New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-14
THE NEED OF EXPANSION.
LENS NOW CONFRONTING THE
UNITED STATES


Sir: have read with great interest the nu-
merous letters in your columns and those OF
some other newspapers. together with the
speeches of Mr. Schurz and Senator Hoar.
against the acquisition OF the Philippines by our
country | have also heard one two sermons
in which arguments against the annexation OF
this group OF islands have been presented in
vigorous language. But these letters and the
able addresses have only made me more certain
in my own mind that their authors are uncon-
sciously resisting the logic Of events-"a divin-
ty that shapes ends. rough hew them how
we will"
The chief argument Of the anti-annexaton-
lists appears TO be that the United States. with
its own internal affairs. has so much to do In its
vast territory that it cannot possibly enlarge its
population and borders without detrment to
its capacity properly to govern what it now pos
sesses This is the same argument that was 80
familiar when. after the war with Mexico we
acquired California by purchase That country
separated from us by the almost untrav-
ersed Great American Desert and the Rocky
Mountains. From the land side 1t was thus
nearly inaccessible. while by sea the voyage
required to reach new possessions was
around Cape Horn. The inhabitants were chiefly
people not much further advanced in civiliza-
dic;ed by the leaders Of the dying Whig party
when the Democrats carried through their an
nexation ideas. Have those disasters occurred?
The previous annexation of Louisiana. OF
Florida and Texas had each been met by the
same objections. But what a small place these
anti-annexation pleas hold in history now
Alaska purchased with little opposition, but
about that period there We're not wanting those
who successfully resisted the acquisition OF san
Domingo, and who shook their heads sadly over
our purchase OF glacier bordered shores am
told 10y some OF those who are old enough To
have heard the protests against the annexation
of Texas and California that the dangers Of i'm
perialism were even more graphically set forth
by a large number OF pubcists than they are
now against the acquisition OF the Philippines
No one can now successfully contend that any
Of our territory acquired from the time Of JEFF
ferson to that Of Seward has but contributed
to the prosperity and peace OF the world.
take it for granted that the George Wash
ington argument has been virtually abandoned.
1t seems to have been plainly shown that our
first President spoke in time and under con-
ditons which are now SO changed that what
he said about expansion and alliances, based on
our remOteness from Europe. and our feeble re-
sources as one Of the very small nations of the
happened since then" If George Washington
is in a world where he can See what is going on
in the country which he made a nation nave
no doubt that his views have materially changed
and expanded with our growth. and with the In
vention Of the steamship. the railway, the tele-
graph and the telephone. Advice which is
proper for a child is certainly not always neces-
sary for an adult There is no evidence that the
Father Of his Country was divinely and authorI-
tativey inspired on all political subjects
But to my mind the main argument for
holding the Philippines is the fact that we are
at the beginning Of great struggle-a peace
full one / hope. but mighty struggle-which
will determine whether the Cossack. the Latin
or the Anglo Saxon shall dominate the political
policy OF the world Spain is not able to take
care OF the Philippines. If We leave them to
her. at the best, years Of bloody Instructions
are before those unhappy Islands. If she dis
poses Of them to Germany. to France or Rus
sia Anglo-Saxon interests Will be mperled.
If We retain them we shall be obliged to line
I'd alongside Of Great Britain. ard with her adj
vance the line Of civilization. which both Of our
countries have made, and. together. compel the
rest Of the world to speak and think English
1t vas England who prevented France and Rus
STA and Germany from interfering against us
in our war with Spain. We cannot easily repay
her the debt of gratitude we owe her for frus-
trating this unhoy alliance. which had been
set against Us. and would have placed the
worlds progress back by century.
The argument that to England was given the
exclusive duty Of planting colonies and ciNlllz-
ing the world by colonization gives way To
careful consideration. Even If she desires. Eng
land cannot do this work alone without great
embarrassment and. perhaps. with resulting
general war II we had been together in an
Informal but thoroughly good understanding
as hope we shall be after the Philippines have
been ACQUIRED the bloody saughters in Armenia
would have ceased soon as begun. and Crete
would long since have been handed over. where
she belongs. to the kingdom OF Greece. Inc
moral influence of our alliance would nave SUI
feed for all that
The view that have been so incapable in
our own Civil Service that We cannot be trusted
t. govern Porto Rico. Hawaii and the Philip
pines Is II reflection the capacity OF our
people with increased responsibility for ad-
vance along good lines, that cannot believe 10
he lust one has only 10 read the political his
tory IF this country. or 10 recall the statements
made to many Of US by our forefathers, 10 know
that the conditions IN the days of Aaron Burr
Alexander Hamilton and De Witt Clinton, IN our
own state. were not favorable 10 an honest
civil service and good governmental metnOls
generally as they are In our own Tines ms
everlasting p-ssimistic wall or part OF our
daily press is not q proper, generous or just
reflex Of our actual condition. There Is a larger
PROPORTION Of high political morality now than
there ever has previously been in our history.
our rebellion against England produced an
array Of Statesmen and soldiers that Would eise
have been mute, inglOrious Millions our
civil War with all its misery and horrors. has
contributed largely To our power ana useful-
ness i'm the earth. while our short one with Spain
,viu have been worth all its cost does II bring
about unihcation Of our people. as now seems
possible At any rate. IT has already done much
for pure politics in our state. by having car
ried the election Of Colonel Roosevelt as Gov
ernOr. ,
\ great deal is made Of the enormous prob
lens that are 10 confront us II We UNDERTAKE
tbis legitimate expansion Of domains. But
what are the problems involved In properly
Governing a few millions more Of people, wilnns
- ne governed and anxious 70 come under our