The herald., 1898-12-01
/ ANTI-ExPANSION SENTIMENT
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The president thought from what he
heard and saw during his western trip that
public opinion strongly favored expansion.
| In our opinion he did not take sufficient
account of the desire of the people to susthin
| the administration, not to any special pol
| icy, but generally against foreign foe. But
many people entertain this feeling that are
nevertheless strongly opposed to imperial
ism If the president were to try the expert
ment again we believe he would get a much
more accurate view of the situation. With
the popular verdict in favor of the admins
tration, people now feel freer to express
their sentiments on the great question be-
fore the country. AT any rate, there is
formidable opposition to the permanent ac-
QUESTION of the Philippine islands. In IA
word, we are seeing the reaction which
might easily have been predicted. The peo-
pie are not thirsty for conquest or greedy
| for new possessions. The old principles and
ideals are asserting themselves, and many
man that thought we could not help tax
ing the Philippines is now wondering wheth-
er there may not be some good way to avoid
doing o.-Indianapois News (Ind).
There is something fine, grand, splendid,
indeed, in the new phrases, territorial eN-
panson,' manifest destiny, and Euro
pean concert" but the realization of their
meaning cannot be had for nothing; great
sums must be paid for it, heavy taxes levied
upon and collected from the people. In en-
tering upon our new and strange national
career of expansion and destiny and con-
cert. it is pity, we think, that the exti3or-
binary cost of it cannot all be paid in money;
so much of it will have to be paid in the
blood of our young men, who will be sent
down to the deadly infested businesses Of
Cuba, Hawaii, Porto Rico and the Philip
pines to fight, possibly rebels, certainly vel
low fever and typhoid. d.-Phladelp phia Ledg-
er (RepD.
The suggestion of a military dictatorship
over Cuba and other Spanish islands for
wear or more falls very well in line with the
policy of imperialism And if the military
dictatorship works we'll for year, why
change it then? If it works well in those
islands. why would it not serve to protect
us from anarchical influences at home?-
Indianapolis Sentinel (Dem.).
! If we make the patient negro at home the
object of so much persecution what in the
name of humanity shall we do when we have
ten million fighting. a-muck- running Malays
on our hands in the Orient?-Ctica Observ-
er (Dem.).
The American people will soon be able TO
realize in most practical manner that I'M
perialism will be expensive. We are not
getting enough revenue from the Dingey
| law to meet the increased cost of running
government with an elaborate colonial de-
partment attached, and no doubt Mr.. Han
mas suggestion that increased taxation be
Imposed upon the people will have to be
adopted Detroit Free Press Ind. Dem).
The permanent holding of the Philippines
means large increase OF the army and navy.
constant and costly conflicts with natives,
| large expense of civil administration. All
this means, of course, large increase in the
burdens of taxation. These burdens must
fall upon industry. and must increase the
cost of production and hence the price of
American products. Hence business men
are beginning to view with alarm the pros
pect of permanently annexing these islands.
Portland, Me, Press (Rep.).
Territorial expansion hitherto has been
for the most part simply the addition OF new
territory for development by emgrants
from our own and other lands. In annexins
the Philippines the United States is taking
not territory alone, but territory occupied
| by large and comparatively dense alien
population. The difference is radical and
far-reaching in its consequences. Because
of this difference the new acquisitions, if
made, will present problems much more
troublesome than any arising in connection
with previous additions of territory. Chi
cago Record (Ind.)
| Not day passes that we do not read from
one to twenty reports OF sermons and ad-
dresses by Protest tant clergymen in different
parts of the country in favor Of "expan
SION" Their activity on that side if tre-
mendous. and Mr.. Mckinley would undoubt
edly suffer greatly in his popularity in some
OF the evangelical circles if he were to be
come lukewarm in the great cause OF bring
ing 100000 of naked Malays under the
United States flag. Antagonism to the
church of Rome is at the bottom of all this
partisan feeling. 1t is a dangerous issue to
/ introduce into our politics.-llartford Times
| (Dem.).