The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-08-20
GREAT ISSUE Is AT STAKE.
National Conference on Americas
Foreign Policy.


Foreign Policy.
SARATOGA, N. Y, Aug. 19.-At the
opening of the national conference on
the foreign policy of the United States.
Harry Rodgers. of Chicago, delivered
the. opening address,.
Mr.. Rodgers said that the principal
problem before the present conference
was that of territorial expansion, Of
which many distinguished men Of ma
tlonal reputation hold widely diver
gent views.
The question of the Nicaraguan ca
nal was taken up, and Warner Miller,
of New York, briefly spoke of his per-
slstent advocacy of the canal Events
of the past three months demanded
the immediate construction, and he be-
HeVed all Americans were now uni
Versally in favor Of it, as is also all
Of Europe.
The colonial expansion problem was
taken up at the afternoon session. Carl
SchurZ, Of New York, spoke at length
giving the views Of the anti-expansion-
lists, Which cause he advocated. Mr..
Schurz said in part:
Inc future policy Of the United States
will be largely determined BY the peace soon
to be concluded with. Spain. we have to
remember that the war with Spain was large
ly initiated by the resolution adopted by con-
s sbe1a w WI declared the people Of Cuba
Snould De independent and Free then moved
by spirit OF humanity, the United States
cohsTess demanded that the troops of Spain
should leave Cuba and the president was
carry these resolutions into effect-that is.
10 nbera.e Cuba, and such liberation and
Eacification of Cuba accomplished the United
States. emphatcally diclaiming disposition or
intention to annex Cuba, would leave the
government to the people of the island
!. Now. I will ask the advocates Of annexa-
Ger any pretext annexes any Spanish colonies
1t does not turn this solemnly advertised war
OF liberation and humanity into a war Of
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT? l ask them what they
will have to say when our detractors repeat
fish motives?
If these questions. cannot be satisfactorily
answered let us end the discussion But in
these days of ours it is perhaps we'll to 60
on proving that honesty is really the best
policy. What shall We do with these Spanish
colonies II We do annex them. Are these
colonies, or any of them, such that we could
safely make states of our Union of them
haIlenge the advocates of annexation to
show, me single example of tropical coun-
try IN which the inhabitants of that land
have carried on government in a manner
lifting them for statehood in our union. Let
subject states be abandoned. Let Cuba re-
main under discreet commanders until it is
thoroughly pacitied, and let it remain under
have formed armed forces for the protection
of their own interests Let us then in &C
cordance with the promise given by the reso-
luton OF congress permit the government of
Cuba to be handed over to the Inhabitants
thereof. Let us conclude agreements with
them securing to American citizens on the
islands the fullest protection in their right
OF owning property and carrying on all kinds
of business.
The problem Of the future of the Philip-
pines is no doubt. much more complicated
Little as to the main point that concerns the
United States 1 shall say that the same prin-
ciple should be adhered to as in the case Of
Cuba and Porto Rico-that is we should OBJ
tain by means of agreement the greatest at
tainabe facilities for commerce and civiliz-
ing influences with the least possible resron-
sbilfties and entanglements. In other words.
We should not annex, but secure the opening
to our activities of the territories concerned.
He was opposed by Judge W. &c.
Grosscup, of Chicago, who is an earn
est expansionist and who spoke at
great length