidence in our ability TO solve, and solve
"aright. the problems that now perplex us"
That is the spirit which should animate all
Americans North and South and prompt them
to united work for the success of the nations
undertakings once entered upon, whether or not
they originally favored those policies
MINISTER'S IN THE SICKROOM.