The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-12-29

Today were held the closing sessions OF
the various societies meeting al Brown,
and they were as fully attended as any
during the week.
one OF the most interesting meetings OF
IN. morning VAS that OF the Historical
association treating OF American history.
The first paper was that OF Clarence ;.
Brlgham OF the Rhode Island Historical
society on ''rhe Impressment OF the Sea-
men In the War OF 1872 Mr. Brigham
described In a very interesting manner the
efforts OF the government TO obtain sail
ors and gave a number OF Instances show
ing the character % the seamon and the
straits OF the government.
paper was then read on 'Wllllam
Penn" BY Edward Claiming professor In
Harvard university, telling OF the life ana
characteristics oe the founder Of the
keystone state.
A third ana very interesting paper was
by Evarts Greene OF the University of
Illinois. on Gustav Koerner, Typical
Cierman-Amerlcan Leader" in part as
follows:
''Koerner maintained throughout his life
a strong interest I'm art and letters and
during his last years published book,
which as a valuable contribution TO our
knowledge Of German immigration TO the
United States His career Is interesting
10 students OF American history. partly
because IL illustrates the contributions
made by the better class Of German
Americans 10 the politics and civilization
OF ths Middle West and partly because
II reveals the mental attitude OF the cul-
tured German toward the somewhat un-
developed culture OF the United States
Following this Prof Frank III. Holder
OF the University OF Kansas, portrayed
some aspects of the English bill. Prof
James A. Woodbourn of the University OF
Indiana read paper on the Attitude OF
Thaddeus Stevens Toward the Conduct of
Fhe Civil War" in part as follows
Stevens did not wish 10 restore the
union as IL was with the Constitution as
Il is-' That was an 'atrocious idea; II
was man-steallng The union, half
slave. half free. could not be restored.
Whoever sought 10 restore the old union
was guilty OF an effort to re-enslave his
fellow men. Stevens wished a new union.
-on whose soil the foot of slave should
not tread Stevens speeches were mod
reads them and follows the career Of
their author will feel that he was one OF
the strongest personal forces In the period
OF the Civil war"
The last meeting of the Political Science
association was held at Manning hail.
papers being read on the questions OF
government dependencies, as follows
Helping to Govern India" by Charles
Johnston, late OF the British India civil
service, Flushing. N. Y: Responsible
Government i'm the British Colonial Sys-
tenn" by Prof Stephen Leacock McGill
university: Spanish Administration of
Philippine Commerce. by Prof Chester
Lloyd Jones. University OF Pennsylvania:
Some Effects OF Outlying Dependencies
Upon the People OF the United States.'
by Henry G. Morris. Chicago. The latter.
in part. was as follows:
In the Philippines. America Is confront
ed with serious and complex race prob
lem. Shall we annlhiate or elevate the
people OF these islands? Has not our brief
experience with an inferior race of the
east shaken our ideals? May II not cause
reaction In out attitude toward the
negro for whom our earlier enthusiasm
seems to have cooled? What will be the
tnfuence upon our theories OF government
in their application TO our domestic af-
fairs?
I'm the ultimate reservation OF power 10
congress. I'm which the inhabitants OF the
Philippines have no repre- sentation and
irrespective OF constitutional limitations.
we are challenging failure. Whether the
Monroe doctrine is Jeopardized by the ex-
pansion of our interests. may be doubted
IL we have barred the entry of European
states to the American continent. we have
ever demonstrated our good faith by dis
avowing any intention to extend our own
sovereignty
There Is apparently no reason why we
should abandon the stand our fathers
took. On the contrary. while maintaining
the Monroe doctrine in it's application to
Central and South America we may per-
haps formulate some analogous theory of
non-intervention in the affairs of the
Pacific. The control of dependencies is
working In our national fabric innumer-
able moral social. intellectual. economic
and political changes. 1t behooves us
carefully TO study these"
The chief topic at the meeting OF the
Sociological society was Social Darwin
ism David Collin Wells OF Dartmouth
read the first paper. after which there
was a general discussion. or~ned by
Prof. Lester II. Ward of Brown univer-
sity.
But one society held a meeting this
afternoon; that being the Political Sci
ence association, In Manning HAN. The
first paper was on the Need OF a Sci
entihc Study Of Colonial Problen>," by
Prof Alleyne Ireland, In part as follows:
The point wish TO make is that for the
purposes of a scientific study OF colonial
administration II is necessary 20 so divide