The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-08-12


1t does not take long nowadays for the
average politician to proceed to square
himself on every new issue that comes up:
and just now this Is being done on a large
scale in the presence of the pressing ques-
ton OF national expansion or Imperial
ism.'
Let us look at the facts of history. Most
of the taking in of new territory by our
government has been done by the Demo-
Gratis. Indeed 1t was mostly done before
the Republican party came into being.
and when the Federalist or Wing party
was the opposition party. and It's leaders
were generally found in antagonism to the
Democrats on these lines.
1t was Jefferson, the strict construction
ist who added seven hundred thousand
square miles to our territory, with small
warrant OF constitutional authority, as his
opponents said. Monroe's admins ira ton
acquired Florida, while Texas, too, came in
through Democratic policy. OF the indi-
vidual statesmen of the period foremost OF
all were Benton and Cass, to whose per-
sonal influence the saving Of Oregon to the
Union was largely due.
Think, then, of the vast territory that
came to us through Folks administration
the completion of our western boundary
with its unequaled wealth. The opposition
of the Wings to all the Mexican war meas
ures was of the bitterest sort. IT'S true
this was partly due to the anti-slavery
sentiment then about to become a power
in the nation, which sentiment was
opposed to all new territory because it was
feared slavery might go there and thus
insure an increase of the slave power in pol
tiles. But the main opposition came of
the natural conservatism of the Wings,
as the opposition party of the country.
This contest against Polk and all that his
administration implied, extended even to
belittling the fruits of the Mexican war In
way entirely apart from the question of
slavery Mr.. Webster in the senate de-
clared that no good could ever come to the
country from this acquired territory. He
put New Mexico entirely out Of account,
and as to California, expressed his belief
that the people of that portion of the
country could never have any interest In
or sympathy with the government Of the
United States" So poor is the political pre-
diction of even the soundest of party men.
And political history abounds In such con-
flcts when partisanship has played any
part in the matter, although there has
never been added to our domain mile of
territory that was not an evidence Of the
highest wisdom, and very soon admitted to
have been, even by the opposition.
One more Democratic act in this line re-
10 1rv1 Q
the "Gadsden purchase" accomplished I'M
der Franklin Pierce, the hard-headed New
Highlander.
Thus It apears that the half century of
power by the Democracy of the country
gave to us an area Of territory compared
to which the original states were only a
little patch on the Atlantic.
And what did all this half century of
nation-building mean? Did II mean that
the Democracy had a monopoly of the ex-
pansion idea? Not at all. The growth of
a nation by increase OF area Is always
favored; is always popular. The Demo-
Gratis were in power when the greatest OF
our possessions were acquired. and deserve
a Just measure Of praise for the credit Of
securing them, for they were all creditable.
1t was so-called Democratic doctrine"
too, that foreshadowed the wrestling of
Cuba from Spain-a quarter of century
ago, when the most picturesque figures in
political life issued the famous "Ostend
manifesto"
But 1t must be remembered that individ-
uals of all parties have been favorable to
expansion and also advocates Of manifest
bnp al
planned for the purchase Of Cuba, and
twenty years ago Senator Carpenter OF
Wisconsin, in a remarkable speech in the
senate, advocated forcible measures to
break Spanish rule in the West Indies and
TO possess ourselves of territory that ought
to belong to US, as nincident of our inter-
ference. Something akin to this has often
been in the minds of many Of our leading
statesmen, as in the case of President
Grant, who advocated In special message
the requirement of San Domingo.
So it appears that, even In the cases of
doubtful propriety, like the requirement of
territory not contiguous, there has not only
been no open disagreement among the peo-
pie of the country, but there has been sub
stantial accord. Indeed, 1t may be said
that all our relations to the West Indies
have been on we'll understood and care
fully laid lines. When affairs appeared to
he ripening for action in President Cleve-
lands last term, he pointed out the issue
upon which we must soon interfere, the
disturbance of our peace through the losses
and cruelties occurring under our very
eyes, and warned Spain that these must
cease within a reasonable time. His sue
cessor used almost this Identical language
in stating our attitude as to interference,
and emphasized 1t by his action In retain
ing Consul General Lee and the other rep
resentatives Of the government.
The blowing UP of the Maine intensified
public feeling and FASTENED the end, but
neither in executive policy nor In the senti-
ment among the masses of the people has
there been any dividing lines of party be-
Mef as to the propriety of Cuban interfer-
ence.. Either party, If in power, would be
Impelled to do, in any given case, practi-
cally what the other would. And this APP
plies to all things done, and all things to
be done, in the way Of requirement of ter
ritory that would be Of real advantage TO
us. and at the same time honorable to the
nation.
Parties, then. should not feel called upon
to make especial claims to the champion
ship of territorial expansion on the one
hand, or of opposition on the other; for
the plain history of the country shows that
this would be false and fraudulent, as we'll
as futile. There are things upon which
parties may and do divide, for the people
divide on certain issues, and these make
parties; but up to the present time there