Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-06-17
TERRITORY GRABBING.

TERRITORY GRABBING.
Ever since the carrying OF the war
into the Pacific there has been little
doubt that advantage would be taken
of the circumstance and the necessities,
real or conjured up, of the nation TO
complete the Hawaiian job. The sugar
lobby have been working tooth and
nail on Congress and many an ObJector
to the scheme was whipped into line,
we are informed, by being made the
subject of systematic and most vile and
violent vituperation for his opposition
to this job disguised as war meas
ure." The sugar lobbyists made hay
while the sun shone, and doubtless they
have won; they already possessed the
President, they have just captured the
House, and if the Senate does not fall
into line the President will sieze the ISL
ands "as a war measure anyway.
When we have begun this new ma
tional earth grabbing policy. which is
to result in throwing overheard the
time honored Monroe Doctrine, which
has stood us in such good stead in the
pass being duly honored by all nations,
there is no telling where it will stop.
For instance, if Hawaii is annexed be-
cause of the need of a naval station in
the Pacific 1900 miles from our shores,
in order to protect our trade with Asia,
the same argument will apply to the
retention of Manila, 400 miles further
away, and that will necessitate one or
more intermediate stations in the Car
olines or the Ladrones, or in both. In
short, the acquisition in permanenecy
of one distant island in the Pacific will
necessitate the acquisition of others in
that ocean. There must be no mlsun-
Outstanding in this matter. The acqui
sition of Hawaii means the entrance OF
the United States upon a colonial policy
with all which that new departure in
wolves
Hence it is that word comes that it
is the purpose of the administration TO
sieze two islands at least in the Spanish
groups of the Carolines and Dadrones
as stepping stones between Hawaii and
the Philippines One statement has
been made that Guahan, in the La
zones. would be secured en- route by
The Charleston. Another said occasion
would be taken on the passage of the
Monterey to call at Ponape, in the Caro-
line archipelago, and settle an old diff
Guilty with Spain at that place by TAX
ing possession of the island. With
coaling stations at the three intermedi-
ate points the naval line of communi-
cation between the United States and
the Philippines will be complete. Thus
it will be Hawaii to-day, the Philip
pines tomorrow and everything be-
tween them the day after. and so on in
definitely until we are involved in all
the complications of the Old World and
in fearful army and navy expenses to
correspond
The colonial policy simply means
the taking possession of foreign coun-
try and restricting its trade TO our own
producers by tariffs more or less ex-
elusive. IL is precisely the policy Of
Spain with Cuba and the Philippines:
it is precisely the same policy against
which those islands are now rebelling,
which in the case of the former has
brought on the present war. Hence
those who advocate a colonial policy
for the United States mean that this
great free country which so abhors
Spain and its policies shall step into
SPANS shoes after it has taken them
from her and do precisely what Spain
did as regards trade, A colonial pol
icy means taxing colony for the bene-
fit of the mother country.
The attitude of the administration is
inspired by the lobby of spectators
who are keen to appreciate the vast
field there is in this policy for specu-
lation and individual enrchment-not
for TIE general public-oh. no-for the
rich speculator-the general public will
simply hold the bag, as usual.
On this point we cannot refrain from
quoting Hon. William Jennings Bryan
in his speech the other day at the dedi-
cation of the Nebraska building at the
Omaha exposition. In discussing the
war issue Mr.. Bryan said:
History will vindicate the position tax.
en- by the United States In the war with
Spain. In saying this l assume that the