The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1898-07-14
THE REDWOOD GAZETTE.
BY AIKEN l. scHMAHL.
THURSDAY, JULY:14, 1898.
WHY WE SHOULD EXPAND.
Defenslve and Commercial Reasons
Demand It,


Demand It.
To THE IroR:-Iti is an elementary
gprinciple of parliamentary practice
that question is not debatable until
it is before the house. And yet, if the
question is to be given an intelligent
hearing and discussion, when it is
brought up, the participants must be-
forehand have investigated it in order
ito participate in the debate.
To-day the public mind is going over
7the matter of the acquisition of new
+erritory, in preparation for the discus
asion and the final vote. l think l voice
general sentiment when l say that, un-
der normal conditions, the mass of the
people are reluctant in the matter of
territorial expansion. If, then, we are
ito consider the possibility of the an
snexation of Hawaii or the establish
tment of a colonial form of govern
sment, or protectorate over Cuba,
Porto Rico, The Ladrones or Phil
aipines, we must answer the question,
"Why" What advantage is to be
&gsined7" Will not the cost largely ex-
~ceed the revenue?" evil not the gov
'ernment be weakened by extending it's
l1ines?" evil not the prosperity and
security in the future as in the past be
best promoted by isolation and the
policy of keeping out of international
controversies as far asl possible?"
We'll, possibly, but it looks very much
as if recent events have discovered the
United States to the world and that
affairs cannot longer be conducted on
the old lines.
A most pathetic appeal for peace
was recently made in the senate at
Madrid by senator, who seemed we'll
anfermed on the subject, in which he
said in substance, that the strength
and resources of the United States had
foeen persistently moderated before
1.-The people, while the ability of Spain
ito cope with them had been magnifed.
BatV&e age is utilitarian and if we
take any, or all, of the territory named
under our care we must answer the
question, "What is to be gained and
what use can we make of new possess
sions," For the purpose of this COM
aaunication 1 will answer that, in the
opinion of the writer, the acquisition
is desirable for both national and
commercial reasons. The present war
has shown us how helpless we might
have found ourselves with a war on
hand, in which it was necessary to
use our navy, without single ,harbor
for protection or coaling station, ex-
sept in home ports. When Admiral
Nelson won the great naval victory of
the early days OF the century he need
led only powder and. ball, his vessels
being driven by the winds, but now a
new factor comes in, and as vessel in
war is more helpless without coal than
ammunition, and both are contraband
an time of war, harbors, as base of
supplies and coaling stations are ne
cessity, and no country can risk going
&c war without having both under its
control. Our answer is, then, that the
proposed islands are both desirable
and necessary for defensive purposes
1t is, however, as market for oul
surplus agricultural and manufactured
products that new territory is especial
ly desirable. We all remember the
very low prices, on nearly every pro-
duct of our soil and manufactures
(which prevailed three or four years