The Atlanta constitution., 1898-08-08
Colonel Livingston Gives His Views
on the Duty Of America.
IN THE PRESENT STRUGGLE
Expansion of Territory Aids Our Com
merce and Is Good Democratic
Doctrine.
By Jos: Oil.


express them.
The congressman from the fifth district is
above all things man of practical ideas.
and he believes in the practical handling or
the affairs of the government as well as or
individual affairs. He differs from some of
his democratic colleagues on the practical
effect of territorial expansion and on the
principles involved but he contends that
they. and not he. strayng from the
paths OF democracy in the position they
take.
"As a first proposition" said the colonel.
in talking at the Riggs tonight lit strikes
me that it is business sense to make Spain
bear the expense to which this country has
been put i'll this war. which was entered
into from principles of pure humanity.
She forced us into this war by her DIS
graceful misrue in Cuba and the cruelty
and atrocities which were incidents In thnC
misrule. We owed it to ourselves and to
humanity to go into the war when we
found. beyond question, that all her pro-
testations of doing better were worthless.
There came a time when forbearance hnd
ceased to be a virtue, and when we Ind
to fight. Spain is responsible and according
TO the world usage have the right to
make her bear the expense the war hhs
imposed upon us We should let maud
lin sentiment obscure that fact when II
comes to the reckoning.
Then there is another thing we must
not forget; that is that having gone Into
a war with Spain. 1t our business to
whip her as eXpedtiously and as compioto-
y was in our power. All the talk
against our doing that. based on our slntc-
ment of our reasons for going to war. IS nl
poppy-cuck Because we went into It to re-
leVe the oppressed CubanS Is reason
on earth why we should not strike Spain II
blow whenever and wherever an opI Ioctunity
offered. 1t was right to blow the Spanish
feet out of the water down in Mania bay,
and ii is right 10 so ahead with the con-
quest OF Porto REQ, though we ltneW next
to nothing about the Philippines when We
made our declaration of war and despite
the fact that Porto Rico WAS enjoying com
paratiVc peace under Spanish rule. | have
no patience with those critics who seem to
think that because We said we were going
into this thing to overthrow Spanish rule
in Cuba should have sent our army and
our fleet at once to Havana. against the
better judgment of our military and naval
experts. and when our experiences with
Santiago have shown that an attack upon
Havana with Il raw and untried army
would have resulted in grave disasters. We
could have sent against Havana then no
better army than we sent against SantI-
ago and our information is that Havana
would prove five or ten times as difficult
TO take as Santiago.
Other Nations interests.
Then tho fever conuitIOus-DJt it IS use
less to speculate on what might have hap
pcned. What started out to say was that
having gone into the war. it was right and
proper to strike Spain a blow wherever she
showed her head. 1t right for Dewey
to smash Alontojo and it is right for Niles
70 plant the flag over the towns OF Porto
Rico. and having done that. 1t is right that
we should stand the consequences. II our
action at Manila involves us in lot of
responsi bittes il proper that We should
be ready to assume those responsibilities.
by that" continued the colonel, who by
this time had quite crowd of listeners
around him II mean that if we have to
20 to the extremity of holGinE all Of the
islands of that group out there in the Pa
cilir we must meet the issue. and as 4 ma
ton we are fully capable of doing it.
am not what might be termed an agGres-
sionist for the mere possession of land.
am however as strongly in favor of hold
ing proper commercial bases out there in
the Pacific as a man could be and that
seems to me true democratic doctrine. |
know other democrats some of them re
gardcd as the leaders of the party, differ
with me IN this respect, but | cannot bring
myself to sec It as they DO. ! voted for
the annexation of the Haw2i!an ISLANDS,
NOT because ] believe nine-tenths of the
people of the country wanted them annex
ed but because | regarded It as an excel
policy of extension of our commerce. The
Hawaiian Islands will prove most valua-
bic commercial, as we'll as naval base.
The democratic party from time lmmemo-
rtal preached the doctrine OF extension of
our foreign commerce in the markets or
the world in COntradistinCtiOn 20 the policy
Of the republican party, which tended TO
restrict such extension by high tariffs.
'.Tha republicans have preached home
markets and high hariffs They We're
forced into the annexation of Hawaii
against the Judgment of those OF their lead
crs who are regarded as the special repre-
sentatives of the protected manufacturing
interests Of the north-forced into IL, be-
cause they saw the great revulsion of the
neopIe against the Cleveland policy in pull
ing down the American flag at fioholuiu.
They were shrcwd enough to take adVan-
tage of that feeling among the people ana
some of our democrats were 50 snort slSht-
ed as to help them make annexation re
publican issue by cndeavoring TO array all
tba democrats against annexation. Per
hans | should not Crit!ciSe in that way. but
I will say that happily they did not sue
ceed
That annexation I regard as the enter
ip,, wedge for the overthrow of the great
,ariff monopoly which has kept the repub-
Hcon nartv in power so long, They will
i've to see it, and republicans representing
distin.tlv protection constituencies Will I'VE
to regret it.
IF. as the democrats have contended
almost from time immemorial, the eXor-
Infant tariff rates which have been bullt
mn hy the republican party are burdens
uuon the people anything that will tend to-
ward the overthrow OF the protection dig
alchv should be hailed with delight by
democrats and should have the assistance
or all democrats. For the same reason
that / SUPPORTED the annexation of ltawan.
I am in favor of retaining interests in the
PhtNppnes. 1t does not take an expert
il, tariff matters and commerce to see that
the great field for pushing American com
nerce in the future is China and what we
know as the Orient If We. as Americans
care tD hold our own and go ahead IN that
inviting field what We must do Is to put
ourselves in position to compete practically
with the nations OF Europe. We should
retain IL commercial base in the Philippine
islands, than In holding the entire group;
There would be less responsibility in
volved in the retention OF Manila, as the
president has Indicated in his peace terms,
or perhaps in the retention Of one of the
islands, than II holding the entire group;
but it looks to me if i may prove i'm
practicable for uS to escape so easily. |
have thought that the dilemma would pre-
sent itself OF our retaining sovereignty
over the entire group or letting go entire
Iy. If such dilemma does arise, | would
favor holding the entire group
Spain Taught Lesson.