The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-12-16

power Of logical reasoning to all those who nd
vocate the annexation OF the Philippines. An
other correspondent in the Nation Of last
Thursday declares that every expnnslonist IS
a "rovolutionist " md q TRAITOR to his coun-
try" A good deal OF that portion OF the press
which IL opposed to annexation has taken this
attitude. and II seems to me that 1t might not
DO improper to express In q short communlca-
ton tho insolence OF such claims. / have nc
cordingly written to Mr.. Drew this open letter.
WILLIAM DUDLEY FouLKE.
RICHMOND. Ind, Dec. IL.
Frank DrstO. Esq.. Worc1ster. Mass
SIR: In your communication to the Nation OF
Nov. rs you complain OF tho failure OF your ut
tempts TO get discussion over the national
policy OF expansion. Tho Americans" you
say. who realize the gravity OF the under
taking which America lin its ideal sense) rep
resents have tried to argue with the cxpnn-
slonist. They have cited history. have dwelt
on the principles on which our political struc-
ture rests, have exposed the bubble nature OF
the eIpansionist's plans. and yet the expansion
list 10 unaffected. Tho only way to bring the
expansion fntalist to deliberate is to block his
way with a human will. One emphatic Nor
such as Senator Hoar has uttered. makes the
fatalist who fancies destiny overrides all
human wills cast about for human means to
VI " NfNC u anu ttio tlIdIlC
OF the expansionist into a rational state is
what is now so needed. for 1t brings him back
to history and experience. matters that arc
tribes to his unpolitical mind. and In this fold
he may take his ~place-behind men Of saner
judgment"
address you because your letter Is repre-
sentative OF the attitude Of much OF tho anti
expansion press. and OF some OF the so-called
leaders OF alleged thought upon this sub
ject. toward the rest OF the universe. To some
ofus who believe that we still retain the faculty
OF reasoning your statements are q little sur
prisinR. and we wonder 1t has not occurred to
you that there Is some assumption in the claim
that you and your cotorie of ingle-nook states
men possess all the valuable gray nerve matter
In this hemisphere. II this were the case. it
would seem not unfair to expect that you, rs
one OF the choice spirits who have this monop-
oily OF logical thinking. should give some evil
dence OF it-some specimen thought-in an ef-
fusion which denies the possession OF that
power to others. But let us not stand on the
matter OF precedence. If you have heretofore
failed in your " attempts to get discussion. - be
not without hope; you can find one who will do
what little his unreasoning instinct permits to
accommodate you.
You say of your associates. they have cited
history" What history have they cltedp The
history OF our Louisiana purchase? Thomas
Jefferson thought at first that we had no right
to acquire this territory. but he was educated
by events. He did not possess that immediate
and unalterable knowledge OF absolute truth
which Is the precious inheritance Of yourself
and your associates. He did not even ask
whethert the citizens Of New Orleans approved OF
the cession by Napoleon. 1t was a good thing, he
thought, for America to acquire that territory.
and so he bought it. When we purchased Flori-
Ola from SDatp did rra iory;ra r-ho4ho. H.
Seminoles approved Of the transfer? Texas
and the California tract were acquired in tho
interest OF slavery. yet California was tho
means by which the balance OF power between
slave States and FREQ States was finally broken
and freedom became predominant. Would we
willingly return this vast domain to Mexico?
Would we consign Florida to Spain or Louist-
ana to FranceP And when. in opposition to the
same kind Of sentiment which you represent.
Alaska was purchased tWalrussia they called
IL in those days.. history and principles"
and all sorts OF things were brought forward
against the folly Of mailing our banner to the
Seward made . mistakoS"' our lii"o own III History oig;
vi3 Etsa our efforts toward expansion,
,Sarisss; Mss EGnsiand suffered thereby Has
earlier times there were dreadful abuses. the
Of Hastings. But the Angio-saxon can pro}it
by experience. Then, came the period OF re-
e fGI% = Let tb us rsshm En-. merTt that sxstd it was through
London. And shall We. the possessors OF Eng
lish blood. institutions and modes Of thought.
WhIch" have made England more 81 ste and Idhi iuss
and, pure,2 II you were yourself not so infaIii-
S Sls IN me- t6at YsnkS %o ineon ask y %ill If Ind Pe s1ms
way way. Of 81 d 1sI that which England has already
You say that your anti-expansionists "have
dwelt on the principle on which our political
sbru { rests;" suppose BY this you mean
ernment derives It's just powers from the con-
sent Of the governed yet when the Declaration
single State where that principle was carried
have ever since been governedj without any any
oS,eGI to consent; There were property quali-
irage; The Territories have always BEEN e%r g s1s-
srned by Congress-, New Mexico has been for
f a TX years az I'm r. g TT Territorial ri, condition. The
Alaska has not even a,locaf Representative Gov
SSes%H ineopa iHs iPS With K th hhaf ide wf Of fa tEs fb,w eaiys
IE ntGn 81 andeP sa snSs. We vii be no more
Territory than. we. have, been IN goveraIne
AlaRRS.a or New Mexico Of Washington e!ty.
atty" Of anneXati lon can ca 'f hardly HIRff tell ns WbU l.
was more lawful TO annex the Aieutian Islands
than the Philippines. Il We have violated the
done i In following the footsteps Of the faith
ers" from Jefferson to Seward,
=. The next thing you spenk OF is this: You say
that, the undergraduates have exposed the
WIN hubble SEe nPp n1te net Of the he ff55n9Pasi9nLft's rlaps
rs a bubble any more than Jamaica
II unable TO cite history dwell on prin-
clples." or perceive the . bubble nature OF the
plans" l have at least accom-
modated y2n with something which appears to
unpolitical" understanding like a reason
for expansion. / cannot hope that 10 will bulge
In your belief, However great the heresy
Of pagan, tgtalism" OF which your letter
speaks. shat doctrine has strong support in the
cases Of those two well-known classes OF Irwin
bible beings who never change their views.
must myself confess that the events Of the past
mopths have educated me. and although
part, II ia just possible that tho above corisid-
.srations may not he lost upon some. who, while
still opposed 10 expansion. are not so compla-
,ent regarding their own mental superiority as
deny all intelligence to those who disagree
With them.
Permit mo further to say that while you and
he class OF Thought monopolists you represent
nay be peerless ,XDounlera 0f biatorv yoy -