The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-06-21
AnneSation Is MOI
an UnfPied PoIiCy
From the ChIcaso 1ntcr.ocean.

From the Chicago Intcr-Ocoan.
IP HE GENTLEMEN who opposed the
war with Spain are now opposed
TO our rCaping the advantages Of
III war. Those who were indifferent
to the destruction of the Maine,
and antaEonized the policy of the presi-
dent in preparing for war now antagon-
ize the policy of the president in occupy
ing conquered territory. The men who
insisted that any interference in cuba was
contrary to the traditions of the republic
are$now Contendng that the annexation
policy OF the president Is foreign to the
spirit of our institutions and against all
precedent Those who set up the cry of
peace at any price before the declaration
OF war are now protesting against the
annexation of Cuba, the Philippines and
Porto Rico. These gentlemen, who have
endeavored from the first to embarrass
the president may cmbarrass him now.
They may encourage foreign govern
ments to act on the assumption that the
United states government will not claim
its full rights at the close of the war.
They may succeed I'm precipitatinE com
plications based on the theory that tho
people of the United States will not sus-
tain the president in his war policy. But
at worst this embarrassment will he only
temporary. The president, with the pej-
pie behind him, will pursue his policy to
the end. opening up to this country
prospect OF wealth and power such as
few nations have equaled and none sur
passed.
There always has been a party in the
United States opposed to annexation, but
1t never has been strong enough to die
tate our national policy. Whatever may
have been the convictions of those who
framed the constitution, 1t is undenidble
that the policy of the government has
been in favor of annexation. Had it not
been So the United States would now
cover but S2ISi4 square miles. Before
the republic was twenty years old tho
policy of annexation had taken definite
form and an area of 1,171.93l square miles
had been added to the original territory.
In 1919 some 5926S square miles were
added. In 1S45 there was another add-
ton of 376,13 square miles. In 1878. as the
result of war, there was a further in
crease of 5i5,IS3 square miles. In 1853, as
an outcome of war. we spread out 4j535
square miles. In 1867 j77. 800 square mile3
were added. In siXty-four years the pol
icy of annexation increased the territory
OF the United States by 2,719,l56 square
miles. The territory gained by annexa-
tion was more than three times as large
as the territory organized under the con-
stitution. In the face of such facts. who
Will declare that annexation is against
the traditions of the republic?
o.
The opponents of annexation protest,
however that all this was contiguous
territory. They have succeeded in maxi
ing many people believe that the states
manship of the country mas been from
the first against the annexation of re-
mote lands. That this is a mistake the
annexation of Alaska shows. Moreover
Daniel Webster, in 1912, cnunCiated the
principle of protecting American inter-
estS by control of the Hawaiian and other
islands, and in 1851 James Buchanan sec
retary of state defined the same line of
action. John NJ Clayton rCstatod the po-
sition OF the government in a letter to the
United States minister at Paris on July
), 1850. In 1851 Secretary of State Webster
bluntly said that if the French took pos
session of Hawaii they would be dis
lodged if the whole power of the United
States government was required to do It..
Secretary of State w. l.. Marcy declared
in 1853, that the Hawaiian and other
islands must inevitably come under the
control of the United States government.
William II. Seward negotiated a treaty
for the annexation of ALASKA, which was
approved, and negotiated another treaty
for the annexation of the island of St.
Thomas in the West Indies. which was
not approved. He also advocated the an
neXation of the Hawaiian islands. Cen
eral Grant was strongly in favor of the
policy of annexation. and negotiated a
treaty looking to the annexation of SantO
Domingo. His arguments apply directly
to the case of Porto Rico and other of
| the West India islands, and no clearer
enunciatiOn of distinctivcly American
policy has ever been made. Secretary
Blaine and Secretary Bayard emphasized
the importance of our interests in the Pa
cfic, They did not hesitate to say that
| the United States must, as occasion Of
fered, take advantage of opportunity TO
| extend her influence. All of their utter
ances on this general question apply to
the Philippines.
The plain facts of history justify Presi-
dent Mcliinleys policy. He is acting in
accordance with tradition, in accordance
with settled principles and precedents. lie
is pursuing a policy that will bring un-
der the control of the United States as
magnificent a domain as came to us at
the outcome of the Mexican war.
OUR SOLDIERS AND SAILORS.