Evening star., 1898-12-22
EXPANSION.
Belief In the Policy is General Exerx.
where

where.
10 the Editor Of The Evening star:
l have read with much pleasure vonr
leading editorial i'm recent Star IN m.
Testimony Of Merritt and Dewey" and
heartily indorse its positions. | agree with
YOU ana it occurs to me that il Is the gem
eral conviction that the views Of these
TWO men should have great weight I'm de-
termining the value of the Philippine Is
lands.
In a letter just received from the nresi
dent of western university occurs tn.
question of present practical interest: do
you favor expansion"
ASK the tiny bud at the time of th,, ver-
nal equinox. DO you favor expansion?'
and 1t will exultingly reply in the afiirma-
tive.
Ask the bird as it emerges from its egg
shell; do you favor expansion" ana IL
will say aye
Ask the cub lion that plays about its
mothers outstretched form: Do you
favor expansion and the reply will come
forest"
Ask the boy that plays with his toy rat
Tie about his mothers knee: DO YOU
favor expansion and his countenance
will fash forth the response-'Nes. until
! shall be able to- compute the distances
and motions of the planets and weigh them
in my hand"
Ask the industrious farmer whose Iabors
and enterprise have built his fences sun
Piled good buildings, furnished productive
orchards and meadows filled his granaries
with grain and created handsome bank
account: DO you believe iu eNpansion2'
With pride he will say: Il am negotiating
with my nelghbor over there to purchase
his farm and add il To my domain so that
my sons and daughters may be comfortably
located near the old homestead"
Let us appeal to history. Ask the thirteen
colonies in tn" days of the revolution.
DO you believe i'm expansion" With one
accord they would answer in the atiirma-
tive.
Ask President jefferson when he was
negotiating the Louisiana purchase. DO
you believe in expansion" His answer
would be in harmony with his acts-''Gcs"
Ask President Polk when Texas, the lone
star. mighty empire in herself. was seek
ing to SHINE in the galaxy Of free republics:
DO you believe i'm expansion His cuuu-
tenance would radiate with the conscious
ness of having done worthy deed to
struggling humanity as he pointed t. his
acts in securing that state and other val
liable territory.
Ask Secretary Seward. while engaged
in securing the purchase of Alaska: DO
you believe in expansion" and his reply
would be in harmony with those OF his
historic and official predecessors.
Who that believes in growth and progress
can sit down and weep because Uncle
Sans dominious did not coufne them
selves to the original narrow limits Of the
Atlantic ocean? Who regrets the addition
of the orange fields of Florida, the fertile
valley of the great Mississippi, the ore-pro-
dUcing mines of the Rockies. the untold
wealth of the Pacific coast. or the icy gold
fields of Alaska? Who dare lament that
a form of government which in its inCip-
iency required its founders to pledge to
each other their lives. their fortunes and
their sacred honor has outstriDped the
most sanguine expectations of its trainers.
and attained a position and an influence
outshining the beauty Of the Chaldees .
eXcelency?" Who, believing I'm the right
and the capacity OF man for self-goVerH-
ment, and recognizing the desirability of
allowing the principles Of civil and re-
ligious liberty to prevail throughout the
earth, would purposely take such steps as
shall fOssiiize this modern type Of republic
can government. and end its leayeniug in
fiuence among the nations? Who does not
believe in expansion?
So long as the government OF the United
States shall stand
For the right against the wrong,
For the weak against the strong;
For the poor who'Ve waited long
For the brighter ages to be,
il will command the favor of God and re-
ceive the support Of its own subjects.
]. FRAISE RICHARD.
December 10 1S.lS