The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-17


that you are an infidel to American vigor
and practical sense? Or that we are of the
ruling race of the world; that ours Is the
blood OF government; ours the heart of do
minion; ours the brain and the genius of
administration? We do but what our fathers
debut pitch the tents of liberty farther
Westward. farther southwark: we only con-
tlnue the march of the flag
The march of the fiagl In 17S9 the flag
OF the Republic waved over 100000 souls in
thirteen states. and this savage terri
tory which stretched to the Mississippi to
Canada, to the Flordas. The timid minds
of that day said shat nc new territory was
needed. and for the hour they were right.
But under the lead of Jefferson we acquired
the territory which sweeps from the Missis-
British possessions, and the march of the
nag began. TIE infidels TO the gospel OF
liberty raved. but the flag swept on. The
title to that noble land out Of which Ore
gon Washington Idaho and Montana have
been carried was uncertain. Jefferson
obeyed the AngiO-Saxon impulse within him
and another empire was added TO the Re-
public and the march of the flag went on
Those who deny the power of free institu-
lions TO expand urged every argument. and
more, that We hear to-day, but the march
of the flag went on. A screen of land from
New Orleans to Florida shut us from the
gulf, and over this and the everglade PENN
drew Jackson seized both, the American
people stood at his back. and under Mon
roe the Floridas came under the dominion
of the Republic and the march of the flag
went on. The CaSsandras prophesied every
prophecy of despair we hear to-day, but
the march of the flag went on. Then Texas
responded to the bugle calls of liberty and
the march of the flag went on. And at last
we waged war with Mexico and the flag
swept over the southwest. over peerless CAL
norma, past the gate of gold to Oregon on
the north and from ocean to ocean its
folds of glory blaZed. And now, obeying
the same voice that jefferson, Jackson
Seward heard and obeyed. Grant and Har-
rison heard and obeyed. William Mckinley
plants the flag over the islands of the sea.
and the march of the flag goes on.
DISCARDED ARGUMENTS.
Distance and oceans are no longer argu-
ments. The fact that all the territory our
fathers bought and siezed is contiguous is
no longer argument. In 1919 Florida was
further from New York than Porto Rico is
from Chicago to-day; Texas further from
Washington in 1916 than Hawaii is from
Boston in 1898; California more inaccessible
in 1S47 than the Philippines are now.
Gibraltar is further from London than Ha-
vana is from Washington; Melbourne is
further from Liverpool than Manila is from
San Francisco. The ocean does not separate
US from the lands of our duty and desire
the ocean to join us, a river never to be
dredged, canal never to be repaired
Steam joins us: electricity joins us-the
very elements are in league with our
destiny. Cuba not contiguous! Porto Rico
not contiguous! Hawaii and the Philippines
contiguous Dewey and Sampson and
Schley have made them contiguous and
American speed, American guns, American
heart and brain and nerve will keep them
contiguous forever.
But there is a difference. We did not need
the western Mississippi valley when We ac-
quired it, nor Florida nor Texas, nor Cali
fornia, nor the royal provinces of the far
Northwest. We had no emigrants to peo-
pie this vast wilderness, no money to de-
velop it, even no highways to cover 1t. No
trade awaited in it's savage Businesses
Our productions were not greater than our
fs1fA han xryCc 1nf
for the land lust of our statesmen from
Jefferson to Harrison other than the prophet
and the Saxon within them. But, to-day,
we are raising more than we can consume.
To-day, we are making more than we can
use. Therefore, we must ind new markets
for our produce, new occupation for
capital, new work for our labor. And so,
while we did not need the territory taken
during the past century at the time it was
acquired, we do need what we have taken
in 1898. and we need it now. Think of the
thousands of Americans who will pour into
Hawaii and Porto Rico when the Republics
laws cover those islands with justice and
safety. Think of the tens of thousands Of
Americans who will invade the Philippines
when a liberal government shall estab-
fish order and equity there. Think of the
hundreds of thousands of Americans who
will build a soap-andwater. common school
when government of law replaces the
double reign of anarchy and tyranny. Think
of the prosperous millions that empress of
islands will support when, obedient to the
law of political gravitatOn, her people ask
for the highest honor liberty can bestow-
the sacred order of the stars and stripes,
the citizenship of the great Republic!
What does all this mean for every one
of us? First of all, it means opportunity
for all the glorious young manhood of the
Republic. 1t means that the resources and
the commerce of these immensely rich do
minions will be increased as much as Amer
lean energy is greater than Spanish sloth:
for Americans, henceforth will. monopolize
those resources and that commerce. In
Cuba, alone, there are 15,OOO,0OO acres of for
act 1nf f0d NIT fhE hnHn Of
exhaustless mines of iron. There are price
less deposits of manganese. There are mil
lions of acres yet unexplored. The re-
sources of Porto Rico have only been tri-
fled with. The riches of the Philippines have
hardly been touched by the finger tips of
modern methods. And they produce what
we cannot and they consume what we pro-
duce-the very predestination of reciprocity.
And William Mckinley intends that their
trade shall be ours 1t means an Oppor-
trinity for the rich man to do something
with his money, besides boarding it or lend
ing it. 1t means occupation for every work.
ingman in the country at wages which the
development of new resources. the launch
ing of new enterprises, the monopoly or
new markets always brings. Cuba is as
spot on all the globe. Hawaii Is as large as
New Jersey; Porto Rico half as large as
Hawaii; the Philippines larger than all all
Delaware. The trade of these islands, de-
veloped as we will develop it, will set every
reaper in the Republic singing, every spin
flames of industry. l ask each one of you
this personal question: Do you believe that
these resources will be better developed and
that commerce better secured; do you be-
lieve that all the priceless advantages will
be better awaited of for the benefit of this
Republic by Bryan. Bailey, Bland and
Blackburn and the opposition; or. by Will
liam Mckinley and a House and Senate
that will help and not hinder him?
THE TRADE ARGUMENT.
If any man tells you that trade depends
on cheapness and not on governmental in
fluence, ask him why England does not
abandon South Africa. Egypt, India? Why
does France seize South China, Germany
the vast region whose port is Kaouchou?
Consider the commerce of the Spanish ISL
ands. In 1897 we bought of the Philippines
S4,3S3, 740. and we sold only 1851. Great
Britain. that national expert in trade, did
little better. for in 1896 she bought 1922 426
and sold only 50 O63, 598. But Spain-Spain
the paralytic of commerce-Spain bought
only %,S18,344 and sold A,9l3,oS9. Fellow
citizens, from this day on that proportion
of trade, increased and multiplied, must be-
long to the American Republic: repeat
increased and multiplied, for with American
brains and energy. with American methods
here tonight doubt that American exports
will exceed SPANS imports twenty times
over? Does any one of you doubt that $780,
O00O1O of food and clothing and tools and
implements and machinery will ultimately
be shipped every year from the United
possibilities? And, yet against the condi-
lions that give us all that trade, the oppo-
sition is arrayed.
What lesson does Cuba teach? Cuba can