The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1903-11-20

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at the fngerends Of civilization the
open door for trade; by diplomacy OF
force of arms, Il 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 province Of Manchura,
and it is easy to see the difference be-
tween the two national policies.
Look at our own country aud It's
policy maintained for three quarters Of
century to resist any acquisitions by
force or by diplomacy Of territory to
the south Of us that might later fall un-
der monarchical rule. We might re-
gard the devotion to the Monroe doe.
trine as having an element Of selfish
ness in it, Perhaps il has, but beyond
the selfishness il needs not half an eye
to see national probity and national
honor exercising themselves in protect
ing from rayages these boyish nations
to the South Of Us, whose very tempera
ment seems 10 foster intrigue aud reyo-
luton, but whose rights 10 an indie
pendent existence are as pronounced
as the rights Of your boy and ours.
These squabblng infants from their
very tendency to fight among them
selves would be exposed TO the designs
and attacks Of stronger nations, Unless
the great protecting shield Of our lonor
and our pledge had been given 10 the
world for their protection. We stand
between them and Fate, and shall con-
tinue to so stand no matter what broad
ening Of our own horizon may take
place; until the help Of our nation is no
longer needed by these helpless ones.
Our position towards them is much
like that Of a parent or schoolmaster.
We shall undoubtedly often be called
upon to step in to preserve order, but
that stepping in, if We are true to our
ideals, will not be for the purpose Of
lessening the independence Of these
small peoples but rather for the train
ing Of them, just as parent is compell-
ed to discipline in order to secure de-
velopement. In the time Of the Cuban
War il was recognized that our own
peace was endangered by the warfare
and cruelty and retrogression Of the
Spanish tyrants; and, not only To
ayenge the Maine, but in order TO re-
turn the proper balance to national af-
fairs just South of us, the strong right
hand Of our might was extended and
in five years has wrought wonders in
restoring equanimity and some degree
Of prosperity to region that was IA
vsged by the sword and reduced to
perjury by oppression.
We may sometimes misunderstood
ourselves, and the different schools Of
political thought will first see things to
blame and then things to praise in the
national course, but foreign nations
look at our policy practically unaware
Of the little political breezes and diff
ferences, and they are perfectly con-
WINGED that our attitude on the Monroe
question is one ofcommon sense nation
ally aud common charity internation-
ally. Within our own ranks we hear
talk Of the Monroe Doctrine being in
consistent with American expansion.
This is not realized by the rest Of the
world. IL is as though a householder
because he has a domain Of his own
run along certain rules and ideas Of his
own, could not go out and acquire any
further property without the destruc'
ton Of the organization Of his one orig
inal establishment. Applied this way,
the argument is simple and convincing
All that our nation can do for its weak.
er neighbors, it can do without being
at all inconsistent in its larger attitude
towards world-policies.
Upon the shoulders Of a modern Her
cules are some Of the burdens Of the
world.yet to be laid. We cannot fore
see all the international difficulties In
to which our broader course Of politics
may carry US. We are only beginning
to carry burdens. In that broader field
Of duty, we shall find ourselves stand
ing side by side with the nation that
bound in by the sea, contracted in IFS
land area, and yet pOssessor Of a great
expansive heart has led in bearing
Others burdens. The more information
al responsibility comes to rest upon the
United States the more near TO Eng
land will it come in sympathy, the two
together being set 90 maintain the
steady light Of individual liberty
mental, physical, spiritual.
Tides Of the sea advance and recede
forever. Nations have advanced and
receded like tides, simply leaving up
on the beach some floated scraps TO tell
that they have existed, but those ma
tions that are founded upon a right I'M
Outstanding Of human dignity and HUI
man obligation, cannot be understood
as mere tidal nations. A glance back
over one hundred wears shows in the
Euglish-speAsiug world not tide bul
a gradual rising; and, for the sake OF
this world and its need Of some nations
childhood Of future dignity and great
ness may grow TO a never ending man
hood Of share in the worlds work.