The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1898-10-28
FAVORS ANNEXATION.

EDITOR AMBOY HERALD: Replying
to your invitation for an expression OF
opinion on the new American policy
of expansion and annexation l will
say that whenever majority of
American people after free and un-
limited expression of opinion decide
in favor of any line Of action or policy
then the policy is right.
This policy Of annexation came to
life in feeling of pity for starving
reconcentrados and was inspiredbY the
Unborn love of liberty OF the Ameri.
can people and by their desire TO as
sist struggling humanity in their
almost hopeless battle for life and
liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
This feeling was framed in active
life by the roar of angry defiance at
the cOwardly murder of the crew Of
the Maine which soon settled down to
fierce determination that Spanish
authority and Spanish soldiers should
be driven from the American conti-
nent. This feeling found expression
in the almost unanimous vote of con-
gress regardless of party authorizing
and directing the President to order
Spain out OF the West Indies and to
declare war and drive them out if
necessary. This feeling was again
shown in the rejoicing over the
American victory in Manila Bay and
again in the destruction Of Cervera's
fleet, the capture of Santiago and Oc
cupation of Puerto Rico and most of
all, at the surrender of Spain to
American bravery backed up by few
solid arguments OF the big guns.
Now wehave destroyed and driven
Spanish authority from their Island
possessions, the Islanders have very
little knowledge'o what self.govern-
ment means and if left to themselves
would be subject to the tyranny Of
every ambitious leader who is able to
upset the authority of young and
struggling republics for fifty years or
more as was the case with every south
and central American republic; even
Mexico and France did net escape this
self educating dicipline.
We have the Islands on our hands,
are responsible for their welfare as
we'll as for the foreign colonies that
are located there and are in duty
bound to protect them from them
selves until thev become republics of
self-government. They should, and
are well able to pay for the expense
of this protection.
This is :heir side. our side is that
we must expand or blow up We have
generated such vast amount OF
energy and ability in our thousands
of young men that are being turned
out from our colleges and universities
annually, each one of them big with
hope what he will do, not to mention
the other extreme, the Coxeyites, that
we must find an outlet or suffer the
terrible consequences of over produc-
tion, stagnation and paralysis. The
islands need what we have, surplus
of brains. energy and their products,
we need the fruits, spices, gums and
fine woods of the tropics. 1t will be
a mutual advantage all around.
AS it is by the expression OF ODin-
ions and the exposure of errors that
we arrive at a better understanding,
you, or any of your readers who be-
lieve in fencing in our free institu
tions are at liberty tn d1ssect this ar
ticle and flag every flaw you fiud in it
and also point out the dangers OF ex.
pansion and annexation. But whether
there is danger or not, nations like
plants, animals, storms and seasons
and all things in nature must grow
and expand until their full growth is
attained, then decay, die, and live
over again under another form.
So must the United States grow ex-
pand and annex until our Uncle con-
trolls every foot of territory between
the two oceans from the south side OF
the Nicaragua scanal to the north
MOLE and also wherever safe harbors,
supply and picket stations for the
protection of our ships, sailors, mer-
chants and missionaries are needed in
the Islands of the oceans.
In the struggle for existence be-
tween the few leading nations that
will soon govern the world the United
States must keep in the lead because
without Uncle Sans kindly old face.
big fist and long coat tails there would
be no millennium.
JAS. MCLAUGHLIN.
Mapleton, Mimi.