New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-22

Tor acquiring territory: but hero Is explicit I'M
~ inis'akanie authority conferred for dealing with
~, anu with other property" precisely as Con-
sress chooses. The territory was not present
OF prospective party in interest in the nation
cIel.ed under this organic act. 1t was prop
erS 10 he disposed OF or ruled and regulated as
congress might determine. The inhabitants Of
the territory were not consulted: there was no
provision that they should even he guaranteed
Iepuoilcan form OF government Xix, the states;
they were secured no right of representation
ana given no vote. SO. too. when it came TO ac-
curing new territory. there was no thought
oi consulting the inhabitants. Mr.. Jefferson
ala not ask the citizens OF Louisiana TO consent
TO their ann, Ration nor did Mr. Monroe submit
such question To- the Spaniards Of Florida. nor
Mr. Polk to the Mcxicans of California nor MI.
Pierce to the Now Me xicans. nor MI johnson 10
the Russians and Alcuts Of Alaska. The power
OF the Government TO deal with territory ior-
elSn or domestic, precisely as 1t chooses was
understood from the beginning to be absolute;
ana at no stage In our whole history nave We
hesitatcd to exercise it. The question of perma-
nently holding the Philippines or any othcr con-
qucrcd territory as territory is not and cannot
be made on- Of Constitutional right; 1t is one
solely of National duty and Of National policy
AS q last resort. it is maintained that even II
the Constitution docs not forbid, the Monroe
Doctrine does. But tho famous declaration OF
Mr.. Monroe on which reliance is placed does not
warrant this conclusion. After holding tha'
the American continents. by the free ana ihdc-
pendent condition which they have assumed ana
maintained, arc hcnceforth not to be considered
as subjects for future colonization by any Euro
pcan Power" MIR. Monroe continued; we
should consider any attempt on their part 10
extend their system 10 any part or TINS hcmi-
sphere as dangerous to our peace ana saic'E:
With tho existing colonies or dcpcndencies "i
any European Power we have not intcrfcred,
and shall not interfere" The context makes II
clear that this assurance applies solely 10 inc
existing colonies and dependencies they sun had
in this hemisphere. and that even inns was
qualified by the previous warning that while we
took no part 'in the wars of EuropNn Powers
in matters relating to thcmsclv,s. we rGScnted
injuries and defended our rights. 1t VIII mus
be seen that Mr.. Monroe gave no pledge that we
would never interfere with any depo ndcncy or
colony OF European Powers anywhere lie
simply declared our general policy not 10 inter
ferc with existing colonies still remaining TO
them coast so long as they lcit inc
countries alone which had already gained their
indrpcnder &c, and so long as they did not ln)ure
us invade our rights. And even this STATE
ment Of the scope Of Mr.. Monrocs declaration
must be construed in the light of the fact that
tho same Administration which promulgatcu
the Monroe Doctrine Ind already issued from
the State Department Mr.. Adamss prediction
above referred to. that the annexation OF Cuna
will vet he found Indispensable Pcrhaps MT
Monroc's Language might have been properly
understood as n general assurance that we
would not NEEDLE in Europe so long a. thoy
gave us 20 further trouble in America; nut
certainly Il dill not also abandon to their OK
elusive jurisdiction Asia and Africa and the
islands of tho sea.
Tho candid conclusions seem inevitable that.
not as a matter Of policy, but as n necessity %
| the position in which VIC find ourselves ana as
q matter OF National duty. VIC must hold Cupa'
at lcas, for time And I'll a permanent govern,
mcnt is we'll established for which We can aftor1
| to be r.sponsbe We must hold Porto RICO anu
! we may have to hold the Philippines Ihc war
| Is I great sorrow. and 10 many these results y!
il will stil moro mournful They cannot
| be contemplated with urmiXcd commence u!
any, and 10 all who think they must DC source
| Of some grave approximations On inc
| other hand there some good things com,
| inc from II that we can already sec. II Will
| make IN end forever Of Spain In THIS hcnn,
spherc II will certainly secure 10 Cuba ana
| Pnrto Riro better government. II will furnish
| an cnorrnou. outlet for the energy OF our clt-
| z-ne and give another example OF the rapld &C
| vclopmcnt to which our system LEADS. ~ nus
| already brought North and South togcthcI as
| could nothing but a foreign war in which bo'h
| offered their blood for the cause OF 'hcr r.
| united country--a result Of incalculahc an
vantage both at home and abroad. II ms
| Wrought England and the United States together
| another result Of momcntous importance il
| the progress Of civilization and Chflsuahl,y },
| Europe will know us better hcncelorh, es,n
| Spain will know us better: and this knowicdse
| ohould tend powerfully hereafter 10 Keep the
| nroco Of the world The war should ahate the
| syargerinC swashbuckler tendency or many 81
| our pubIic men since II has shown our ihcfep-
| n,,. uorcadincss at the outset for meeting oven
! a third rate Power: and II Will secure us hence
| forth an Army and Navy less rdiculousiy IN
| adequate to our exposure IL insufcs US IIo'
camille marine. II insures the Nicaragua NAntl'
| n Pacific cable great development on our IA
! c,6c Coast and the mercantile control or the ia
| cinc Ocean. IT imposes now ana very scrl1u7
| bueinces on our public men. which ought 10 di',-
| rifv md elevate the public service. FlnaIly ~
| has shown such splendid courage and skill lt
| the Army and Navy. such sympathy az non,
| for our mon nj the front ana such ucNo''i
| eorerness especially among women, 10 alleVi'
| ote suffering and humanze the STRUGGLE, as %
/ thrill every patriotic heart and make us Al
| proudcr than ever OF our country ana its ih"'oh'
| less people.