New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1898-08-17
ALTGELDI'.
In Outlining Policy for Democrats He Touches
Upon Important Issues.

II an article in one OF the lale maBa-
zines John P. Altgeld Of Illinois outlines time
the attitude O. the Democratic party
AMI the policies it should continue
throughout and after the war. Inc
governor says IN part:
Commercial advantage rather than
political is now the aim of the powerful
nations. Africa has been divided up by
the nations Of Europe in order to mo-
nopolize trade, England, alone pursuing e
the policy of opening her, harbors to the
world. The same nations are now tore
IDLY dividing up China for the purpose
of monopolizing trade.
By reason of our position and ability
we should get the benefit of most OF this
commerce, but in order to do SO we
must be able to offer reciprocal advan-
taees and must have force on the seas
that will make us respected.
We must put ourselves in position
to demand the privileges that are en-
joyed by 'the most favored nations
and it will always be easy to secure JUS
tice if we can say, "Here is our navy tc
argue this question:"
Therefore, while we do not. need an
army at home and the maintenance OF
oneiwould simply Be a menace to gu.
own people, we do need navy on the
foreign waters of the earth. ..
The war has forced upon our atten'
ton the extreme absurdity of being
OBLIGED to sail clear around South Amer
lea when we want to take our vessels
from one part of our own country to an
other part of our own country and the
great danger it leaves US in if we should
suddenly be attacked by powerful en-
envy on the sea.
It is manifestly the duty of the Amer
lean government to absolutely own and
control this canal, not to assist priv
ate company dig it, but to dig and own
the canal itself. The shipping of our
own vessels would soon pay for it.
Further, our commerce on the Pacific
will soon be great, and if we::do not have
this canal it will beInecessaly to main
tain almost twice as large a navy as
w;o1ald7 be needed If 7essels] could be
speedily taken from New aYork to San
Francisco. The shiny hands sof the
Pacific railroads should not bel permit
ted to longer control the situation.
Cuba,-The war has agar, brought to
our attention the fact that if Cuba were
held by great hostile power having a
strong navy we would be constantly
nervous and feel a sense of insecurity
which we now do not feel
We dare not allow foreign or hos
tile power to have this island. In tact'
when viewed from geographical, po-
aitical, commercial or military stand
point Cuba belongs to this republic and
is necessary to properly round off our
southeastern boundary. The people OF
Cuba would gladly join us now, but II
it is not ripe for annexation or If the as
surances we gave the nations in declar-
inc war forbid our taking it now then
let the Cuban republic be placed under
our protection.
This done the island will soon be over
run with American people and Amerl-
can enterprises, aud in short time It
will ripen and knock at our door to be-
come a member of the Union. This
would not be conquest, because II
would not be iorcible, and it would not
be founding a colonial system, but
would be simply following the. law OF
our development and increasing our
safety.
Porto Rico-This island is situated
almost in the center of the Atlantic
Dream and is only few days sail tlom
any point on either side of this ocean.
Consequently it would be invaluable as
a naval station. Especially would this
be so if we build the Nicaragua canal.
Viewed from any standpoint, we should
have Porto Rico as naval station, and
as it is small it would not involve the
establishment OF colonial policy.
Harbors.- With our prospective in
crease of commerce and of shipping and
the necessary increase in the navy, it is
manifest that we need harbors in every
quarter,of the globe as coaling stations
aud as convenience-yea, necessity
for our trade and for our navy; not
harbors floating the flag of some Other
nation and granting us some privilege
but harbors owned by us and floating
orr Aar where our vessels nan lie a!