Smyrna times., 1898-08-03

We give on our first page the cautious
opinions of an old contributor of the
TIMES on the mooted question of ''Ter-
ritoral expansion" It is the newest
question in Government policy-out-
growth of the present war with Spain
and one that but few persons have
thought enough about to come to
positive decision. The question is one
that concerns foreign territory and
consequently very different from that
which confronted us 80 years ago-the
preservation of the union-that had in
it the question the of ability OF apeople
to govern themselves. The reaching
of a right decision then has given us
our great strength and expansiveness.
The wonderful turn in events during
the past two years has probably put
new national question before the peO-
pie. The recently nominated candi-
date for Governor on the Democratic
ticket in Pennsylvania, jerks, who
was with the silver faction of the party
in the last national campaign, says,
silver will not be the leading issue in
1900. It is noticeable that the great
papers are looking at this question
from a national and not a party aspect,
the ablest of them favoTing the exten.-
sion of our national domain. There
is no division of sentiment about hold
inc on to Cuba and Porto Rico, but
there is in relation to the Philippines
Islands, which is in another hemis-
phere. In regard to these the New
York Sun says:
A compromise on the Philippines
would make the achievements of George
Dewey and his men a glittering failure
and the endangering of our army and
navy in that distant spot a senseless
wrong. To omit to insure to this cOun'
try a clear road to China by putting
the sign of America on all the interly
| ing islands on which fortune enables
us to lay our hands, would be failure
| in American craftsmanship as wide anC
deep as the great Pacific.
On the other hand President Nc
Kinley is said to have great doubt
about the policy of attempting to gov
a country so far distant Gen. Black o
Illinois, urges that the DemOcrati
party take its stand in favor of contin
ming the past policy of the Organiza
ton from Jefferson on down in favO
of wise territorial acquisition, Will
ex-ComptrOller of the Currency, HeI
burn, Republican, points out that eA
pansion is inevitable, that we mus
look out, not in, and urges bankers
advance money ''on the outgoin
cargo"
In a century the United States hf
acquired 100000 square miles IN i
steady expansion, which has been (
steadily resisted. The acquisition
Louisiana was opposed, and so was IL
cession of Florida. The aEnexatic
of Texas and the conquest of CalifOrn
, were bitterly fought. Who would gi'
them up to-day? Alaska was long {
nounced as a monumental blunde
Each year gives it new value. The
acts have all come in their due seasO
and nothing can stop the steady, co
tinous expansion of area, the pow
and the responsibilities, of the Unit,
. States.
Six months ago there was no idea
: bringing Porto Rico, the Ladro
1 and especially the Philippine Islam
g under the control of the Stars a
). Stripes, but since the clergymen
/ most en- masse of the nation as we'll
y large number of the leading iourn,
l. and public men believe it the guidi
II of a providential hand in leading O
, nation into wider sphere of civilizi
d and religious influence, they are I
4 scared at the cry of imperialism"