The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-01
THE CRY FOR EXPANSION
HON. ROBERT S. TAYLOR's TALK BE-
FORE THE MARION CLUB.
Deep-seated Forces which Have Been
Gathering for Years in
This Nation.

member of the club. His appearance last
night was sort of initiatory occasion
Quite large crowd gathered In the parlors
to listen to Mr.. Taylor discuss in an infor-
NAL way some of the issues of the cam
paign. He devoted a good deal Of attention
TO the subject of territorial expansion
which he regards as a natural necessity for
the further broadening of the Nations life
and commercial and educational influence
on the world In discussing the issues that
should be considered at this time and ques-
tons that voters should ponder. Mr.. Tay-
Tor laid aside the tariff question as having
been legislated upon by the Republican
party. The country is now under Repub-
lican tariff, which is working very well, 30
that for the present at least that question
is not of as much Importance as others.
He said, also, that it is common to speak
Of free silver as dead. Mr.. Taylor did not
believe that Republicans should look upon
the war as a subject of mere glorification,
as 1t was not such a great thing to have
whipped a nation like Spain. The greatest
surprise of the war was that 1t had brought
the people to see themselves.
I'VE have cherished for century" he
said, "Washington's advice to keep our
selves from foreign entanglements. We
had no desire for expansion. We began the
war with only the thought of the expulsion
of the Spanards from Cuba. But while all
eyes were turned on Cuba, Dewey's guns
suddenly annihilated the Spanish in Manila
harbor, and all at once we were seized with
desire for conquest. We realized that we
were not fighting simply for Cuba, but
against Spain; that all Spanish islands were
liable to capture and were the legitimate
spoiis of war; We became hungry for
islands, and determined that such as were
of use to us should be ours forever. That
instantaneous change of temper astonished
us as we'll as the world.
This change of idea, he went on to say,
was not caused by fickleness of purpose,
but was the natural outcome of deep
seated forces which had been gathering for
years, and suddenly found vent. A hum
dred years ago this was a little Nation, few
in numbers. weak in wealth, occupying a
narrow strip of land, but containing with
in it a marvellous power of growth Behind
it was q continent in which to grow ana II
grew in numbers, wealth, science, litera-
ture. commerce and arts. 1t started upon a
career of growth such as the world has
never known. Without realizing this spirit
of growth the Nation expanded quietly
and almost without its own knowledge, be-
cause Ii had continent in which TO spread
out. But the Nation had come TO a point
where growth was to be INSTRUCTED. AS the
land was taken and hand labor was sue
ceeded by machinery the question OF ind
ing employment for all has become a dill
cult problem There can be no prosperity
without the employment of all. Labor-sav-
ing machinery has taken away the en-
ployment of many men, he said and went
on to illustrate, citing instances, A new
loom OF the day no longer requires a man
to slip in the bobbns A hopper full OF
bobbins self-feeds the. loom, SO that one
d00c fTn xynr nf
matter of food production, farmers say that
half as much labor is required as twenty
years ago. To-day man can build a buggy
with screwdriver and a monkey wrench,
buying the parts all ready to put together.
A log can be turned into paper pulp, then
into roll of paper, which, placed IN a
paper folded ready for the newsboys hard
ly without the Intervention of human
hand. The whole process, it has been DEM
hours. and within that time after the log
goes into the mill. the laborer may De
reading the printed page. what Is 70 s,n De
developed, but with all that. the difficulty
of finding employment for all grows upon
the mlnos OF tn ntiXify IN syypplving the
vacuum created during hard times when
Americans economical. the problem or the
manufacturer is how not to glut the mar
ket. If ii is so to-day, what will it be two
years hence?
TIME FOR NEW GROWTH.
''Here is this great Nation. at the end of
a century's growth at the end Of Its mar
ket" said Mr. Taylor. This idea of finding
employment for labor displaced by mechan-
ical ingenuity was one that Mr.. Taylor said
he had always given consideration in study
ing the tariff problem. I'VE can give at
least what work we have 70 do to our own
people," said he. ''How are we going to
keep our people employed? At the begin
ming of the war we found ourselves at
point where unhindered growth was at an
end. We were at the point where the in
ternal, invincible force of growth must find
pears to be an unconscious expression OF
those forces. We must go from land to sea;
that means we must have great merchant
marine; that means we must have a great
navy and that means we must have c0aling
stations We have known this vaguely for
years, but / don't think the American peo-
pie saw it in all its force until we heard
the thunder OF Deweys guns at Manila. 1t
was not a mere greed for territory that
stirred the thoughts of the people, but the
instantaneous realization that the time had
come for a new growth.
The English spirit of growth and expan-
sion was much like that of this country,
except that up to this time America has
had room within her own borders, but when
the time arrives I'VE will pour over the
borders and invade the world as England
has done" In studying this subject the
idea of material advantage Is not to be
considered alone, said he. There are mill
lions who cannot of their own force keep
up with the march of civilization, but must
be led by the hand by stronger civilizations.
Such a work has been done by England. IF
the destiny of the world is to be worked
out. some powerful nations must take these
weaker ones by the hand" said the speak
er. IF in the providence of God it became
Americas duty to be a leader we would
not be true to ourselves of we failed He
said that this work must be done by three
nations, England, the United States and
Germany but the work must fall largely
upon the United States. "As a man in De-
trOit wittily put il the other day, it is our
duty as a Christian nation to teach the
Filipinos to wear clothes. and then as a
business nation it is our duty to sell them
the clothes to wear"
Mr.. Taylor spoke of the great difficulties
that would have to be encountered In franz
ing a colonial policy. The Declaration of In
dependence asserts that the right to gov
ern depends upon the willingness of the
are and of right should be free and indie
pendent. 1t may be necessary to add to the
Declaration of Independence to place some
new construction upon 1t with reference to
the Filipinos. He spoke of the necessity for
leaving the settlement of these grave prob
has always been constructive, broad, liberal
and expansive. as compared with the mega
tive, conservative Democratic party In con-
clusion. Mr. Taylor discussed the money
question, which, he asserted is not dead
by any means. To place it upon secure
be secured unless there is a charge in the
complexion of the United States Senate
There are two or three chances for this
and Indiana Republicans should do their
part towards bringing about a change in
that body.