The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-08-13
TEXANS VIEWS ON EXPANSION
EX-SENATOR REGAIN WOULD
TAKE ANYTHING IN SIGHT.
Believes We Should Annex Cuba and
Porto Rico and Hold the Philip
pines-A Democratic Policy.

Chicago, Aug. 12.-"I am in favor of
the annexation of Cuba, the taking of
Porto Rico and the keeping of the
philippine islands,
John II. Regan, former United States
senator, chairman of the state rail-
way commission of Texas, and one of
! the leaders of the Democratic party in
| Texas, so spoke while discussing ter
ritorial expansion. Mr.. Regain is in
| Chicago, where, with his wife, he is
enjoying a months rest.
of the entire 1,4OO islands of the
Philippine group, would you favor
keeping alp was asked.
Yes. Our navy and army are there.
From a war point of view, they now
belong to US, and I would keep them.
After the war is over l would not sell
them. They belong to this nation and
we need them. 1 would establish over
the Philippines an American protec
torate. We know that there, as in
Cuba, the native is not capable sof self
government, as we understand the
term: Europe does not understand our
dual form of government-doeS not
comprehend what we mean by the
protection of life and property civil
rights, freedom of thought, speech and
action for our citizens. How, then,
the HALVES VI LIE ulllpplIlSS
or Cuba understand it?
But the establishment of an Amer
lean protectorate over the Philippines
would make the natives Immediately
subject to the laws of our institutions.
would leave for them a local govern
ment of their own, which they might
conduct so long as it was consistent
with the laws of the republic; but the
broad, general government of the is
lands should be just as it must be in
Cuba-in the hands of the Americans,
who have conquered, and whose flag,
once raised above any soil, ought not
to be taken down.
ITO maintain the protectorate we will
be compelled to keep strong garrisons
and a strong fleet at the islands for
years, but in retaining them we will
have extended the boundaries of con-
stitutional government just that much
and increased the area in which the
freedom of man is recognized by just
so many square miles. We will have
held islands which to US are a neceS-
sity in the future progress of the re-
public. We will have raised one more
barrier against any future encroach-
ments of real imperialism-mon
government.
Il confess that it is true we assume
new responsibilities in taking the Phil
ippines, but our growth has prepared
us for those added duties. We cannot
afford to be timid or shrinking in this
hour"
1.-The policy that you advocate, Mr..
Regain, is it not imperialism"
We'll, if it is, then Thomas Jeffer-
son, the founder of the Democratic
party, must have been one of the
rankest of imperialists, and the party
must undoubtedly stand for what not
only he advocated. but what the party
.lrnd Il
presidency preceding the war. Mr.
Jefferson negotiated what is now
known as the Louisiana purchase. Our
area then CS03) was about 10000
square miles, and he added to it more
than 100000 square miles, and the
people justified him in his course
After his time. and almost down
to the outbreak of the war, the pur-
chase and annexation of Cuba were !
urged repeatedly upon both president
and congress.
I'VE represent constitutional govern !
ment in the highest form now known !
TO man; 1t is our privilege and right |
to not only extend that government |
so far as we can, but we must defend |
it with strength, a display of power,
no nation of the worlds history has |
ever put forth before
we have, 1t is true, large, unoccu- |
pied areas of land in this country
which are yet to be settled We are /
not land poor, and if mere land was |
involved only in the question of ter
ritorlal expansion. it might assume a |
aspect; but a necessity pos
ltlVely exists for a broadening of the
area OF our national activity. Our
commerce needs widening. The islands /
OF the sea offer US the opportunity
Our navy will be increased Immediate |
~ TO such proportions that even the
comelned powers of Europe will fear
and respect its strength. Following
this increase of the navy will be a nat
urai development of our marine inter
ests; a great increase to our merchant
fleet. Our internal DEVELOPMENT will
continue. while our national useful
ness will broaden into a buying and
selling commerce with every nation of
the world. We have come to the meas
IRE of our strength; we are unified. we
are on the threshold of such national
career OF progress as history never mas