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FOR WEAL OR WOE

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Feb 20, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 8.

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FOR WEAL OR WOE.

By T.

Ex-President Cleveland read a carefully prepared paper at the banquet of the Holland Society in New York City, recently, on the new departure of this country in its effort to subjugate and govern the Philippines. Mr. Cleveland said that he would call his paper a sermon, for it had fallen to his lot to have to deal most generally with the sober side of life. In comparing the work of England in South Africa with America in the Philippines, he said:—
“Both are killing natives in an effort to possess their land. This indicates a sad relapse, and in our case it is a most serious one. If England succeeds in her attempt in South Africa, she will but add another to her list of similar acquisitions; a brave people will be subjugated; and because of our engagement in a similar venture in another quarter they will miss the expressions of American sympathy which we are accustomed to extend to those who struggle for national life and independence. On the other hand, with success in our subjugation effort, a new, untried, and exceedingly perilous situation will be forced upon us. We can conquer the Philippines, and after conquering them can probably govern them. It is in the strain upon our Constitution, the demoralization of our people, the evasion of our constitutional limitations, and the perversion of our national mission, that our danger lies. As a distinguished bishop has said, ‘The question is not what we shall do with the Philippines, but what the Philippines will do to us.’”
“Our country will never be the same again. For weal or woe we have already irrevocably passed beyond the old lines.”
“The republic will in some sort be saved. Shall it be only in name and semblance, with fair external appearance, but with the germs of decay fastened upon its vitals; or shall it, tho changed, still survive in such vigor and strength as to remain the hope and pride of free Americans?”
Mr. Cleveland sees the danger ahead. He can not properly be charged with any political aspiration in presenting the matter as he does, for he has already had the highest office that the nation can give twice bestowed upon him. And, following the traditions of the country, he can not hope to be elected again. So it must be evident that he is presenting something that he sees, and not something that he wishes to theorize about. As was expressed by the honorable gentleman on a former occasion, “It is not a theory that confronts us, but a condition.”
“Our country will never be the same again. For weal or woe we have already irrevocably passed beyond the old lines.” Thus does Mr. Cleveland express the facts as they are in regard to the condition of this country at the present time. The old landmarks have been left behind. And the nation can no longer be said to stand solely for the freedom of all mankind, and for the defense of the principles of self-government. The spectacle of United States troops fighting the Filipinos to bring them into subjection would certainly be a sorry sight to Washington, and Jefferson, and Madison, and all the rest of the staunch old defenders of freedom that established this government, and gave it as one of the most glorious heritages to mankind.
Fifty years ago the people who are represented by the SIGNS OF THE TIMES drew the conclusion from the study of the thirteenth chapter of Revelation that this government would depart from her principles of freedom and justice and become oppressive. We have published this to the ends of the earth. We have been ridiculed and laughed at for saying it. But all the time there has stood the prophecy that God has given; and we know that God is right. This departure of the government from her principles that we can see to-day is but the beginning. The end is not yet by any manner of means. The inspired statement in regard to the future history of the nation is, “He spake as a dragon.” Rev. 13:11.
The oppressive career of the country will be but short, for the second coming of Christ will put a stop to it. But in her dragonic work, that the prophecy discloses, she will be sinning in the face of the brightest and clearest light that has ever shone on any nation, in any clime, or in any period of the world. All the experiences and the truth and the wisdom of the ages are laid bare before the people of this time. And when they fly in the face of such light, and for greed, and the thirst for power, and like motives, every principle of liberty and right is trampled underfoot, how terrible will be the condition! No one can describe the things that are coming over this world, so intensely awful are they to be; and but few give the matter a serious thought. The world is under the delusion that a glorious age is just before it. Its destruction is that which is impending, instead.
Yet is there a shelter from this destruction. Do you know about it? Are you resting in it? If so, hasten to tell every one about it, for the time is short. The end of the reign of sin and the ushering in of the kingdom of Christ are right at hand. Every evil and every sin must be put away before that time, else it will be necessary for us to be destroyed along with the wrong that we are doing.
T.