Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-08-20


from the Pacific in mountainous interest
and opportunity against which the outlines
of the Philippines are but a handspeck
something more than islands-nothing else
than continent. Within Asia lie the in
terest and the opportunity, that, by their
largeness dwarf every other prospect.
Il favor the acquisition OF Porto Rico,
partly because the moral purpose OF TINS
war demands that it should no longer be
a political plague spot In the otherwise
purified Caribbean sea, but chiefly because
it is at the gateway to the Caribbean
sea that, when the &c eommerce I;,,a OF canai ASsI
opened. will, from both naval and com.
mercial view, become the most Important
water on the face of the globe.
Il favored the acquisition of Hawaii. and
favor the acquisition of the Philippines,
or SO much OF them as may be needed,
solely because. in the new career of COM
mercial activity upon which. ! trust, we
the Pacific, line of naval stations and
home ports; stations in every sense our
own, carrying under the soil the American
favor the retention of the Philippines, or
at least part of them, that they may
stand as tangible, continuing demSnstra-
tion of the physical presence OF the re.
public in Asiatic waters. The value of
these conquests Is not in their territory.
nor their resources, separately consioereu.
constitute a chain precisely adapted to the
expanded sphere in which we are to en-
ter l. care little for the links. Individual
ly. bur everything for the cham that VII, l,
henceforth. hold US to our opportunities IN
the far East 80,
After paying notice at great length to
objections urged by opponents or anneAa-
ton, Judge Grosscup continued:
Il come now. to what is. In my 1udg.
meIt, the most interesting and impoTtah'
object of our future foreign policy. l re.
fer of course, to the immediate future OF
Asia. II is in that quarter that We VIII
find situation open to American enter
prise, a commerce waiting for American
venture. and. eventually, people and IN
stitu;;ons ready for a graft from the tree
OF AEglo-SaXon civil liberty.
Outside of these countries that are al
items items of Asia number already 400 6oo.c .ccc
souls. They have, up to the present time,
lived almost apart from mankind. The
breaking of the seal upon their ports is to
US of Europe and America the discovery
of new continent. In the nature OF
things great results must follow. The dis
covery of unpeopled America broke up the
deepest foundations of European life; the
opening of Africa. peopled only by saw
ages has stirred every corner of European
enterprise; but here in the far East. swing
to one-half of the desirable territory and
one-third of the population Of the earth.
1T is land without railroads, without
manufactures. without cities built on on mod MOD
ern implements. 1t bids for every char
acter of American enterprise. 1t lies un,
der the temperate zone. the only strip OF
our globe that insures health to men now
alive, and promises increasing vigor tt
men yet to come.
Looked at from every material point OF
no enterprising people can afford to de
Asatic life is at hand The people of China
are alread beginning to compare theil ,
for some of the physical aids that We
are ready to offer.
Before US in the far East: at this yer,
moment. are opening gates that will. In {
few years, reveal a market transcending II
value our own. and transcending oul
own Immensely in its potentialities for thu
future. The full magnitude Of this open
ing era has not yet dawned upon thu
world. The far-seeing statesmen of Eu
rope see 1t; far-seeing America will sooI
compass it. Looked at from every side
its certainty. its Immediate proportions, it
immeasureable potentialities for growth
reveals itself as a world even more com
mercially important than the discovery o
America; an event in many respects with
out parallel In the history of mankind.
Our course seems clear, If We are II
earnest in our purpose to participate IL
the development of the East. We neet
these islands as an integral part of tn,
naval force. without the display of which
We can never obtain proper share II
her commerce. or protect it after it is OBJ
tanned; We need them as strategic point
in a naval contest with any power ol
earth; We need them that we may draw
globe in which we wish our influence to b.
felt, and our commerce to expand: we nee,
| them. above all other considerations. a
peace-bonds that all nations respect"
Mr.. SchurZ said in part:
The future policy of the United State
| soon to be concluded with Spain. We hav
| to remember that the war with Spain wa
| virtually initiated by the resolution adopt
nf he
| pendent, then moved by the sense of duty
\ the United States demanded the with
that the president should use the arm
| and navy and militia to the extent a
may be necessary TO carry these resolu
tions into effect-that is to liberate Cuba
| and that such liberation and pacificatio
| of Cuba accomplished. the United State
emphatically disclaiming disposition Of an
| intention to annex Cuba, would leave tn
| government of the island to the peopl
4 thereof.
"Now, 1 ask the advocates of annexa
tion among us. whether, If this republi
Spanish colonies. it does not really tur
| this solemnly advertised war of liberatio
| and humanity into war Of self-aggrar
dizement? / ask them what they will hav
to say when our detractors repeat again:
| us their charge of hypocrisy and selfis
| motives?
| IF these questions cannot be satisfat
| torily answered this might be the end of ii
| discussion. But in these days of ours
| is, perhaps, well to so on proving honest
is really the best policy. What shall we d
| with these Spanish colonies if We do anne
| them? Are these colonies or any of thel
such that We could with safety make state
| of our Union of them? ! challenge the a,
| yocateS of annexation to show me a sing
| instance of a tropical country in which pc,
| pie of that kind have shown themselv,
| able to carry on democratic government
manner fitting 1T for statehood in oil
| Union.
Let the thought of annexing the.
islands and their population to the Unite
States. either as states or as subject pro-
inces he abandoned. Let Cuba and Port
| der discreet commanders. until they al
: Thoroughly pacified and until the peop
thereof. with such aid on the part of Il
United States as may be necessary. wi
have formed effective civil governments ar
an armed force of their own for the mali
tenance of public order and security. l.
ice given in the resolution of congress, Il
control of those islands to be turned ov,
settlement include agreements with the
| securing TO American citizens on the islam,
the fullest protection in their right of Owl
ing property and carrying on all kinds
THE problem of the future of the PHI
ippines is no doubt much more complicate
Blu; as to the main point that concerns Il
United States. l shall say that the san
| prlrciple should be adhered to as in Il
case of Cuba and Porto Rico-that is '
should obtain. by means of agreement, 4
greatest attainable facilities for CONNER
and civilizng influences with the least n
litical responsibilities and entanglemen,
in other words. We should not annex h
| secure the opening to our activities of {
| territories concerned"
a general discussion followed. participa
ed in by Judge Grosscup Carl Schul
Harry c. Garfield, of Cleveland; F.
Thurber of New York; John w. Coug
lin. os Fall River: ]. Davis Duffield
Fall River: F. Shack. of New York, Al
others.
William Dudley Bull of Indiana ,