Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-08-23
Territorial Expansion.

In shaping the policy of the demo
cratic party, in reference to territori-
al expansion, purely patriotic and
humane motives should govern. All
thoughts of party, or partisan advan-
tage, should be merged in a greater
desire to ascertain that which is best
for America and for the sea to which
our flag has been carried. Spain is a
cruel, decaying nation, whose feelings
and interests should not be con.
sidered for an instant. We have
wrested from her, in fair and honor.
able war, Cuba, Puerto Rico and the
smaller Spanish islands Of the West
Indies, and we feel quite certain that
their retention by the United States
would be mutually beneficial. While
| it is true that the war was not com
menced for the purpose OF annexing
Cuba, it is also true that most wars
outgrow their primary object. The
civil war was entered upon to pre-
serve the union, but developed into a
war for the abolition of human
slavery.
In saying this much. we do not
wish to be understood as favoring
the annexation of Cuba, except
through the consent of its inhabi.
tants. We think, however, that all
parties should shape their policies SO
as to secure that consent, to the end
that permanent possession may be
retained of all that has been won by
American valor and treasure in the
Western Hemisphere.
Ever since 1903, when that demo.
cratic apostle, Thomas Jefferson, un.
rolled the sky of half the continent to
the flag, the democratic party has
favored territorial expansion, and
party's record in that regard contains
the brightest pages in it's history
The fact that the people of California
fifty years ago were foreign to US IL
many respects made no difference
All people have sufficient intelligence
to favor that which is beneficial to
them. A government founded upon
justice and administered for the
benefit Of the governed will not long
require the support of bayonets in
any part of the world.
Cuba, situated as it is at the
entrance to the Gulf OF Mexico
should without question be a part Of
this nation. 1t was desired, we think
by every democratic administration
for fifty years prior to the war Of the
rehallion. Grants military mind in
stinctively grasped the situation and
his cogent reasons for the annexation
of the island have never been sue
cessfully answered.
4 The acquiring of territory in the
Philippine group of islands raises g
new question, but we doubt thu
wisdom of hauling down the flag al
Manila. Cleveland's star commenced
! to set from the day he ordered the
flag hauled down at Honolulu, aud
IN our Judgement, the party respon
sible for the entire abandonment o.
the fruits OF Dewey Is brilliant victory
will have reason to regret its action
The submarine cable, and the
wonderful advancement in ocear
navigation, render inapplicable much
that was urged against the acquiring
Of distant colonies one hundred or
even fifty years ago. We might hole
Manila, as Great Britain holds Hong
Kong, and by so doing not alon,
benefit ourselves, but also SOW tn,
seeds of constitutional liberty among
a long suffering people. In the settle
mont Of the questions growing out o
the war, we should not look solely tt
our own interests. We owe something
to humanity, and the struggling
millions, who have had reason t.
regard every breach made by oul
guns as a gateway for their deliver
ance, should not be disappointed. =
Manchester Democrat.
V0I,