The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1903-05-26
RANDOM THOUGHTS.
THOUGHTS ON INTERNATIONAL
HELPFuLNESS

-Meu are DOyS U0V0lOpeu. Ma
tions are men developed to the
point of cooperating. The world
is made up of nations, some de-
veloped more, some less.
The trend of nation is given
to it by the prevailing ideals of
it's men. When the great and
unselfish have control, the nation
has dignity. When the self
seeking and narrow minded have
control, the nation has no dig
nifty. In a broad sense, there
fore, the progress of the whole
world depends upon the ideals of
it's men.
In boyhood is headlong action.
A nation in its childhood is apt
to lose sight of the gain that
comes from manhood's dignity,
until suffering and calamity have
sobered the national sense. Such
boyish nations are to be found to
the South of us. They think
like boys, imperfectly under
standing that successful life as
nations comes only from com
prehension of their relations TO
others. They act like boys,
careless of consequences, heed
less of settling time so long as
the spending time lasts.
The nations that have most
nearly arrived at manhood's es-
tate, where dignity can be back
ed up with unquestioned force
and yet with gentle sense of
obligation to weaker nations, are,
Notwithstanding circumstances
that might occasionally point the
other way, England and America.
Look what an unseltish battle
has been waged by England in
maintaining at the finger-ends of
civilization the open door for
trade; by diplomacy or force of
arms, if need be, insisting that
the right to trade shall not be
denied to any nation. Compare
this with Russia S selfish attitude
towards China and its huge prov
ince of Manchuria, and it is easy
to see the difference between the
two national policies.
Look at our own country and
its policy maintained for three
quarters of a century to resist
any acquisitions by force or by
diplomacy of territory to the
south of US that might later fall
under monarchical rule. We
might regard the devotion to the
Monroe doctrine as having an
element of selfishness in it. Per
haps it has, but beyond the sell
fishness it needs not half an eye
to see national probity and nat
ional honor exercising themselv-
es in protecting from ravages
these boyish nations to the south
of US, whose very temperament
seems to foster intrigue and rev
olution, but whose rights to an
independent existence are as
pronounced as the rights of your
boy and ours. These squabbline
infants from their very tendency
to fight among themselves would
be exposed to the designs and at
tacks of stronger nations. unless
. the great protecting shield o.
our honor and our pledge haC
been given to the world for theil
protection. We stand between
them aud Fate, and shall continue
to so stand no matter what broad
ening of our own horizon may
take place; until the help of oul
nation is no longer needed BY
these helpless ones.
Our position towards them i:
much like that Of a parent or +;
schoolmaster. We shall un
doubtedly often be called upor
to step in to preserve order, bu
that stepping in, if we are tru'
to our ideals, will not be for the
Il purpose of lessening the indie
pendence of these small people
/. but rather for the training o
: them, just as parent is COMPEL
ed to discipline in order to secur'
development. In the time of tn
Cuban war it was recognized tha
our own peace was endangere,
by the warfare and cruelty AM
!, resrogression of the Spanish ty
! rants; and, not only to aveng
. the Maine, but in order to return
!. the proper balance to nationa
: affairs just south of US, th
strong right hand of our nigh
was extended and in five year
has wrought wonders in. restor
ing equanimity and some degre
S of prosperity to region tina
}, was ravaged by the sword an
It and reduced to penury by OF
u preston.
/ j..