The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-26
LET US BE AMERICANS.

from the beginning Of the discussion re-
garding national expansion the Journal has
maintained that the question was one on
which there might be an honest difference
of opinion and which should be discussed in
a temperate spirit. The situation is in some
respects entirely new, the interests involved
are great and there are many things to be
considered. As Americans we should be for
our country right or wrong" and while
we are all interested in arriving at a right
solution Of the question it behooves us all
to stand together on the side of the coun-
try, no matter what policy may be adopted
As the Journal has said before, the ques-
ton of expansion relates only TO the acquisi-
ton of the Philippines AS far as Hawaii
and Porto Rico are concerned the question
is closed We have already expanded. The
fact that public sentiment has acquiesced so
readily in the acquisition of these islands,
practically admitting their commercial and
strategic value and the ability Of the United
States to hold and govern them without
much trouble is itself a tacit recognition
of the merits of expansion Nearly every
argument that could be advanced in favor
4
applies to the Philippines, together with
some of a special nature. For anti-expan-
sionists to admit the propriety of acquiring
two of the islands and denounce the acquisi-
ton Of the third as unconstitutional and
dangerous seems very illogical. If expan-
sion is a good thing as far west as Hawaii
why not five thousand miles farther? If
Of 81 in he dino O;fi ho
mercial Importance relative to Eastern trade
it would seem to follow that a group living
much nearer Asia would have still greater
Importance. This is a fair argument for ex-
pansionistS to make. On the other hand, it
must be admitted that there are grave OBJ
jections to the acquisition of the Philippines
with their mongrel tribes of Asiatics and
stable government there would be slow and
difficult work. But the same may be said of
Cuba and Porto Rico. Probably the case of
the Philippines is the worst of the lot but
otherwise it is not essentially different from
the others. 1t differs in degree more than in
kind. 1t will take longer to civilize the Phil
ippines than Porto Rico, but the same
methods that will succeed in one will sue
coed in the other.
There is one aspect Of the question that
does not seem to have been taken into ac-
count, and that is that the acquisition Of the
Philippines by the united States does not
necessarily mean their annexation or their
permanent retention. At first, and probably
for considerable length of time, they would
be under military government, thus giving
the people time to consider the matter in
all its phases and decide whether they
wanted to hold the islands permanently or
not. Once annexed and taken into the Union
there would be no constitutional way of
getting rid Of them, but at any stage prior
to annexation they could be disposed of if
it should be found desirable to do so. And
there would be no trouble on that score for
there are no anti-expansionsts in England
or Germany. If after a few years of mill
tary occupation we should conclude that we
did not wish to hold the islands permanent
ly we could sell them for a good price or
exchange them for other possessions. The
question of the permanent retention of the
islands does not have to be decided imme-
diately.
There are indications in some quarters of
a disposition to get heated over the ques-
ton, and to treat it as if there were only
one side to it, and that the anti-expansion
side. At a meeting of the Massachusetts
Board of Trade, in Boston, a few days ago,
Mr.. Edward Atkinson, who is noted for his
narrow views and disposition to cranki-
ness, introduced a resolution against ''any
extension of the sovereignty of the United
States over the Philippine islands in any
event" In speaking to his resolution he re-
ferred to those who differed with him as
"deluded." The word was not received
gratefully by the audience. Instantly there
were cries of thanks" much obliged to
you," and ''deluded" Another speaker, al
luding to the possibility of military control
of the Philippines, said he HAD nothing to
say against the rank and file of the army,
but he thought we had reason to be far from
proud of it's general officers, who" he
added, "are mequaled for imbecility." A
foreigner who should say such thing be-
fore an American audience would be Kissed
off the floor if not pitched out of window.
The man who did say 1t is not an American
at heart, and it is a pity there was not
somebody in the audience to tell him so. Mr..
Atkinson's resolution did not meet with
much favor and was finally disposed of by
reference to the executive council. There are
some strong reasons against annexation of
the Philippines. but the anti-expansionists
should confne themselves to argument and
not denounce those who differ with them
as deluded and imbecile There are Ameri-
cans outside of Massachusetts, and quite
respectable number of them are expansion
lists. However we may stand on this ques-
ton, let US all be Americans.
REPUBLICAN REFORM.
In 1895 the Republican Legislature de-
$4,000 IL Goo s,.st1r,a in county