Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-11-25
OBJECTS TO EXPANSION
Relations of the United States to the Philip
pine Islands.
Views of Mr.. Simon Wolf as Express.
ed in Thanksgiving Day Address
Undesirable Cuban Conditions.

Mr.. simon Wolf of this city, former
United States consul general to Egypt. de-
fvered an address at the Thanksgiving
service of the Congregation B'Nai Jeshurun
at the synagogue, Goth street and Madison
avenue, New York city, yesterday morn
Ing. He spoke mainly on the relations of
the United States to the Philippines, the
permanent acquisition of which he op-
posed. He said, in part:
AT no time since the United States have
been ushered into existence has Thanks
giving day been charged with such mo-
mentous Importance as the present. 1t is
true for years prior to the civil war ques-
tons of policy both at home and abroad d.
vided the citizens of this country into hos
tile camps, until it eliminated in that fierce
and terrible struggle for national existence,
ending. thank heaven, in the extinction of
physical slavery and reuniting the sections
INTO one homogeneous whole, and ever since
the days of Appomattox the best citizens
north and south have been endeavoring
to bring about a closer union on all the
lines of concord and peace and not until
war was declared with Spain was this cor
summation, SO ardently desired by the
colonial fathers and the wise statesmen
since that day, brought into realization.
for on that day north and south, east and
west formed a grand union of hands and
hearts.
Another Phase.
But there is another phase of our nation
al existence which has been forged to the
front by events tor which we are RESPONSE
bic before the world not only as promoters
but sponsors. We are departing from the
traditional policy that made this country
great and glorious. We are entering into
new duties. We are compelled to sail on
seas unknown to our history and it be-
hooves us as citizens to review the situa-
tion; mere can be no question that the
conditions that existed in Cuba for the last
century were intoIerable, inhuman, cruel
and bloodthirsty, and that this condition
should have been stopped long. long ago
congress stated distinctly when driven to
end TINS lnhuman condition in Cuba that
we were engaged in a war for humanity
and not for conquest. Since that deciara-
ton Hawaii, by virtue of its own request
and consent, has been added to our terri
tory. Porto Rico has been given I'D by the
Spanlards and accepted by our country
Cuba, which every lover of liberty had sup
posed was to be governed by the Cubans, is
IN d condition OF doubt and uncertaintY
Two years ago. in public speech in W ash
ington, l SAID it would be better for US to
frankly declare that we would be RESPONSE
be Tor Cuca and hold il tnan to simulate
ana hold out hopes that might never be
1uiniied. Tor 1t Is my honest belief and
judgment that the Cubans will not be abe
unfit fer snemseHes Latin races seem
90 not Wish to incorporate it at this juno
ture INTO the galaxy of states. Then what
Is TO be done, you will ask. Exercise, con-
trol, ana De Responsible for Cuba as Eng
land is for Egypt. Aid and strengthen
civilization on all the mes necessary 10
peace and prosperity. aid in developing
Win our usual American energy the raH-
ways, telee1apnS and commerce. Carry out
the Sp4enu.u pan conceived by your own
great Warlng, whose life was sacruced to
perform sacred duty, and cleanse the is
idiiu Oh us one great tuenIy, ana mahe IT
In a sanitary sense, as heatny and boom :
ing as NATURE has luAurlantly provided
anu III the cOuISe OF time, under the inSpI-
ration OF Amer. can Institutions and through
ehelseuc Americans, there VIII he a
sfauual assimilation. ana cuba Will either
De iepubllc on the pan of our own, or
VIII then become one OF the great states of
the Union, but not until then.
Unexpected and undesired.
And 50 also with the Philippine Islands
WHICH nave been thrust into our NATIONAL
growth IN manner unexpected and M
aeSifea' mere can be no two opinions that
we owe to the natives of the Philippines
certain obligations. They look to us with
confidence that we will aid them in deliver
ing them from spanish rule, and TO that ex-
tent am heartily in favor of doing what
ever Is col-sls tent ana just on the Same
mes as indicated by me IN regard to Cuua
out not further. do not think our peop.e
are Wiling or ANXIOUS to have incorporat ed
INTO the body polite S,98tsbH Of unenncat n
people one-half OF whom are sayages and
VINO nave not even been slaves wnan at
our own door in a portion of our own coul:-
Try We nave unfortunately white sayages
TO reform and educate. If the negro. "a a
FACTOR IN politics, Is source of cons, ant
danger whose assertion of rights Is guar
aht+ed by the Constitution, and who is
made inc victim of midnight murder and
faplhc, now much mere reason there Will
De TO expect that in the distant PhIIippin .
lSiaAoS we VIII have a con0ItIon of things
lar more dcplorable. leading to endless con
tentlon war, and all the dreadful results
tfefeof The happiness of 7U,Gy0,u09 of free
ana cultivated Americans is of greater i'm
portance th1n the acquisition of islands
peopled by savages, nude and ignorant and
let US. as Jews. not ignore the danger en-
g-ndered by the dominant church in the
Latin territory. Religious freedom il tina
Keystone of the republican arch Has it
ever existed where Latin races swayed the
censor?
Know l am speaking to a Naw York
audience, in the emporium of American
commerce, and that commerce cannot he
CCnfned within the limits Of our own conn
Try. that we must compete with the great
commercial nations of the world in selIing
our produce and products and that bv the
way Of Honolulu, Porto Rico, Cuba and the
Philippine Islands the road is blaZad. ard
me commercial prosperity of our country