The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-06-18
"ColoniaI Poiicy"--a Bubble. Prick

What's the use Of worrying about our
colonial policy before We need to have any?
The American people have made a success Of
self-government; why shouldn't they make a
success at governing whatever colonies may
fall into their hands as the result OF the war?
minneapolis journal (Rep).
No use in worrying al ALL vet the
Republican newspapers are worrying
lest some such fool policy, known as
colonial policy, shall not be recognized
and adopted by their Representatives in
congress. colonial policy is especial
ly attractive just at this time with Re-
publican editors and sons of their faith
ers who have been seeking commits
SionS from a paterEal administration at
Washington. The plain people, how
ever, want, no colonial policy and no
such experience as is implied in its es-
tabllshmen.. They are still bearing the
burdens of a war whose AppomattoX
passed into history nearly forty years
ago. They can appreciate what is
meant for them and thar children when
a colonial policy is suggested involving
large standing army and the enor-
nous expense of a navy TO support it.
The Democratic leaders in congress
have been dilatory in not promptly and
aggressively opposing the scheme o!
territorial expansion now shaping up
in Republican circles
The policy Of the Democratic party as
regards the acquisition of foreign terri
tory has twice been defined in its ma
tional platforms, and in each instance
it began and ended with the proposition
regarding Cuba. No wider a departure
from the counsels of Washington and
Jefferson than the protection of our
Gulf ports and the possible acquire
was ever contemplated by Democracys
great leaders in the past Theirs was
the policy that made the party strong
at home and its foreign policy respect
ed abroad. There should be no depar-
ture from it to-day, ard that Democratic
senator who will wear out a radical
senate by his opposition to the annexa-
ton of Hawaii and other remote terri
tory reopled by the leprous and the
mixed products of the nations of the
Orient, as German did by his opposi-
ton to the unjust legislation proposed
for the helpless South, will win the
plaudits of his party and earn the
gratitude Of his countrymen.
The Democratic party, at Cincinnati,
June 6, 1856. recorded it's convictions
upon the question Of territorial acqu:si-
ton, in these words:
Resolved. That the Democratic party will
expect of the next administration that every
proper effort will be made to insure our as
tendency in the Gulf OF Mexico and to main
tain Derm2Dpnt DrotectjoD to the uroat out-
let's through which are emptied into it's waters
the products raised out of the soil and the
commodities created by the industry of the
people of our Western valleys and of the
Union at large.
The Charleston convention of 1860
split upon other issues than that Ct
territorial acquisition, but it's Demo-
cratic members defined the policy of
the party in the following temperate
language:
Resolved, That the Democratic party are
in favor of the acquisition of the island of
Cuba on such terms shall be honorable to
ourselves and just to Spain.
Forty-eight days later at Baltimore.
the seeding Democrats adopted this,
Identical declaration, and succeeding
events have justified the wisdom Of
Rico if we want it, by right of war
Hold them we may, if necessary, but
with Hawaii ard the Philippines the
case is entirely different Hawaii can
give US nothing but trouble. The Phil
ippines will cost US blood and treasure.
Hawaii can contribute nothing to our
commercial supremacy which cannot
be secured by the usual stipulations
recognized by the nations of the earth
Do we want a coaling station? Treaty
obligations have conferred that privi-
lege upon US already. Have the sons
of missionaries robbed it's natives Of
their birthright, and, unable to protect
their plumber longer, do they propose
to make this country party to their
crime? Then let the rogues go hang,
as were hanged some Of their fathers
before them, who met the west coast
Africans with Bible in one hand and
a bottle of rum in the other, Ibeguiled
them aboard their ships and sold them
to the plantations of the West Indies
and the mainland.
The permanent acquisition of terri
tory remote from our own shores is
in direct antagonism to the principles
recognized by the fathers of the re-
public, and advocated by such great
leaders Of Democracy as Jefferson,
Jackson and Tilden. Colonial govern
ment is class government, and is in
herently hostile to the welfare Of the
governed. The Democracy are, and
their leaders in congress ought to be,
opposed to the establish
ment of any form Of government under
the American flag in any quarter of the
globe, to be administered and manipu-
lated by either military or civil Office
holding classes. Territorial expansion
involving enormous appropriations an
nually for standing armies and modern
fleets is a burden which ought not to
be imposed upon a peaceful and prog
ressive nation without first securing the
sanction of it's people.
1t is time enough to discuss the char
acteristics of colonial policy when the
people who must bear it's burdens have
spoken affirmatively for it. Until that
time it is the duty of Democratic SEN
ators to oppose territorial expansion
most vigorously. They should prick the
bubble of colonial policy before it has
grown and dazzled the unthinking by
its brilliancy.
No colonial policy! No entangling al
liances with the heather or the highly
civilized-no, not even with John Bull!
"They're Hunting Grievance"
So commented Bank Examiner Ken