The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-03-14
10 the Editor of The New York Eve

10 the Editor Of The New York Evening
Post:
Sir: At time when The Congressional
Record is full of argument on the Prob
lem of the Philippines ana Colonial
Tariff Rates." II may, at least be enter
tanning. If not profitable. that We listen
to an instructive satire by Oliver Gold
smith. In this paper Il fancy he fore
saw our separation from the mother
country. Goldsmith, reasoning without
prejudice, sought to warn his people.
Fortunately for US, they needed not, but
continued expanding. colonizing and
heavily taxing their American subjects.
The result was the Revolution. and our
subsequent growth to a great world
Power.
In The Citizen of the World. In 176o.
Goldsmith said In part:
'Northward of China, and in one Of the
doublngs of the Great Wall, the fruitful
province of Lao enjoyed it's liberty. and
q peculiar government of its own, As the
Inhabitants were on all sides surrounded
by the wall, they feared no sudden IN
vasion from the Tartars; ana being each
possessed of property, they were jealous
in its defense. :. E.
1.-THE arts Of peace fiourished. nor were
those of war neglected; the neighboring
powers. who had nothing to apprehend
from the ambition OF men, whom they
only saw solicitous, not for riches, but
freedom. were content to trafftc with
them, they sent goods to be manufactured
in Lao, and paid large price for them
upon return.
BY this means. this people at length
became moderately rich. and their opu-
lence naturally invited the invader; a Tar
tar prince led an immense army against
them, and they bravely stood up in their
=. own defence: they were still inspired with
D love of their country; they fought the
barbarous enemy with fortitude, and
gained a complete victory.
IS From this moment. which they regard
I'd as the completion of their glory, histo-
rians date their downfall They had
risen in strength by love Of their coun-
try, and fell by indulging ambition. The
country possessed by the invading Tar
tars seemed to them a prize that would
not only render them more formidable
for the future, but which would increase
their opulence for the present; 1t was
unanimously resolved. therefore. both
by soldiers and artisans, thot those DESC
late regions should be peopled by
colonies of Lao. When a trading nation
begins to act the conqueror, II Is perfect
" undone. 1t subsists in some measure
by the support Of its neighbors: while
they continue to regard 1t without envy
or apprehension. trade may flourish; but
right what is only enjoyed as favor.
each country reclaims that part OF COM
merce which 1t has power to take back.
and turns 1t into some other channel,
more honorable, though perhaps less con-
yenient In short the State re-
xembles one of those bodies bloated with
disease, whose bulk is only a symptom
of its wretchedness. - The Emperor
Honti invaded them with a powerful
IIsfa whether
their colonies were too remote to lend
assistance. or else were DESTROYS of shak-
Ing off their dependence; but certain 1t Is,
they scarce made any resistance; their
wallis were now found but weak de-
lence., and they at length We're obliged to
acknowledge subsection of the empire OF
China.
Happy very happy might they have
been, had they known when TO bound
their riches and their glory; had they
known that extending empire Is often
diminishing power: that countries are
,ver strongest which are internally
poverfuI; that colonies, by draining away
the brave and enterpriisng, leave the
country in the hands Of the timid and
pvaricious: that walls give little pro-
lection, unless manned with resolution;
MAT too much commerce may injure a
nation as we'll as too little: and that there
L. difference between a conquering and
4 fourishing empire
AS Goldsmith sought to prophesy and
warn his people. may I not point to our
departing from the wise policies Of those
guiding statesmen who have given the
frnited states her proud place as world
mower. and inquire. II our destiny will
he onward. or II it is possible that ambi-
hon may lead us to great unknown
whence may come mistake. misery. and
The ultimate undoing Of our liberties?
Let us, then, not forget the lesson Of
ME mistakes of history. II we cannot
recede from conquered territory, we can
deal Just with that people.
William n. Thomas.
Montgomery, Ala. March 5th.