The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1898-08-30
PROF. BRYCE ON EXPANSION.


States. The advance of this country
from its own continent in North
America to the position of an oceanic
power, Professor Bryce declares,
cannot but profoundly affect England,
Russia, France and Germany. What
ever the other countries may do,
England notes the fact as one of the
highest international significance, and
Professor Bryce views the problem
from the standpoint of one as much
interested in the United States as in
the European powers affected by the
new departure.
He admits that American control
of the Philippines, of Cuba, and of
Porto Rico will be better for the
people of those islands and better for
civilization than Spanish control. To
retain the islands he holds will in
volve doubling the strength of our
navy, heavy increase in our army,
aud the creation of new class of
experts in colonial government. This
will be to the advantage of the ac.
quired territory, but, he asks, will it
be to the advantage of the United
States?
1t is possible for the United States,
having up to this time gained
strength while inviting colonists and
settlers from European countries, to
become now great colonizing
power? And will her people, en-
couraged to build homes in the great
temperate zone of the United States
and inspired with loyalty to repubIi-
can institutions, be inclined to emf
CRATE to the warmer zone of Cuba,
Porto Rico, or the Philippines in suf-
ficIent numbers to AmerIcanIze those
islands? If the islands are not to be
Americanized, will the American
people be satisfied by their retention
as what would be known in England
as crown colonies? To become a
great colonial power the United
States, Professor Bryce says, must
have the imperial quality of mo-
narchicai forms of government. Can
this country, under its present re-
publican form Of government, sub
ject to change of administration, pur
sue a consistent colonial policy?
These are the objections presented
by an Englishman who has made a
close study of our institutions. But
he has failed to comprehend some of
the most important questions in their
relation to the situation brought
about by war. We have already in
creased our regular army to 61, 900.
Already steps have been taken to
double the navy's fighting strength.
Before the war with Spain nearly ali
Eupoean writer's doubted the ability
of republic to mobilize an army
and strengthen a navy as would
European government under the same
urgent circumstances. It was as
sumed that there was danger always
in republic of such division of
sentiment as would prevent the ex.
ercise of that undisputed authority
necessary to military success. This
objection was answered in the first
few weeks of war. The army was
modified with promptness rarely
exceeded. The navy was put on a
war footing in so short time as to
excite wonder even in England.
Confronted by crisis, the republic
acted with the oneness of an empire.
The sovereignty of the people was as
imperial in its manifestation as the
sovereignty represented in the Gar.
The United States is pledged to
give good government to the territory
it occupied. When it will have done
this it will have given encourage
ment to the natives and invited emf
grafton from all the European
countries as we'll as from its own
IOmlniOns The clImate in Cnho oo6