The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-12-03
BIDDEFoRD oRAToRY ON TOP.
Portland Debaters vanquished In a Joint
Argument on Annexation Question.

Three of the stars of the Biddefort
Lyceum came in here last evening, tc
measure swords with the Y. NJ. C. A,
Congress Of Portland in discussion OF
tbs question Of territorial annexation.
Portland having won in a similar debate
last spring, most of the spectators rather
anticipated repetition of that result,
but the visitors from Biddeford went
home with victory on their banners.
Resolved, That territorial enlarge
ment would be detrimental to the best
interests of the United States" That
was the question. The debate took place
in Y. M. G. A. hall, and Secretary Gar
land was the presiding officer, while
Lawyers Llewellyn Barton and Edwin
E. Heckbert and Deputy Sheriff Walter
II. Dresser were clothed with the dignity
and authority of judges.
Portland had the affirmative side of
the argument, which was opened by Mr.
III. Ell. burlington. He said he was aware
his was the unpopular side, but he and
his associates hoped to BIZ. able to show
that it was the side of right. He argued
that our country is big enough; it is
compact, easy Of communication, and
we need no distant Notifications to keep
our waterways open.
He held that the chief barriers to terri
torial enlargement are the unrest of the
laboring classes, political corruption,
greed of the mighty against the weak,
and the inharmony of temperaments
and religious views. The struggle of the
future should be a struggle in the arts
of peace, and that nation is the best
prepared with intelligence and integrity
and civil advancement of its people.
Rev. +. P. Estabrook, pastor of the
Pavilion church at Biddeford, was the
first to speak of the negative side of the
question. He began with the statement
that history justifies his side of the
problem. He referred to the early history
of the American colonies and to their
constant branching out and acquire
ment of more territory Every new
acquisition to the Union had been bene-
| fetal, in spite of the dire predictions by
false prophets. The requirements of
the great Northwest and of Alaska was
cited. He laid stress on the claim that
| Canada's interests are identical with our
own, and that there should be no diyid-
| ing line between these two countries.
The next speaker was Samuel L.
Bates, Esq, of Portland, who put his au-
dience into good humor at the outset by
declaring thet his opponents, like most
| "Jingoists," We're in favor of annexing
everything that isn't nailed down. They
are like the farmer who said he didn t
| want anything except all the land that
adjoined his farm. 10 his mind, our
republican form of government is a
chief barrier to territorial enlargement.
We believe in a government of, for and
by the people; we don't want to acquire
colonies TO squeeze and rob, when we
gin TO do that our Sndepen, ent m Of
government ceases. Ne should keep clear
of entangling alliances. History teaches
that the Enation which continually
earns and strives to acquire other coun-
tries comes to ruin. Napoleon was too
ambitious in this line.
Tho annexation of Canada could be
accomplished only by conquest, said the
| speaker, for that country is not for sale.
nor would Great Britain relinquish her
hold upon it without strife. Thus the
| question of Canadian annexation resolves
| itself to this: "Do we want war with
Great Britain?" Mexico is populated
| by a mongrel race who would never
| make good American citizens.
| Benjamin I. Cleaves, Esq, OF Bidde.
ford, was the next djsputant to be given
| possession of the rostrum. He said he
could appre ciate his brother Bates
statement about wanting to annex every
thing that isn't nailed down. The pro
pensity comes natural to all lawyers II
| is true to human nature to strive tic
acquire needful things; that is how man
exists, by seeking to acquire everything
he needs to make him comfortable and
happy.
| The question under debate is very
broad, he said. 1t declares, in effect, that
any kind Of territorial enlargement is
detrimental to..the interest of the United
State. Tt was an unfortunate framing OF
the question, for an enlargement that
would bring this country needful things
would certainly be beneficial. He ridi.
culed any insinuation that the religious
preferences of inhabitants of certain
sections of the globe in question would
preclude their becoming good American
citizens. He enumerated the kinds OF
people that composed the population OF
Louisiana, Florida, Texas, California and
Alaska at the time of their annexation
and showed that no harm had come tc
the nation through their becoming part
OF 1T. He derided the statement of one
OF his opponents that Canadian annex
alton could be accomplished only by wal
with England
Mr.. John j. Goodie, the third dispu
tant on the Portland sideFof the question
said if Uncle Sam co uld come into pos
session of more area without blushing
nobody ought to find fault, but he wa: