The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1898-07-02
POLICY OF EXPANSION.
Some Press Opinions on the New
Doctrine Of Territorial Expansion.
From the Hartford Democrat.
\ DANGEROUS POLICY.


The House of Representatives having
passed the resolution for the annexation of
Hawaii and sent them to the Senate that
body now has them under consideration
The Senate not being as Mckinley ridden
as the House, an interesting and instruc-
tive debate may be expected before vote
is reached. The annexation scheme is
distinctly Republican measure. 1t was
begun under Harrison's administration,
blocked by Cleveland and resurrected by
Mckinley, who is endeavoring to secure
the annexation of the islands as il war
necessity and as a step towards the perma-
nent annexation of the Philippines. 1t is
the old spirit of imperialism put into an
other form. The friends of annexation
endeavor to justify their position by citing
the acquisition Of Louisiana, Florida,
Texas, California and the Northwest as
precedents. They ignore the fact that
these were part of the American Con-
tinent, contiguous territory and necessary
for the full enjoyment and protection of
in 1776-S3. This belongs to us of right
and we should legally acquire all the terri
tory necessary for our free use Of our own.
This principle may Justify us in driving
Spain out of Cuba and Porto Rico for
cause and holding them so long as our in
terests and humanity require, and when
they become civilized and capable of self
government, as they will under American
tutelage, admit them to membership in the
American Union No such necessity or
reason exists for the acquisition and per-
manent occupation of Hawaii and the
Philippines territory beyond our jurisdic-
tion--not necessary or useful to us except
as coaling stations, which we already have,
and can only be Il source Of expense and
irritation to European powers. 1t is right
and proper to wrest these and other islands
from Spain, as means of conquering
peace and indemnifying ourselves for war
expenses. But their permanent occupa-
ton as conquered territory or IA part of the
sisterhood of States, after the object of
their capture is secured, is contrary to the
genius of our institutions and contrary to
the true welfare of the American people.
The Monroe doctrine, to which we all
subscribe, forbids interference by Europ-
can powers with the affairs of this CONT
nent. So long as we practice non-inter
ference in European waters our position is
tenable and will be respected by Europe
When we abandon our true position Of
interference in their affairs we lose
our right to ask Europe to keep 'hands
off - in the Western Continent-and this
means frequent wars with European ma
tions, that will claim the same rights in
the Western Hemisphere that we assert in
the Eastern. Washington was a wise
counsellor and when in his farewell to the
American people he advised them against
foreign complications he uttered words Of
wisdom that have been needed during the
past century, and should be regarded in
the next The annexation of the Pacific
Islands means militaryism and resulting
imperialism. The observance of the policy
outlined by Washington, formulated by
Madison and Monroe and uniformally OBJ
served by their successors, not only avoids
those evils but insures a continuance of the
unexampled progreas and prosperity that
that has made America the great country
it is acknowledged to be by the civilized
world. If the Senate is wise 1t will reject
the annexation resolution.