The Van Buren press., 1898-08-20
Judge he Armond on Annexation.


garded by many of the strongest mel
III the house as the next democratic
leader in congress and candidate fol
| the speakership. He is always decided
/ in his views, and when asked yester
/ day what he held to be the sound
democratic policy on questions of an
nexation developed by the war he re.
piled promptly:
Certainly, will give the Republic
my opinion of the annexation question
about which there is good deal said
nowadays.
Il believe the Monroe Doctrine is
founded in reason and may be defended
on principle. And / believe, too, that
it may be applied now with honor and
safety to our country.
i believe the Monroe Doctrine ap-
plies to the islands adjacent to the
mainland itself.
4 believe that If, in the enforce
ment of that doctrine. we may prevent
the nations of the Old World from sub
jugating nation of the New World,
we may, without doing violence to it,
extend our own borders SO as to take in
portion of the territory over which,
DY flTlue Vi blt huHiOt bOCIliHct Jul
protectorate extends.
In this view | see nothing in the
Monroe Doctrine to interfere with our
acquisition of the Spanish West India
islands.
Applying the Monroe Doctrine to
the Philippines, | think it is clear that
by it they must be excluded.
As to the matter Of policy, | be-
lieve we should annex Porto Rico and
give independence to Cuba and to the
Philippines.
I'VE are in honor bound to free
Cuba The war with Spain was begun
and fought for that purpose. When
the Cubans are freed from their Span
ish taskmasters they can determine
whether they wish admission into our
union. If they do. as | have no doubt
they will, | believe we should take
them in.
Il am confident that to hold the
Philippines would be to incur serious
risk of foreign complications, which
soon might involve US in war with one
or more of the great nations of Eu-
rope. Besides, a large standing army
would become fastened upon US, with
all its attendant evils.
THE government of the far distant
province would, almost inevitably and
soon, become corrupt, and We would
be adrift upon the sea of world politics
afar from the safe moorings pointed out
by the Fathers.
II believe we should acquire such
coaling stations as may be necessary for
the proper extension and protection OF
our commerce.
In my judgment the withdrawal of
our forces from Cuba and the Philip
pines should occur quite soon after the
expulsion of the Spaniards.
Il do not believe in the policy of
quartering large forces in those islands
at the expense of our own people, and
as | think, to necessity and
propriety.
THE scheme to help the Spanish ad
herents in Cuba to control the new
is one that deserves no
countenance in this country. 1t would
be a disgraceful performance, indeed,
for US to turn against the patriot, in
surgent Cubans, who ought to be left
to control and shape the destinies of the
island nation for whose freedom they
have fought so long and well and en-
1ured so much.
lit would be a lasting disgrace to
our nation if we should aid in fastening
upon Cuba any of the Spanish debt,
made in efforts to continue Cuban
slavery. Much fairer and better it
would be to ask the Cuban republic
(officered by Cuban patriots, and not
by Cuban tories, to bear part of the
expenses incurred by us in driving out
their Spanish oppressors; and no
doubt, if treated right by us, the Gu
bans would contribute gladly to reim-
burse us their champions.
And why would it not be best to
make the Philippine Islanders freeY
Not one of them should be cast into
Spanish slavery again. We have the
power to make Spain withdraw from
these islands. Why should we hesitate
to exercise that power for the sake of
liberty and humanity? And, having
given freedom to the Philippines, why
should we not exact from them rea-
sonable indemnity in money or bonds
on account of our war expenditures
''Some say the inhabitants Of the
Philippines are not capable Of self
government. Who doubts that they
could do better for themselves than
Spain has done for theml Even if their
attempt at independent national exist
ence should fail we still would stand in
history with the credit of having freed
them from horrible slavery.
II am not one Of those who are cast
ing about for new issues. | am for
battle to the end-to victory-on the
lines of the Chicago platform. But l
believe that the democratic party can
not fulfill its mission unless it grapples
with questions as they arise, applying
to them always, but in the light and
according to the experiences and needs
of the age and the country in which we
live, the immortal principles of liberty
and justice enunciated by its founders
By combining aggressiveness with con-
servatism, in harmony with sound
fundamental principles, of course the
party surely must advance its own fort j.
unes, while bringing lasting good to our
our country.