Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1898-07-07
Is THE ANNEXATION OF TER
RIToRY TO THE UNITED
STATES IMPERIALISM
Democratic Precedent Establishes the
Fact That Colonization Does
Not Mean Government
by Empire.

cy or republic. Colonization is acquir-
ing, g,peopieing and governing new terri
tory by government. Why not call
it annexation? 1t is simply adding
new territory to that already forming
the nation.
What is the difference whether it is
adjoining or whether it is separated
from the country by water, either
long or short distance? The Florida
Keys are islands separated from the
main body of the State of Florida, yet
they are owned by that State, are a
part of the territory OF the United
States, and there is located the sover-
eighty of the nation as much over Key
West as over any part of the State of
Florida. What is true of the Florida
Keys is true of Staten and Long
Islands, parts of the State of New
York, yet separated from the main
land by water. So there is nothing in
the mere fact that territory is sepa-
rated from the main body of the re-
public by Intervening water.
A certain class of newspapers and
politicians of the different parties are
unfortunately attempting to make the
question of annexation now confront
ing the American people a party
question. They are attempting to
prevent the people from giving it a
careful and deliberate examination by
applying such names as''imperialism,"
COLONIZATION" ETC., but the people
are not going to be frightened away
from deliberate examination of this
question by the opposition to annex
alton by the application of monarch
ical terms to it. 1t is annexation SIM
ply; nothing more or less. The Re-
publicans seem inclined to say that
annexation is Republicanism, and
some of the Democratic papers claim
that it is Democratic.
The Columbia Herald, one of the
ablest Democratic papers in the State,
under the heading of democratic
Blundering," upon the subject of an
nexation, says: "The next question
of party policy concerns the imperi-
alism which seeks to convert the war
into war for conquest. Blundering
again, we find Democrats, unfortu-
nately many of them joining the Re-
publicaus in advocating what they are
pleased to call Greater United States.
They rush heedlessly along in the
wake of Republicans in declaring for
a policy which means Capitalization
in its most extreme form. The DEM
ocratic party, by holding to its ancient
policy, has a magnificent opportuni-
ty."
1t would seem from this that the
editor Is attempting to convey the
idea that the ancient policy of the
Democrats has been against the ac-
QUESTION of new territory by this
nation. BE has overlooked the fact
that Louisiana, New Mexico, Oregon,
Florida, in fact, every foot of territory
added to the United States since it
became a nation, except Alaska alone,
has been done by Democratic admin
istrations. Democratic statesmen
have spoken heretofore upon the
question of acquisition of all the ter
ritory save the Philippines, now under
consideration by the American peo-
pie. Heretofore, however, the Amer
ican people have been able to discuss
this question freely and impartially
without the Intervention of party pol
itics. Fortunately, the politicians have
never before undertaken to discuss
the questions of annexation from a
party standpoint, and fortunately so
far the political leaders have been un-
able to make it a party question.
When the resolution for the annex
alton OF Hawaii was before the House
Mr.. Bailey, the leader of the minority
the Democrats and Populists- at
tempted by caucus to unite his fol-
lowing in opposition to the annexation
of this island. In this he failed, as
more than twenty Democrats and
Populists voted in favor of the resolu-
ton.
The annexation OF the West India
islands has engaged the attention of
American Statesmen from the earliest
days of the republic. The Spanish
possessions have, during all this time,
been a menace to the public peace of
this continent, and the time is at
hand when this question has to be
settled, and it is annexation or no an
nexation of the Spanish possessions in
that region.
The annexation of Hawaii has en-
gagged the attention of the statesmen
for almost equally as long time, and
from the very first enunciation Of the
Monroe doctrine America has extend
ed to and has constantly maintained
that doctrine as to those islands, and
II Democrats are looking for Demo-
cratic teaching and Democratic pre-
cedent upon the subject of the annex
alton of Hawaii and expect to be con-
trolIed by them then they viii certain
Iy support the policy Of acquisition.
Mr.. Marcy, Secretary of State under
President Pierce, and whose reputa-
tion as q statesman is OF the highest
order, in 1853, of this island said: "It
seems to be inevitable that they must
come under the control of this nation,
and 1t would be but reasonable and
fair that the powers should acquiesce
In such q disposition of them, provided
the transference was effected by fair
means."
The question of their annexation
has engaged the attention OF every
administration since that day. Their
acquisition is to-day, under the cir
cumstances, "a much OF q military
necessity to the United States ~ are
the munitions Of war, and the speeches
Of Champ Clark and Jerry Simpson
against it may well be compared ~ to