Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1898-08-04

Urine,
II may be said that vast regions OF
tho American hemisphere do not be-
long TO the United States That ID
true, and 1t Ia neither expected nor do
desired that the United States should
acquire them. Yet, for purposes OF
mutual protection and general safety
from European aggrcssIons all Amorl'
can Jurisdictions will DO mutually
friendly, There will DO no neutral
Americans In tho matter OF coalling
stations when Americans are ut war
with European monarchles.
As to the West Indles and other
American countries, we have q right
to acquire absolute Jurisdiction by mu'
tual consent OF she people OF the two
countries by and with such consent
we may acquire Porto Rico when the
forces Of Spain are expelled, by tho
consent OF Nicaragua, we can and
should connect the two oceans by q
ship canal without any entangling al
liances Or complications with Euro
poan nations, Then with the Aleution
and Hawaiian islands, and other Amer
lean coaling stations, the Americas
will be consolidated and we'll equipped
for either peace or war with all out
side powers, with no colonial or terri
torial complications with any body.
As to the permanent acquisition OF
the Philippine, Caroline or Canary Is
lands, It should not be contemplated
for single moment, II will cost
more Ia blood and treasure to acquire
and hold such territories than their
possession Ia worth, Some OF them, 1t
acquired by us, would bring millions
OF savage Aslatics into our hands
which must DO treated either as slaves
or citizens. We should not undertake
such a Job, With our free institutions
VIC are not equipped for such task,
Fortunately there is but moiety OF
such population within the jurisdic-
ton Of the Monroe doctrine, and
such people should not bo either ac'
quired or invited.
And then the conquest OF outside
territories by the United States, as
already stated indicates a lack Of cam
dor on our part, as to tho Monroe doc
trine. Our present temporary occu-
pancy OF the Philippine Islands plainly
shows the jealousies and bad blood
that such course arouses We hHye
the right and 1t is our duty to damage
or destroy Spains military power and
agencies wherever we can find them,
but we should not acquire or perma7
nently hold single foot OF her terri
tories outside OF American waters as
here defined.
Our course and experience with the
Philippine islands should teach us o
lesson. Commodore Dewey was ORDER
ed to capture or destroy the Spanish
feet is Asiatic waters. He did 1t
promptly, bravely and nobly! He also
destroyed the Notifications Of Manila
harbor at Cavete, This was oil that
could then and there be done to weak
EN- the military and naval power OF
Spain. The American fleet should
then have retired from Manila, in
search of the enemy or his commerce
in other quarters; aud for the purpose
OF guarding American commerce and
interests in the Pacific.
The American fleet, however, re-
NAMED In Manila harbor for the
avowed purpose Of capturing the city
This required the aid Of an American
army, which was promptly sent regard
less of cost 1t also threw suspicion
on the candor Of our original profess
sons that this war with Spain was not
to be war Of conquest. Tho CONT
mental powers of Europe noted our in
consistency. Their sympathies for
Spain were justified and intensified
Spain was greatly aided, strengthened
and encouraged by that sympathy;
which an accidental breath may fan
into red hot blaze of active HOSTILE
ties. 1t was our business to weaken
the military power of Spain, not to
strengthen it. We began right, we
should not have changed our policy.
We should not have weakened our
cause, nor given to Spain the united
and intensified sympathy Of continent
al Europe, which may greatly prolong
the war, and deprive our wise, safe and
glorious Monroe doctrine OF that pro-
found international respect which it
now commands and enjoys.
JOHN DAVIS.