Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-26
Shall We he Aggressive.

Richmond, Va. May %, 1898
| To the Editor of the Dispatch:
Senior Sagasta assures US that the war
Will be prosecuted to the bitter end and
perhaps 1t Is well 10 take 1t for granted
That he means what he says. At the same
time. he seems to concede our superiority
at sea, and IL is now impossible for him
TO build or buy vessels to reverse this
condition. Therefore Spain's Colonial pos
sessions are at our mercy, and when the
philippines have been made secure by the
military occupancy of Manila, Admiral
Dewey can then proceed to capture other
islands until he has rounded up the
flock.
What are those islands, and how much
are they worth? Let us look and see
me Canaries are considered a part OF
the home country, and will be returned
or course, even IL we take temporary
possession OF them. Cuba, as a matter
OF fact, will go to the Cubans. Porto Rico
Is at the mercy of Admiral SIMPSONS
fleet, and will be valuable item on the
credit side Of our bill for indemnity when
we begin to talk about peace. 1t is adj
Vantageously situated for our prospective
business in the Caribbean sea, and for
the protection of our South American
trade, If we are to enter upon the new
dition? Porto Rico had, according to the
latest Spanish census a population of
"Sl3,937, Of which 10000 were negroes"
The revenue for the fiscal year 1sai-'95
--latest official report was 5454,95S pesos:
expenditure, 3,So5.ee7 pesos. Exports are
coffee, sugar, molasses. and tobacco The
total exports In 1895 were valued at Is
$4,000 pesos Spanish dollars; imports,
17.4i6oO0 pesos.
The Philippine Islands produce hemp,
sugar. coffee. copra, tobacco, and indigo. |
as your Biographies will tell you. To say |
nothing OF the Carolines and other is |
lands. these possessions offer us the only |
indemnity Spain can possibly pay, and |
to reasnoble mind we are clearly |
entitled to them by all international law
and the most authoritative precedents.
1t Is argued in some quarters, am fully |
aware, that to acquire possessions in the
other hemisphere is TO abandon the Mon
roe doctrine; but this seems to strain q
point. We declare that European Powers
shall not acquire new American terri
tory. The corollary to this is the posi-
ton that we shall not acquire European
territory, and, therefore, cannot hold the |
Canaries. But are we forever debarred
from the acquisition Of ports and sta
tons or Islands and Colonies In the other
quarters of the globe? II so. we cannot
protect our commerce, and must consent
to let England do our carrying trade for
ever. For commerce will not go where
it cannot be protected; capital will not
be put into ships IL we accept a position
which makes national care of It impossi-
bic. Now our wisest statesmen declare
that We must have foreign markets or
limit our production. Is it possible that
IN has oil - l
ume beyond our power to handle? II so,
we must become practically Colony of
Great Britain-as much Of a dependency
as Australia or Canada. and thus undo
The work of our fathers. This is a ques-
ton we will soon be called upon to de-
tide.
III we hold these possessions we must
prepare TO defend them against all
'omers and protect our commerce
wherever the flag floats. IL at the end Of
he war we restore our conquests to
spain, FOR what will my sons and other
'eople's sons have fought? Should they
i've through the war under the blessings
II Providence. / want them TO see with
heir own eyes the monuments they have
rected 10 their own memory-to-wit,
'uba, Porto Rico, the Philippines, and
he Carollnes
~ Hliuult cOuIbo as ITaugnL Win ali the
angers and none OF the advantages OF
ither extreme.
Mr.. Editor. when Balboa stood on the J
fountain tops OF the isthmus, long be-
ore you and i were ushered into this
old, heartless world, and saw an un- g
nown sea breaking in the sunlight at his ,,
eet. his awe at the immensely of the
ision was but a foretaste Of what the :.
houghtful minds OF this nation feel to-
ay. Shall We sail boldly out and take
ne fortune Providence offers and our =
trong hands win. or must we sit down :
n the shore. shut up like an oyster with =
! its shell. and refuse 10 go beyond the -
mes our fathers reached? Two great
ugbears are held up to brighten Us from .
10 path now opening before us. One Is
10 threat that II we accept the fruits
Dewey's victory we will recede from
lie Monroe doctrine. and open the way !
n Europe's retaliation. But the Monroe
nctrine itself was once new thing.
hen Il was announced the holy alliance X
I'D pledged itself TO hold South and Gen.
al Anarfca upder the SpanfSh crown !