Evening journal., 1898-07-18

a. Jul meIcy. fOurteen hundred miles
south OF us, at Santiago de Cuba, an-
other Spanish squadron has been swept
from the sea by Commodore Schley
with the loss OF but one man. These
victories, coupled with the unique
heroism of our soldiers and sailors.
have startled the Kingdoms OF the Old
World, and with much concern they are
asking what next may we eNunsct from
this young western giant.
Tonight we esho the questiSs, what
nexS. Let Us reYerently ask t5s question
tonight and seek a wise answer. Whsn |
this war is over, as soon it must be,
what shall we do with the Philippine
Islands, with Cuba, Porto Rico, or any
other OF our conquests? Shah we an
mex them ~ dependencies and start on
the line OF imperialism, or set them
free and move onward in the highway
OF liberty that we have hitherto trod-
den?
In this comes our peril Some OF our
best men, to wRom the nation looks for
wise counsel are 1altering in this hour
OF need. Captured by the glamor OF
conquest the glooy OF victory and by
the promise q a magnificent. domain,
they are urging annexation as depend
encles. This teaching, for aseason at least,
seems to be in accord with the beat
ing Of the public pulse. 1t is claimed
that our government and system are
capable of indefinite extension. That
we can digest and homognize all ma
tions and people that may come to us.
But let the tocsin be sounded from
every place OF vantage. Such a policy
would be but the beginning Of the end
OF our usefulness as a nation; the sure
premonition OF the death Of liserty.
We certainly do not need more terri
tory. In 1879 the thirteen original states
contained one million square miles.
By the purchase from France OF the
i province Of Louisiana in 1903, OF Florida
from Spain in 1919, by the annexation
OF Texas in 1S45, by the AiexiAan ces-
pAOn VI 4otot llb btGOnu klNAAL4n NNEHAOAA
or Gadsen purchase of 1859, and the
Alaskan purchase Of 1867, our area in
square miles has grown to be 1862, ,O9l
Our domain stretches from ocean TO
ocean. from the great lakes to the Gull
OF Mexico 1t Is a magnificent empire
far larger than those of Greece and
Rome In their prime. and exceeding
4 the dreams Of even Alexander and Ma
poleon. IL is within trife as large as
all Europe, embracing every variety oi
climate and soil, with untold agricul
tural and mineral wealth and of ex
haustless fertility. The State OF Texas
with her 26S.780 square miles of terri
tory, is more than twice as lauge Al
England, Wales, Scotland and Ire1an'
combined. which have 121315 squar
miles, and yet with population 0
forty millions and with this small terri
tory Great Britain Is now the mighhes
empire of the world. The Greclan en-
pire. In ia palmy days, had only abou
% 900 square miles, lesS than a tenth .
the area Of Texas, while italy AM
Rome had little more. Yet Texas is les
than one thirteenth Of our roaTb5 do
main. - our population were as dens
as that Of the Netherlands we woul'
have 1900 900 900 of Inhabitants, nearl
as many as the population OF the who'll
civilized world, which is 1900, ,000, ,00C
Surely greed OF empire could ask n
more.
Il ia also claimed that we need tn
outlying nations of the earth as
market for the immense surplus pro
ductions of American genius and indus
try In all the lines of wealth May "
not find this market more safs1g 4
Rsthering about us a&mirH1g groups q
self-resr Ag. self-governing free ma
tons, mada and kept free by tSe ndDa
and helpful anrces of our great republic
Should not our commercial intercours
be along the lines of tHeedom by max
ing friends and not foes. fre~ men an
not slaves? VIII - not be more sur
OF rich reward? With other people
looking up to us as fair dealing an
absolutely true to the highest teaehin
OF the brotherhood OF man, we ma
command all THAI is worth havinl
Then Just as in individual life, probit
and fair dealing, will breed unlimite
n confidence and commercial greatness
But why pursue this line OF thought
1t is the suggestion Of imperialism, an
should find no place In our nation'
policy. Once and for all, let us say, In
perialism is at war with our theory
government, and its adoption mean
our national death.
Let us remember that here in Tn
western world the rights
mankind were first vindicate
by a government founded upo
- the divine basis of the duty and r
sponsibility Of each individual facto
Here individual liberty was form