New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-11-15

set forth than in Mr.. Reds brief pages
on THE Diplomatic Point of View.
Good faith and resolution. these were
the indispensables. and, constantly
playing over them, the light OF reason
In two long papers on Some lnterna-
tional Questions" ne discusses first
The Monroe Doctrine and the Polk
Doctrine" and then "Anarchism." the
latter subject being considered, OF
course. with special reference to ques-
lions of asylum, extradition and the
like. These essays are remarkable for
the courteous but unhesitating frank
ness with which trivial quibblings are
brushed aside and the reciprocal duties
of nations are firmly indicated.
The three succeeding papers, which
relate to the influence Of the war with
Spain upon our conception OF interna-
tional policy, and especially upon our
attitude toward questions of territorial
expansion, represent a crucial passage
an observer of the events leading up To
this conflict, more than a commentator
on its progress in the field. 1t fell TO
him to follow up his study of the sub
iect as an editor with active participa-
ton in the establishment OF peace. and
there he brought into action all the ele-
iments Of his deep-rooted Americanism
The sagacity Of the statesman and the
Intense feeling of the patriot animate
these pages Of hard headed, tarseeing
and eloquent debate.
Once more he trusted himself TO the
national character; once more nc
counted upon the moral vigor and the
mere good sense Of his countrymen.
1T was no vulgar lust Of power he
declared. that inspired the statesmen
and soldiers of the Republic when they
resisted the hating counsel or the
Little Americans in the past. DUTY
had set US In righteous paths before
and duty would set us there again.
But once more, too. he remembered the
function of the publicist. which Is 10
see things as they are, and he brought
Ian the resources Of a thoroughly prac-
teal mind TO the demonstration OF
what he believed to be the great truth
of the Spanish affair. The war landed
us in certain unavoidable responsiDIh-
ties. With these on our shoulders
there was but one thing 10 do, ana
1 ,...,t
not to split hairs over the questions
raised by narrow minded faction.
Furthermore, ii was plain TO him, ana
in this book he makes it plain beyond
all peradventure to the reader. that
the hair-splittiDg so popular among
the Little Americans was pitifully be-
side the point.
He was a deep student both of
American history in the large sense
and of constitutional developments
in particular. The paper on Terri
toria Expansion" closely written
and fortified at every point by authori-
ties expressive both Of our legal land
marks and our genius as a people ded-
|
tiveness when ii was first directed
| against the so-called anti-imperialis-
tic hypothesis. 1t is timely to-day,
as Is the paper on Our Duty in the
Philippines" in view of the revival Of
certain old and empty arguments.
There is no aspect of the Philippine
question. the education of the natives,
the extension OF local government,
the development Of trade, which Is
not brought up in this study. 1t Is
really a state document in essence,
and its weight is doubled by the skill
with which the author relates his con-
crete facts TO the central principles of
American life and American political
ideals His discussion Of the subject
is not that of the shrewd opportunist,
making the best of a difficult problem.
It Is that OF a statesman, recognizing
where fate has imposed solemn duty
upon his countrymen and indicating
the path which they cannot but follow.
Whitelaw Reid never rendered wiser
service to the United States than when
he played his part in the assumption
of the Philippine burden and showed
how, in his opinion, it was best to be
borne.
The studies thus far traversed might
be described as studies OF the Ameri-
can character in operation. Those
which Immediately follow them are
concerned with education, which is 20
say with formative tendencies and the
discipline which we have gradually i'm
posed upon them. This part Of the
book. though not very large, gives an
excellent idea of the liberal principles
which the author fostered in his work
as a member OF the Board Of Regents
and never tired OF advocating both here
and abroad. One Of the essays. by the
way, gives an unusually concise and
comprehensive account of Education
in England Lastly comes a paper.
I'm an Old Ohio Town." wherein the
author shows us something of Xenia,
where he was born. and through divers
photographed touches enables us TO