The Van Buren press., 1898-08-06

Hawaii or the Philippines. / do not
see how i would be an excuse for the
maintenance Of a large standing army
Of from 100 coo 10 2D0 600, and very
strong navy, but il Fould not neeessar
ily increase the volume Of commerce.
Goods are sold 10 meet the necessities
Of the people. and not for political rea
sons. Because Of the annexation Of the
remote Philippines we would not con
sumo more sugar. II would be a good
thing, however, for the Philippine
sugar grower and the American sugar
rehner, for then the product would be
shipped here tariff free. The remission
Of 30 900 900 annually on sugar duties
between the United States and Hawaii
has benefited only the two classes
named, and similar conditions would
prevail in regard to the Philippines.
Zone hundred years ago the govern
ment enunciated the principle that the
rights Of government rest upon the will
Of the governed. and that Is the policy
I ever have and ever shall advocate.
II Is wholly opposed to all the estab-
lished precedents and inbred policies Of
our government TO 90 over the world
and attach every island or piece Of real
estate we can get. The people every
where should exercise the God given
right TO make their own laws and ex o.
ercise their own governmental func-
tiOns. There is no power implied in
our organic law for us to take posses
sion Of territory outside Of the United
States, and do not see how any man
with good common sense could adyo
cate colonial policy for this govern
ment. / would apply this to Porto Ri
20 and everything az a general princi-
pie. The ultra imperialists, had they
been in power then, would probably
have insisted upon our taking posses
sion Of Mexico when we captured their
capital, and annexing Canada when we
defeated British troops on their soil d,
The complications that would arise
from greed to possess everything we
can lay our hands upon would be
DOundless and endless. and do not be
lieye the sober second thought Of the
masses would tolerate it. To be sure,
there are some broad minded men who
hold what they believe to be reasonable
and liberal views upon the subject OF
empire but ] believe 1t inimical to our
best interests, destructive Of our high
standing among the powers, and fraught
with,evil results too direful TO cOntem
plate. The expenses Of this govern
ment are already simply enormous, and
will approximate $500 900, 900 annually
after the war.
Il do not know what conditions may
arise respecting Cuba, but | have never
known a Spanish American community
capable of self government, and it may
be that, since we set ont TO free Cuba
from Spanish domination, we may be
compelled TO pursue a course which
will eventuate in the control of the
island. While ! am not in favor Of the
acquisition of territory in the tropics,
this would be less Objectionable than
any other. The idea Of imperialism in
government is primarily founded upon
greed and avariCe and cannot produce
an ideal government, or even that ap
preaching an ideal. Now / believe that
the greatest governmental crime of the
age is the British rule in India and il
we should follow this policy of relieving
the oppressed TO its logical end, we
would give the British lion tail a twist
over the Indian situation. This is the
reason believe the United States should
not prostitute power to greed and should
make an effort to maintain the proud
position we have ever held Of being self
respecting and respectful of the rights
and prerogatives of others.