IS IT PROGRESS OR DEGENERACY?
By W. N. G.
THE “spirit of ’76” is fast giving way to the spirit of ’98. The Government of the United States has departed and is departing so far from its original doctrines as to be scarcely recognizable when compared with its first picture. In the glamor of latter-day pretension the new “Novus Ordo Seclorum” (A new order of things) poses on the pedestal of “Progress;” but, if the doctrines of the founders of the government were correct, the present tendency is rather degenerate than progressive. The latest political suggestion is the United States party, and whether or not the suggestion actually materializes under that name, the principles set forth in the proposition are no doubt becoming the popular idea. The Kansas City Star comments quite patronizingly upon the proposed new party and its platform. In order to show how easily popular sentiment may be diverted, even reversed, we give a few extracts from the Star’s article:— “The vast army of new converts to the idea that the American republic is henceforth to be a nation of the world in the sense of having a voice in the direction of its affairs, might properly marshal themselves under the name of the United States party. That title would indicate the universality of the movement and would convey an adequate idea of its breadth. . . . “Never has this country witnessed such a rapid and sweeping revolution of sentiment as has manifested itself in all parts of the Union since the outbreak of the war. The conservative of six weeks ago has become, through the force of unexpected events, a staunch advocate of the doctrine of manifest destiny. From the hour that the Spanish fleet went down before the guns of the American squadron at Manila, a new purpose took hold of the American people. They were brought, in a moment, to a realization of their power and of their obligation to the world. With the last echo of Dewey’s guns the United States ceased to be a hermit nation. The platform of the United States party is: The annexation of Cuba. Military occupation of Porto Rico. Permanent military occupation of Manila. The annexation of Hawaii. Completion and control of the Nicaragua canal. An increased and active navy. A standing army of 150,000 men. An Anglo-American alliance. “Such a creed can not fail to attract a great multitude of followers, and it will exercise an influence that will do nothing less than change the map of the globe. . . . “Aiming alone at the glorification of the United States and the extension of its influence on the globe, the new party will present a platform broad enough for every loyal and patriotic citizen to stand on. Republicans, Democrats, Populists, Prohibitionists, all who are interested in the march of liberty and in the expansion of the best government the world has ever seen, can join the new party and labor together for the principles which it upholds.” Unless the ambitions so suddenly inspired by a few successes in the trial of strength with a broken-down nation shall meet some unforeseen checks, the Fourth of July celebrations will soon, of necessity, wear a different aspect from those of the olden-time occasions. But if the Church-and-State spirit, which has gained such an impetus in the past decade, shall continue its hold upon “the powers that be,” the “glorification of the United States and the extension of its influence on the globe” will not be so great a boon as its promoters imagine. Such a consummation would be little, if any, better than the “extension of the influence” of any other Church-and-State government. W. N. G.