The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1904-09-23
A NOTABLE EXCEPTION.
Richard Olney Has Not Joined the
Democratic Pessimists.

Since Judge Parker and the Demo
cratic party have chosen TO make an
issue of the aggressive and progressive
activities Of the Republican party which
in the span of one generation have plac-
ed the United States in the van of the
worlds civilization, it may be we'll to
recall! that there is at least one Demo
crat Who has not Joined in his party's
pessinistic walls.
Riclard Olney, the choice of the
| Massachusetts, Democracy for President
at St Louis. Attorney General and See
retaIy of State during Cleveland's sec
ond term, and author of the ringing
phrase in support of the Monroe doctrine
To-day the United States is practical
~ sovereign Oh this continent, and its
nat is law upon the subjects to which
it confines its interposition," is a Demo
crat who has something stronger than
Diluted ASS milk in his veins.
n an article printed in the Atlantic
Monthly for March. 1900, on the
Growth Of Our Foreign Policy" Rich
arr Olney anticipated and confuted al
most every pitiful plea for national stag
nation and dishonor uttered by Judge
Parker in the two instances when he has
GU " Opcu LIS lNoulA. w Htic
the Democratic candidate counsels that
the United States shall live for and
within itself alone, Mr.. Olney boldly
proclaimed that such a policy had tend
I'd to belittle the national character
and has lied to a species of provincial
ism and to narrow views of our duties
and functions as a nation"
Where Judge Parker in his unfamil-
larlty with the meaning OF the phrase,
due to his seclusion from the world at
Esopus, proclaims that the United
states became a world power over 3
century ago." Mr.. Olney, with broader
knowledge of the world, says that His
torians will probably assign the aban-
denment of TIE isolation policy to the
time when this country aud Spain went
to war over Cuba"
Nor can there be any serious question
but Mr.. Olney is right.
And in this connection it was that
Cleveland's virile Secretary of State
sad. The United States has come ont
OF It's shell and ceased to be a hermit
among nations, naturally and properly"
lie also emphasized the necessity for
preparation to cope with larger respon-
slbllltles in these terms:
1T goes without saying that the United
states cannot play the part in the worlds
analfs lt mas just assumed without equip
plnS itself for the part with all the In,
slruhlehtalitles necessary to make It's VIII
ieit, whether through pacific Intercourse
ahu negotiation or through force. We can
nor assert ourselves as a power whose
interests and sympathies are as vide as
civilization without assuming obligations
corresponding to the claim.
The equipment required for our new
International role must not be discussed
at any length. We must have. it-the
need VIII be forced upon us by facts the
logic Of which will be irresistihle-and
however slow to move or indisposed to face
the facts, the national government must
sooner or later provide for it
There was much more to the same
and enlightened appreciation of the
American determination to meet the OBJ
legations Of our expanding national OPP
portunities. Without failing to recog-
nize that the triumphs of peace are the
true objective of A republic, Mr.. Olney
srasped the eternal truth that peace and
liberty and progress can only be insured
by full provision to maintain them by
force.
The nation which goes about with
nothing but an olive branch IN its mouth
in other words. without increasing its
expenditures for coast defenses, for ships
and guns, for men and arms-cannot eX-
pect its voice will he needed. in the
councils of nations. Every dollar the
United States is spending on its army
and navy to-day is an Insurance against
wal and national dish0n0r.