The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-12-18

to acquire this territory, but he was
educated by events. He did not pos
sess that immediate and unalterable
knowledge of absolute truth which is
the precious inheritance of yourself and
your associates. He did not even ask
whether the citizans Of New Orleans
approved Of the cession Of Napoleon. 1t
was a good thing, he thought, for
America to acquire that territory, and
so he bought it. When we purchased
Florida from Spain, did we inquire
whether the Seminoles approved Of the
transfer? Texas and the California
tract were acquired in the interest of
slavery, yet California was the means
by which the balance Of power be-
tween slave states and free states was
finally broken and freedom became pre-
dominant. Would we willingly return
this vast domain to Mexico-would we
consign Florida to Spain or Louisiana
to France? And when, in opposition to
the same kind Of sentiment which you
represent, Alaska was purchased
("Wairussian" they called it in those
days., history" and principles and
all sorts of things were brought for
ward against the folly of mailing our
banner to the north pole; but who now
thinks that Mr.. Seward made mis-
take? Our own history Vindlcates our
efforts toward expansion
What history, then, do you allude
to? England has expanded" greatly
during the last two centuries Has
England suffered thereby? Has her
domestic government become less be-
nefcent by reason of her colonial pol
lev? In earlier times where were dread
full abuses-the stamp act-the tyranny
of CliVe-the corruption of Hastings;
but the Anglo-Sax can profit by ex-
perience Then came the period OF re-
form. Let US remember that it was
through Calcutta that the merit system
passed into London. And shall We
the possessors of English blood, insti-
tutiOns and modes of thought-shall
we become contaminated by the things
which have made England more great
and lust and pure? Ii you We're your
self not so infallibe in judgment, l
would ask you TO believe with me that
Yankee ingenuity will find some way
of doing that which England has al
ready done so well.
You say that your anti-eXpansionists
"have dwelt on the principles on which
our political structure rests" [ sup
nose bv this you mean the doctrine
that all men are equal, that govern
ment derives its Just power from the
consent of the governed, yet when the
Declaration of Independence was writ
fen and when the constitution was
adoDted. there was not single state
1,bare that principle was carried out.
Jyo,nen were governed then (and they
have ever since been goyerned) With
ont any power to consent. There were
proDerty qualifications as well as race
dualifcations for suffrage. Inc terri
tories have always been governed py
congress. New Mexico has been Tor
fifty years in a territorial cohulIloI.
rrba Instruct of Columbia will always
ba in mat condition, so far as we can
nronbesv its future Alaska has not
sven a local representative government.
r,ho fact is that we have always been
Inconsistent with this ideal of the Dec
iaratiou of Independence. we VIII pc
no more inconsistent If we govern the
pbiiinnines as a territory than we have
baen in governing Alaska or New Mex
ico or Washington city.
THE men who talk of the 'uncon-
stit1tiOnality" of annexation can hard-
" Tell us why it was more laWful 70
annex the Aleutian Islands imam the
philippines. If we have violated the
constitution, this is all past history
We have done it in following the loot
.+a,1s7 of the fathers" from Jefferson to
Seward = mic
vou saw that the anti-eXpansionsts
have exposed the bubble nature OF
The expansionists plans why are
Pnrto Rico and the Philippines to be
,oeor1ed as a bubble any more imam
ra7,'aica or Eong Kong or Hindostan?
''i ~ unable ito cite history, dwell on
,,.;,cinIess or perceive the bubble
p ~ I'r1, of the expansionist's plans, l
have at least accommodated you with VIII
Something slo which appears to my I'M