The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-28
OPPOSED TO EXPANSION
ADDRESS BY EX-SECRETARY OF
THE TREASURY BOUTWELL,
He sees Nothing but Grave Peril in
Retention of the PhiIippines-A
Boston Preachers Views.

BOSTON. Dec. 27.-The Congregational
Club observed ladies' night at the Armory
Hall tonight, with Ex-Governor George S
Boutwell,, a former secretary Of the treasury
and President Capen, of Tufts College. as
the speakers, on the subject Of expansion
Mr.. Boutwell, said:
1T is my purpose on this occasion to con-
slider this question known as the policy on
which the country is entering, a policy of
peace or a policy of war. The seizure pos
session and occupation of the Philippines,
whether the occupation is treated tenn
porary or permanent, proceeds upon the
theory that our present peaceful relations
with England, RI ssia and Japan are never
10 be broken or disturbed seriously. Three
years have not yet gone since England and
the United States were on the brink of war,
and there can be no security for continued
peace with Great Britain The laxity OF our
policy during the insurrection in Cuba, If
initiated by us in the event of revolutionary
movements in Canada, would open contro-
versy with Great Britain that might end in
war. War with England is not an impos-
Sibilty. J. now lay before you two state
mentS as my fixed opinions concerning the
future of the country:
First, it, by the treaty of Spain. ratified
by the American Senate, we take jurisdic-
ton of the Philippine islands for any pur-
lose or for any period Of time. that juris-
by the United States
Second. that the sovereignty of the ISL
ands Will be yielded to force finally. and
habitants of the islands or by England, or
by Japan, or by Russia. and not unlikely
by the combination or the cooperation Of
two or more of these powers. If we hold
the philippines we shall hold them because
Russia permits us to do so, and not other
wise. This is, of itself, humiliation. The
fortunes of Russia and China are now iden-
| teal, and henceforth their immense re-
sources are to be welded as one power.
Americans may take note of four or
more observations that are of supreme inn
poftance First we are indebted to the
protecting naval strength of England for
our successes in the war With Spain; second
we are to deal generously with Canada
third, whatever trade benefitS may arise
from the conquest of the Philippines, Eng
land Is TO enjoy with us; fourth. there must
be neutral help in the coming contest with
Russia
THE President proposes to take turisdlc-
ton or the Philippines and then consider
how they are to be governed. Thus he an
nounces the essential doctrine of an unlim-
tied tyranny. We are to pursue the policy
which we condemned in Spain, and which
has ended in unmitigated disaster.
The victory of 1896 had been a partisan
victory, but it was full of the promise Of
benign results in which all could partici-
pate. We were at peace with the world,
ana there were no disturbing dlVlsiops
on ro ou pe0 dS Of e fOgren months this
country was involved in a war with Spain
and without the ability on our part to al
lege truthfully of any act Of wrongdoing on
the part OF Spain that had been Injurious
I'VE loaded ourselves with possessions
which do not need; have ASSUMED
jurisdiction over millions of human beings
who do not recognize the rightfulness of our
authority. We have extended our system Of
taxation and have increased the public debt
in sum of hundreds of millions. Our PEN
sion rolls have been heightened to the end
of the first half of the next century, and
we are threatened with a permanent in
crease of the army and navy at a cost of
$4,000 600 a year.
1T is a matter of minor importance that
the supremacy of the Republican party has
been put in peril; that some Of us seem to
think such an event is no slight catastro-
phe. What are our compensations? The
miseries Of Cuba have not been relieved.
and the sum of them has been multiplied
many times over within the limits of the
United States. While we are not to I'M
dervalue the achievements of the army and
navy, they are but slight compensations for
the sacrifices and sufferings incident to the
war. 1t is the boast that the war has ce-
mented the Union, but the Union was COM
pact and firm when the war opened FL
nally, all events in the war eliminated in
this: The foundations have been laid on
which may be set up. as Rufus Choate said,
the frowning arch of a ranged empire.
Mr.. Capen said that after careful consid-
GRAFTON he felt himself compelled TO lift his
voice in behalf of the policy of Mr.. Nc
Kinley,