Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-09-25
A Plea for Expansion.
he Editor Of the Dispatch:

10 INC VI NhC bAoPhNNH'
The whitewinged dove of peace will
soon again build her nest snugly In tho
lannon's mouth and you can buy the
demagogue this year for two and halr
cents on the dollar.
The war with Spain is over; we have
won all along the line and change has
come in the minds of some of those who
We're continually denouncing the war be-
cause. as they said, II was for impe-
rialism A great light has broken forth
and eyes that were blind have been
opened and these same persons are now
explaining.
They are cordially in favor of acquiring
Porto Rico, the Ladrones. and in the
event Of the Cubans proving themselves
incapable OF organizing a stable govern
ment they would annex Cuba.
They also think the United States may
hold a coaling station In the Philippines.
II would not be at all surprising to wake
no some morning and find them adyo-
eating the whole Of the Philippines and
slice of Spain to boot.
Ii is a remarkable conversion, remark
able alike for suddenness and for com
pleteness. There are newspapers in this
country that, five or six weeks ago,
were roaring like lions against what they
called imperialism To-day they are
purring like little kittens and either speak
approvingly OF what they then denounced
with loud voices and vigorous words, or
ara as dumb as oysters. What they
frowned upon fiercely short time ago
they now smile at with their blandest
and most bewitching smiles.
Ii is not the first time that this class
of men have moved up and camped upon
the trail of the procession that has gone
by. Ii IS to their credit that they come
around all right although their coming
IS somewhat belated. They have simply
caught on to the fact that they were
about TO be left and that their number is
so small that they would be mighty lone
some.
All sorts of gruesome predictions have
been made. l would like to ask II we
have been ruined, az they say. by an
nexing new territory. or should we nave
restricted ourselves TO the Atlantic sea-
board; or made the Aleghanies our
western border; or stopped when we
reached the Mississippi? What greater
reason IS there for holding that we should
allow the Pacific 10 stop our progressE
So far. those people criticise the Demo-
cratic party, but II they dispute the policy
Of buying Alaska or annexing Hawaii
and holding Porto Rico, then all the
pecple in America must be I'm error, II
they be right. Those anti-war folks seem,
however. 10 restrict their interdictions
10 possessions beyond this Cont
nent. III they be right then they impugn
the wisdom OF Jefferson, who declared
that Cuba was necessary to US, and the
policy of Grant, who wished 10 annex
San Domingo.
Gould Rome have accomplished her
work for the world had she Remained
the city Of Romulus and lived her life
as an italian municipality? Could Greece
have remained free had she planted
no colonies to serve as outpOsts against
the Persian Power? Her efforts. under
Alexander, to turn back the tide OF in
yasion is usually held to have saved her
I'll Rome took her place as the protector
OF Europe against Asia. Why should an
other view be accepted now? Was Spain
ruined" when she reached across the
Atlantic TO build up an empire which re-
fuyenated the world and is yet the great
est boast Of the Mother Country in Its
decay? Was Austria ruined or sustained
by its foreign territory for the long
career OF the Hapsburgs? Has modern
italy been ruined" by an expedition int
+ Africa. or by 4 course of corruption and
lmDecihty at houuc. nus oico' oiiee'i
been ruined by her American Colonies
or taught by their settlement and less
to make herself the first Power Of all
the earth?
I firmly believe that the United States
is legally and morally bound TO grow
and expand when the opportunity Ia Of
fered.
The human being. Mr. Editor. might
oUr.a IA anrnx "A p~aPx by ramainiux tbr
cradle forever, but what useful purpose