The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1898-05-20
KEEP THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.

Events have made the policy of $50
Iation no longer possible. Other coun-
tries will not allow the United States
to occupy disarmed neutrality. If our
country expects to be neutral we must
maintain armed neutrality. Warefare
upon the ocean has changed. Sailing
ships could go all over the the ocean
and fight anywhere as long as they
could get food and ammunition. Sailing
ships are no longer engines Of war.
Steam is essential Battles cannot be
fought without coal. There is nothing
more helpless than a battIeship at sea
without an adequate supply of coal.
Coal is a cUntraband of war. The great
powers have coaling stations all over
the world. 1t is to their interest to
make coal contraband of war. They
have provided for themselves, and by
making coal cOntraband of war they
compel the weaker nations to submit to
their dictation. The arrogance Of
Spain, her disregards for our protests
against her cruelty to the suffering
CUbans, and her violation Of the rights
of American citizens were based upon
the suppositiOn that the United States
was totally unprepared for war. She
entered into war with this country rath-
er than do justice, respect our rights
and be guided by international law and
the laws Of humanity. She had islands
stretching across the Atlantic and the
Pacific which are the cOaling stations
We require. The Canary islands on the
Atlantic side, known to the aneients as
the isles Of the BEST" would furnish
a cOaling station where our European
commerce could be watched and pro-
tected. Cuba and Porto Rico are with
in the sphere Of our natural and nee
essary influence. We cannot allow
them to remain IN hostile hands. In
the Pacific We must have coaling sta
tons. The Sandwich islands are offer
ed to the United States and we are
sure to accept them. The Carolinas
lie In a direct line from San Francisco
via the Sandwich islands to the Phil
hppines and constitute q halfway
station between Honolulu and Manila.
We have a right to capture and hold
all these Spanish islands as an indem-
nifty for the war and no other nation
has rigt to object.
It may be suggested that the possess
ion Of these OUtpOsts involves the build
ing Of q navy. Very true. To hold and
occupy them a strong navy will be nee
essary- We cannot under any circum-
stances occupy a neutral position
among the nations Of the earth without
strong navy, and a navy cannot be
maintained without a coaling station
abroad. In war with any foreign power
We must be able to strike them where
their interest is and not wait for them
to lombard our seapOrts first. With
the naval stations which this war will
furnish Us, and with an adequate navy,
which We must have, we can occupy a
position Of armed neutrality and assist
in maintaining universal peace. The
construction OF the Nicaragua canal is
shown to be a military necessity. The
difficulty Of sending ships from the
Atlantic to the Pacific is shown By the
tine and expense which has been re-
quired to transfer the Oregon from
one ocean to the other. With q line Of
Islands from Teneriffe to Manila, With
passage through Nicaragua, the
United States would occupy a position
Of power, independence and influence
which would satisfy the aspirations
Of the American people for that higher
civilization which is enjoyed under
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