The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1898-08-21
Ube Daily Aromorette.
REAGAN ON EXPANSION.

FL. Reagan of Texas. His pa
triotism. integrity. ability and
Democracy have never been
questioned. He is an old-tiine
Democratic statesman. In a
recent interview this grand old
patriot expressed the following
views on territorial expansion:
| am in favor of the annexa-
ton of Cuba. the taking of
Porto Rico and the keeping of
the Philippine islands. | am
in favor of keeping the entire
], 400 islands of the Philippine
group. Our army and navy
are there; from war point of
view they now belong to US.
and | would keep them. After
the war is over | wouldn't sell
them. They belong to this ma
ton. and we need them. | would
establish oyer the Philippines
an American protectorate. We
know that there, as in Cuba,
the native is not capable of
self government as We under
stand the term. Europe does
not understand our dual form
of governmenr-does not com
prehend what we mean by the
protection OF life and proper
ty," civil rights. freedom of
thought. speech and action for
our citizens. How then should
the natives of the Phillpp nes
or the Cubans understand itf
But the establishment of an
American protectorate over the
Philippines would make the ma
tives Immediately subject to the
laws of our institutions. |
would leave for them a local
government of their own, which
they might conduct so long as
it was consistent with the laws
of the republic. but the broad
general government of the
islands should be just as it
must be in Cuba, in the hants
of the Americans, who have
conquered and whose flag. once
raised above any soil, is not
to be taken down.
To maintain the protectorate
we will be compelled to keep
strong garrisons ard a strong
feet at the island for years, but
in retaining them we will have
extended the boundaries of
constitutional government just
that much and increased the
area in which the freedom of
man is recognized by just so
many square miles. We will
have held the islands, which to
us are a necessity in the future
progress of the republic. We
will have raised one more bar
rier against any future en-
croachment Of real imperialism
-monarchial government.
We represent constitutional
government in the highest form
now known to man; it is our
privilege and right not only to
extend that government so far
as we can, but we must defend |
it with a strength, a display of
power no nation IN the worlds
history ever has put forth be-
fore.
We have. it is true. large un-
occupied areas of land in this
country which are yet to be
settled. We are not land poor,
as, if mere land was involved |
only in the question of terrific
rial expansion, the issue might |
assume a different aspect But |
a necessity positively exists for
a broadening of the area of our
national activity. Our com
merce needs widening. The
islands of the sea offer US the
Our navy will be
increased Immediately to such
proportions that even the com
bined powers of Europe will
fear and respect its strength.
Following this increase of the
navy will be a natural develop
ment of our marine interests, a
great increase of our merchant
feet. Our internal develop
ment will continue. while our
national usefulness will broad
en- into a buying and selling
commerce with every nation of
the world. We have come to /
the measure of our strength;
VIC are unified; we are on the
threshold of such a career of
progress as history meyer has