Mexico weekly ledger., 1898-11-10
STONES SOUND SPEECH.
1T WAS ONE OF THE BEST DEMO
CRATIC EFFORTS EVER MADE
IN THIS CITY.
The Court House Was Crowded and
Many We're Turned Away-A
Rousing Reception by the
Mexico People.

Mexico People.
Ex-Gov. W. j. Stone was intro
duced to the largest and most enthusi-
astic audience ever gathered in the
Court House on Thursday night by
Hon F. r. Jesse, president of the
Mexico Democratic Olnb. Mr.. Jesse
made neat and appropriate intro
ductory speech. Governor Stone
made a mastsrful address ard arraign-
ed the trusts and Republican misrule
and extravagance. He spoke for
about two hours and had the closest
attention. He was In touch with his
hearers and has right to be proud Of
the reception his audience gave him.
1t would be impossible for us to give
the Governors speech In full, but call
your attention to the following brief
extracts:
THE WAR.
The Governor declared that during
the war the course Of the Democratic
party was characterized by the high
est patriotism. Although many things
were proposed which did not meet the
approval of our representatives In
Congress, they nevertheless sup
ported the administration with re-
markable unanimity. As Spain had
less than one-fourth of our popula.
tion, was bankrupt, was torn by in
ternal discord and was 8, 200 miles from
the seat OF war, Democrats did not
believe Ii was necessary to mobilize
an army of 200, 900 men. They did not
believe that the exigency called for
an army of that magnitude. They
believed such an army would entail
an enormous unnecessary expense
upon the people. They remembered
how a Democratic president had
fought the war with Mexico, at a
time when Mexico, compared to the
United States, was numerically as
strong as Spain is to-day, and when
the Mexicans were fighting for their
homes on their native land. A Demo-
cratic president fought that war with
an army no larger than the one We
sent to Cuba, sending part of that
army thousands of miles across the
sterile plains, and part across the
gulf, and thence across the cactus
covered deserts and over the noun
tains of Mexico, fighting a score OF
battles on the way, until our nag was
lifted over the capital OF the Monte
zumas. This great war, glorious in it's
results to rs, for it added an empire
in extent to our territory, was fought
with an army about one eighth the
size of that called into service for the
Spanish war, and the first few weeks
of 'preparing" for the Spanish war,
cost the country as much as the whole
Mexican war cost from beginning to
end.
PHILIPPINES PROBLEM Is DIFFICULT.
The question of the Philippines pre-
sents q more difficult problem. seri-
ously doubt the wisdom of their
acquisition. Cuba and Porto Rico
are American territories; they
are on our picket line; there are
special reasons why their possession is
desirable. But the Philippines are
5000 miles from our coast; they
belong to another hemisphere; the
conditions are altogether different.
The possession of the Spanish West
Indies being practically contiguous
territory does not involve q colonial
policy; but, if We take the Philippines
We must of necessity-indeed we do
embark upon the European policy of
establishing and maintaining distant
coloniss. That would be q radical
government. Is it wise to do thatf II
once we do enter upon that policy it
will not stop with the Philippines. 1t
will spread until we have acquired
colonies In all parts of the world. And
that In time will lead as into disputes,
entanglements and alliances, offensive
and defensive, with European and
Asiatic nations, and that again, in turn,
will necessitate the maintenance of
strong military establishments on our
far distant possessions to uphold our
authority against local violence and
foreign encroachment.
1t seems clear to me that all these
things will follow II once we venture
upon the policy of maintaining colo
niss scattered throughout the world.
We cannot initiate European nations
in the policy of establishing colonies
without initiating their methods Of
defending them. And, again, il We go
into the eastern hemisphere to estab-
lish our sovereignty, can we longer,
with good grace, invoke the Monroe
doctrine, il European nations should
invade the western hemisphere?
Would not such course on our part
be In such disregard of the spirit of
that doctrine as to practically abro-
gate itf These are the considerations
that make me hesitate, and fill me
with doubt and fear, when the acqui-
sitlon of the Philippine islands is pro-
posed. The argument In favor of it is
an argument In favor OF trade. am
deeply impressed with the necessity
OF extending our commerce. an, an
earnest, even an enthusiastic, advo-
cate OF commercial expansion. be-
lieve we ought to seek and strive to
secure, In q very large measure, the
trade of the Asiatic and of all oriental
countries. That Is field we should
seek to occupy.
| CLOSING WORDS.
The Governor closed his magnia-
cent address as follows:
"To your tents, Democrats Of Mis-
souri, Make ready for the fray. Re.
publicans say that they have all the
resources necessary to carry the state
and to elect the Legislature, which
In turn will choose Senator to Con-
gress. Neglect, springing from over
confidence, is the only danger to Mis-
souri,. The Missouri Democracy must
not fail to do its duty. The loss OF q