Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-07-10

reached her majority as a world power.
1t was almost exactly twenty.
years ago that the results Of the war
with Spain put us Unexpectedly in pos
session of rich islands on the other side
of the world and brought MS into asso-
citation with other governments in the
control Of the West Indies. lt was re-
garded as sinister and omiEous thing
by the statesmen Of more than one Eur
opean ehaneellory that we should have
extended our power beyond the con-
fines of our continental dominions.
They were accustomed to think of new
neighbors as a new menace, of rivsls
as watchful enemies.
They were persons amongst us at
home who looked with deep disapprov-
al and avowed anxiety on such exten-
sons of our national authority over
distant islands and over peoples whom
they feared we might exploit, not serve.
and assist. But we have not expoiteA
them. And our dominion has been a
menace to no other nation. We redeem
ed our honor to the utmost in our deal
ings with Cuba. She is weak but abso-
lutely free; and it is her trust in us
that makes her free. Weak peoples ev-
erywhere stand ready to give us any
authority among them that win assure
them like friendly oversight and di-
reetion. They know that there is no
ground for fear in receiving us as their
mentors and guides. Our isolation was
ended twenty years ago; and now fear
Of us is ended also, our counsel and as
sociation sought after and desired.
There can be no question Of our ceas-
ing to be world power The only ques-
tion is whether we can refuse the NOR
al leadership that is Offered MS, wheth-
or we shall accept or reject the eonfi-
denee Of the world.
aRtification Only Course
The war and the conference of peace
now sitting in Paris seem TO me to
have answered that question. Our par
tleipatiOn in the war established our
position among the nations and moth
ing but our own mistake Of action can
alter 1t. It was not an accident or a
matter of sudden choice that we are no
longer isolated and devoted 10 a poll
ey which has only our own interest and
advantage for its object II was our
duty to 60 in, if we were indeed the
champions of liberty and Of right. We
answered to the call Of duty in a way
so spirited, so utterly without thought
OF what we spent of blood or treasure,
50 effeetive, so worthy of the admira-
uon OF true men everywhere so
wrought of the stuff of all that was
heroic, that the whole world saw at
last in the flesh, in noble action. a
great deal asserted and vindieated, by
nation they had deemed material q
ana now found to be compact, Of the
spiritual forces that must free men of
every nation from every unworthy
bondage. II is thus that new role and
new responsibility have come to this
great nation that we honor and which
we would all wish to lift to vet higher
levels and service and achievement.
The stage is set, the destiny disclos-
ed. II has come about BY no plan Of
our eoneeiving. but by the hand Of
eod who led us into this way. We can
not turn back. We can only 90 forward
with lifted eyes and freshened spirst.
o-followi the vision. 1t was Of This
that we dreamed at our births Amer.
lea shall in truth show the way. The
night streams upon the path ahead, and
nowhere else.