The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1895-07-13
NOT DESIRABLE.

The question of annexing portion
of the West Indies to the United States
is not new, and has often been dis
cussed by the leading statesmen OF the
country. This was the subject that
created the bitter feeling between
President Grant and Senator Sumner,
and which continued during the lives
of both these men. Since the Cuban
patriots have been making bold and
brave contest for their independence.
the question is again agitated by the
press of the country, and Salem ex-
change has the following:
"There is no doubt that the United
States ought to have both Cuba and
Hawaii. Spain is virtually bankrupt,
and cannot raise the means to prose
cute long war against the Cuban in
surgents. If this country were to rec
ognize the Cuban patriots as beligger-
antsthey would no doubt shortly throw
off the yoke Of Spain without any di-
rect assistance from our government,
and then they would be ready for an
nexation or any kind of an alliance.
If we had a truly American admins
tration with vigorous foreign policy
it would not be long before the bellig-
erency of the Cubans would be recog-
nized and an end put to the horrors of
the war as it is now conducted"
The acquisition of territory appears
to be the aim of monarchies, and their
greatness is reckoned by the portions
of the globe over which their flag
floats. This should not be the aim of
republics, for the popularity of free in
stitutions rests on the people who con-
stitute the sovereign power. If the
United States extended its domain
over the entire continent it would not
be the means of making the govern
ment more successful in political
sense; but if the present limits only
are retained, the resources properly
developed, and each citizen more fully
protected in the exercise of his consti-
tutional rights the success would be far
greater. The duty of republics lies in
a philanthropic line, and not in
strength and extensive dominions.
Then other questions than this pre-.
sent themselves in the acquisition of
either the Sandwich Islands or Cuba.
If they were anxious to begoverned by
this country, and would willingly be
annexed, what could we do with them?
Would it be advisable to extend the
elective franchise to the inhabitants of
these countries, and could we guaran-
tee republican form of government
without this privilege? Great Britain
has been, very successful with her cob
onies, and her success lies in the fact
that she grants home rule to each.
The United States would be forced to
follow this plan with the Cubans and
the Kanakas, and that would be con-
trary to the spirit of our institutions.
Any people .ust go through long
period of training before they are COM
petent for self-government, and they
cannot emerge immediately from being
the subjects of an empire to the higher
plane of political existence of citizens
of republic. Cuba for Cubans and
Hawaii for Hawaiians; but it does not
follow that these diverse elements
would easily merge into Americans, in
the comprehensive meaning of the
term. It is better that they
should remain as they are,
and prepare themselves for self
government by long years of tuition.
The United States has all the territory
it can we'll govern now, without ac-
quiring more; and it will be far bet
ter for the people for the authorities to
do everything possible to better the
condition of citizens than to incorpo-
rate within its jurisdiction the mon
grel races that inhabit these islands in
the Atlantic and Pacific.