New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-07
THE SPIRIT or INPFRT4TTSN.
CORRESPONDENT WHO VIEWS WITH
ALARM THE QUESTION OF EXPANSION

| CORRESPONDENT WHO VIEWS WITH
| ALARM THE QUESTION OF EXPANSION
| To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sly Recent developments in Cuba Porto Rico
and the Philippines indicate something Of the seri
! BUSINESS Of the problem this country has 10 solve
! after precriiating conditions that place the
Islands. under the rules OF war and right Of con-
| quest in charge Of the United States
Although in the declaration Of war this rish. Of
acquisition was emphatioally denied. and the Pres
! dent in his message referred II "a criminal &C
! qusition or words 10 tina, effect the sprl, Of i'm
perialiSm has become pronounced under the press
ure fof trade extension and the sentimental desire
to better he conditions Of tho people Of the isla nds
that ii nov appears 10 he acc pied by many
| foreSone conclusion that whatever may he the
| terms most applicable 10 tho situation this Gov
eminent. for the prescott least. has the and
| control Of the islands IN hand
! When Was declared il was apparently with
| the understanding that tho Insurgents represented
the great mas OF pcop'e, especially in cuba. who
were fighting for liberty and would welcome the
intervention OF strong government against
Spain in ;hei- behalf The developments since the
surrender % Santiago and Manila mus; have effect
| Ually diSpeled this Illusion and brought
face 10 face with and climate conditions that
hOwey'r readily they h. temporarily ignored
will IT. the futGr" largely determine the come OF
this whole question. Spain Is oui Of control. the
United States = in; Vet these underlying cord'-
TONS little II changed. ana w can now
appreciate a. on; leisure thai the very first act o.
war in closing n" blockade shut of the last and
only hope OF tho reconcentrados. that tho nsur-
gents instead Of representing the majority Of the
pc ople in contest for freedom. were largely
handful. or bands using guerilla methods. and as
matter Of fact 4, time represented AZ the most
liberal estimate moro than per cent % The popu-
aton
We also beginning 20 appreciate that the
mass ~ population Of all the Islands Is as alien
our people. this cviliza ion. and as foreign -
our me hods habits religion and code Of morals
as was the original American Indian or the native
Ethiopian. The people can be readily conquered no
doubt by efficient military organization and Kept
In subsection by large and burdensome standing
army. but the great problem the real question OF
government then but Just begins
In tho Ugh, OF either ancien, or modern history
or the history OF our own country thus far, what
| encouragement IS there for assuming that the
"leopard will change i,s spots that IN dealing with
race conditions history will not repeat itself or
that in view o. the teachings Of past experience
this Government hope FOR eienc!al results
commensurate With the risk. danger and expense
incident to the permanent requirement either by
assumed conquest by future annexation OF these
slan ds in question.
Much Ia sail about trade benefits as n basis OF
justification for dangerous territorial expansion.
| This argument might perhaps have more force
were II not for The fact that the major port Of such
| benefits is secured In tho first place by treaty.
| and In the second place The tribute from an *
| tended world does not necessarily add either
integral strength resource to nation or people
The halcyon days Of Rome were apparently AZ a
time when the policy Of commercial expansion was
az fun tide and the whole world. so 10 speak WIS
paying tribute to that patriotic and auent centre
we, al the very time the underlying conditions or
Internal disin;egration were going on apace. ana
with all the patriotic pride unlimited resource and
foreign territorial conquest and tribute down went
nd
ure time.
Is Il not quality Of citizenship rather Than nu-
mercal strength that makes a nation great Real
patriotism and love Of country combined with the
normal Development Of great natural resources
such as SIN have In superabur dance In this
country and not foreign aggrandizement or the ag
eressive spirit OF imperialism? This fact IS so con-
s,antly INDICATED all through the experiences NJ
various government and In the history Of nations
that Il appears automatic.
The present conditions ~ India after years OF
English colonial control. The carpet bag govern
men, Of the Southern States after the close Of the
Civil War. and many other instances demonstrate
how easy Il Is to imagine that local and race con-
6itions can be transformed into ideal governments
bu, a. matter Of fact how difnclllt has invariably
been the task And what reason have We 10
ticipate any different results In going outside OF
our own recognized territory m a climate that has
brought death and shocking havoc TO our brave
soldiers in the field. with populations as difncul,
II, IN spsnns up questions Of foreign Complications
that no person now living nay see me conse-
nences OF I'm encouraging every kind or speculation
and fcmpta on away from home 10 create useless
ofnces and demoralizing influences; and in assum-
inp tho burden Of an army Of conquest to keep
In order ana control what has already cost dear
and Of the future cost OF Wheh should me IN
R Pc maze RS''' p'e''''' 'o '''''' 80 NV
Jingoism together with the misdrected sym;
pathies Of many who could hardly have understood
he actual condors in the isl sland has thus far
consequent reaction may not. yei have arrived
That an irresistible sentiment favorng a more con
servative policy regarding the ISLANDS, VIII maxi
itself felt In the near future Is J believe hardy
to souS T been 6 to s se' only ,Se Pe rosy
side ~ the precipitation OF war and territorial tx.
pansip pssza,1on Of the serious problems now
fronting the country a. result and o. again Re,
INNATE Iike other natural laws cannot he changei
ar Measure and that the attempt IN ms instance
a1e i Tesu' be correct view Of the case the sup
nsed advantage OF political leadership In declar-
ing war NAV more Formidable than the action
and judgment Of The mass OF ao no. fq s
saer that The pessmsf yf sca Hae the
present conflict are Justified but oenrre INA,
! vol,e ~ me c,Izans Of this country in depre
ca ing the trying situation ,he eoun rarEin,,as
lion 81 war should have been and might nave been
averted and that the best way OUT o. tne d Ii
policy Of Government and In honoahy ca nSn
Ing out in good faith the express STIPULATION upon
nbich tho declaration Of war was maze ana that
Zion on the part OF Congress was )ustihed pe'ore
tho people oo.a.1 rou ,ha, the neoplc
- ,be Islands ara In no way fitted for seif-goVerh-
ment and that the elective francniSe ca az nn W W
.afaiv extended to the native population OF any OF
a. Islands Should therefore. the spirit OF perna.
nent conquest prevail what then? TINS pVernm rIn
niple strikes AT the foundation Of the whole
.ppnc,,,re Of popular government-the arbitrary
h,roi ~ q State or II a people without their rep
Tesenaon the elective consent OF those hose anus anus
sorarn nrecedent could be established or more
SSerniclois legislative principle adopted such as
ihrn,ofore been the first step in the downiaii
Of republics? ,eoe IN "