Omaha daily bee., 1893-11-19
A POLICY.

a POLfCl.
Senator Chandler of New Hampshire,
in a letter to the editor of the New York
Tribune, presents his view of the ''true
continental policy of the United States"
which he says will be the policy of the
progressive republican party. 1t will
contemplate, says he senator, the
eventual adhesion to the American
union of the whole North American con-
%tinent, the Sandwich islands and a rea-
sonable and sufficient number of the
West Indies. 1t will not be a policy of
aggression and may require decades
and perhaps q century for its full
fruition. 1t does not propose, says Mr..
Chandler, to urge affirmative
movements for the acquisition of
Canada or Mexico, or the
other GENITAL states, or Hawaii or any
islands on our eastern coast. 1t will
await the movement of public opinion
in the countries which are viewed as
possible future additions to the United
States, being a policy ''merely of atten-~
tion and willingness for voluntary an
nexation when other peoples within
reasonable distance desire to share our
protection, our prosperity and our free
DOM" In the meanwhile we shall con-
tinue to assert the Monroe doctrine in
reference to the WHOLE of South Amer
lea, and still seek to cultivate the closest
and most friendly relations with all the
South American nations.
Senator Chandler is not alone in his
views regarding the manifest destiny"
of the United States, though he is far
more moderate in defining the conti-
mental policy of this country than most
of those who believe that in time the
entire continent will be under one gov
eminent, acknowledging the flag of the
union as it's emblem and having as its
outposts the islands of the Atlantic and
the Pacific that may be deemed neces-
sary to its interests and welfare. Many,
perhaps the majority, of those who hold
this faith are not disposed to await the
movement of public opinion in the coun-
tries which are viewed as possible flu
ture additions to our own, but would
make their policy of territorial aggran-
dizement aggressive to at least the ex-
tent of fostering and encouraging the
public opinion in other countries favor.
able to incorporation in the American
union. The advocates of Canadian
annexation have been pursuing this
course tor years and those who believe
that the United States should possess
Cuba have from time to time for de-
cades sought to further that object by
fostering among tho Cuban people hos
Utility to the authority of Spain. Be-
levers in the destiny of the United
States to absorb the continent are not
all disposed to be as patient as Mr..
Chandler and allow decades that may
run into a century to pass before the
full f~ruition of their hopes can be
attained. An eminent senator said on
the floor of the national senate not very
long ago that within ten years Canada.
or the greater part of it, ought to be
under the American flag, and it is
hardly likely that he thought this pos
sible as the result Of a natural move
ment of public opinion in that
c)uctry. AS a matter of fact he believed
that there should be an aggressive
effort on our part to stimulate or force
Canadian public opinion in that direc-
tion, and pretty nearly all the advocates
of further territorial acquisition are
similarly ~actuated, 5 They want the
''true continental policy pushed with
all the vigor that can properly or de
Gently be applied to it.
That there is plausibility in the idea
of an American union extending over
the whole North American continent
, must be admitted, s1and it must be con
fessed, also, that there, is much in tn,
idea that is attractive. II appeals t.
patriotic pride and aspiration. 1t in
, spires thoughts OF boundless wealth
and unlimited power. The fathers of tn,
: republic had no conception of tho nation
: that was to be erected upon the marrow
: founda ton they laid. We Of today ma,
be equally unable to conceive of the pos
4 sibilities of a continental American re
public, with an enlightened, progressiv,
and united people under one government
and one flag. Surely such a nation woul,
. dominate the world and become the ar
5 bitter whose Judgment all other nation
S would respect. But there is anothel
view. It cost hundreds of thousands o
lives and thousands OF millions of treas
ure to preserve the union we have. It'll
secure, every loyal and patriotic either
believes, within its present boundaries
Y There are no elements Of its popula
I ton that now threaten its perpe
a tuity and it is in no danger from exter