Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-11-28
HE is AN EXPAN SIONIST
Nh. Livingston States His Position From
aDemocratic STAND point.
He Thinks the Republicans Must De-
termine on Colonies or
Protection.

Representative Livingston of Georgia.
who has never posed as one Of the grand
stand leaders of the democratic minority,
but who will be the ranking democrat on
the appropriations committee in the next
Congress, and will therefore take a very
prominent part in the practical business of
Congress, is an expansionist. He was one
of a small number of democrats who climb
ed on to the expansion band wagon at the
first crack OF the whip. While his reasons
for that action are not quite in accord with
republican principles, they are sufficient
for himself and his constituents, and as
suits and not causes will govern, the re-
pubicans will probably be satisfied also.
LAS democrats" said Mr. Livingston to
a S.ar reporter we have no express
sion from the party the subject Of ex-
pansion. The question was not before our
national convention and l do not recall
many important expressions from state
conventions last spring, Therefore, the
democrats practically left without q
guide in this matter.
The Common Sense View.
But the common-sense view of the case
suggests that the situation is, on the hands
of the United States, and what are go
ing to do about it? For myself. l would
cover the Philippines with our wings until
they can take care of themselves. And yet
| see no end of trouble for the republican
party in the program. OF course no one
would suspect me Of being gladSthat the re-
publicans are ernba rrassed over the situa-
ton. Oh, no. "a .s
But this talk of the open-door policy is
open-do0r nonsense. Two clauses of the
Constitution bar us from the open door.
If we have sovereignty relations with tho
Philippines it must be either in the form of
territorial or military government. For
myself, l but little difference between
the two forms. Expansion means death to
protection. 1t will be impossible for lis to
hold those islands and maintain protection.
We brought face to face with two al
ternatives-drop the islands like a hot brick
or give them a territorial form of govern
ment and hold them The latter means the
breaking down of protection.
Philippine Sugar and Tobacco.
IF We should determine to dispose of
them to a foreign power We may precipi-
tate i European war. Germany seems to
take the view that if we lake the Philip
pines we must let their sugar in free of
duty. That will mean the destruction of
Germany's sugar bee2 industry. Then,
there are some local interests to be con-
sidered. The Louisiana sugar producer will
suffer. 1t is not altogether a question Of
southern interests. however, for the Con-
nect1cut and Pennsylvania tobacco men are
concerned
1T seems to me that the republicans have
come to the forks of the road; in one direc-
ton Is expansion and its inevitable conse-
Quence-free trade. In the other direction,
letting go of the Philippines and holding OH
to their protective tariff. 1 am not sur
prised that Chairman Dingley, in his inter-
view in The Star Friday, should plead
1or a years delay to consider the problems
which confront the party"