The times., 1899-09-13
National Contractionists.

National Contractionists.
Senator Morgan is plainly right when he
says that the term 'anti-expansionist' is a
misnemer. and that 'contractionist' is the
proper designation for one who would turn
back the hands on the clock of American
progress. and ignore the accomplished facts
of expansioni
We quite agree with the Senator in his
opinion as expressed in an Interview the
other day, that there will be no, split in
either of the great parties on this question
of contraction. To expect anything else
would be to accuse the political leaders OF
the country of insanity Il is. of course,
possible that the Democratic national con-
vention may fall into the hands of poll
ticians who fancy that a declaration de-
nouncing American sovereignty in the
Philippines might catch German votes; but
would amount to more than perfunctory
resolution. which would have nothing to do
with the platform, and would in no sense
bind the party. We do not believe the
small contraction element will even OBJ
trude itself so far. The foolishness of
stone wall butting Will be too apparent by
next spring or summer, and, if the Ger
man-American' backing is to be sought for
the Democratic candidate, there is a better
way to secure it by denouncing the tax
upon beer.
Senator Morgan, in a few clean-eut SEN
af IN
ment against retention of our colonial pos
sessions He is quoted as saying:
Some gentlemen who are now making the
loudest outcry against retention OF the
Philippines were among the most clamorons Of
those who urged upon the Senate the speedy
ratification of the Paris Treaty. This instrument
conveyed TO us the Philippines, as it conveyed
TO certain other islands in the Pacific, as well
as Porto Rico, and imposed upon us distinct obi
cations in Cuba. SO l say there is not now,
and cannot be any longer, an issue OF ex-
pansion either in national politics national
thought. That issue was settled by the ratifca-
sion of the Paris Treaty.
Those gentlemen who call themselves anti
expansionists really confractionsts If there
be an issue on that score it is one of e6ntrac-
iion-= And that. in turn, is reduced 10 a mat
ter Of degree contained in the question, How
much should we contract2
If we ALLEVIATE the Philippines not also
ALLEVIATE Porto Rico, the Hawaiian Islands, or
Alas6s? And where is the man who now wants
ts transfer Alaska from the sovereignty of this
country TO the sovereignty Of another? Tie Con-
siituiion imposes upon every American citizen
the solemn obligation of erecting in the Philip
pines the same form OF republican government
that is to be erected in Porto Rico and Hawaii
We cannot turn any OF these islands over to a
king or kingdom. Ours is the duty. SWORN to
before the world and enisined by the letter and
spirit OF the Constitution. 10 give to each and
all of them a republican form OF government
alike This il fiJfV abp2d NJ
gress and not OF political parties or eonven-
tions
Much of the alleged, but unproven. hos
tility to national policy of imperialism
Is credited to Democratic leaders in the
section and its producers lie so manifestly
in the opposite direction. that We have
never believed they could be blind to the
great benefits which the South must derive
from expansion. Indeed. the economic
future of the region, which is involved in
the opening and development of new mar
kets, capable of absorbing the output of
under conditions of fully developed South
ern resources, demands the extension of
our territorial possessions, and of our naval
and commercial power in the direction
where those market potentialities exist.
On this point Senator Morgan speaks with
the inspiration of a patriot and prophet:
OF course the South is in a measure more di-
rectiy interested in mastery and control Of
the commerce OF Asia and the North Pacific
than Is any other section Of the country. That
IS of the roasons that have formed my opin-
ion and determined my attitude on the Philip
pine question. Manila is the apex of a tri-
angle, in which more commercial forces are at
work for our profit than can be found in similar
territory in any other part Of the world.
One side Of the triangle dips down into India,
another shoots off into China and the third reaches
out toward Japan. With our sovereignty firmly
established in the Philippines Manila viii become
the distributing base for cotton and cotton
products throughout Asia Il will soon become
Asiatie Liverpool
One-haf Of our cotton and cotton products
which now go TO Asia are distributed from Liver
pool in British bottoms, other European ships.
When the hicarag-2n Canal is cOnstucted-and
that Is inevitable and logical outgrowth of
cur present position in the word-the cotton
and cotton products and the iron and iron
products Of the South will reach Asiatic markets
over direct and shorter route than the circuitous
road via Liverpool
The SHORTENING Of distance win be accompanied
I by cheapeHing Of at least onethird in the
cost Of transportation. This is a saving which
VIII into ihe pockets OF the producers at home
II IS at present going into the pockets OF British
( shipowners. Manila viii then become the
1 great entrepot Of the Far East for our products
which win find their way into the Asiatic
markets. This trade, despite the great distance
/ viii be essentially coastwise trade with Manila
/ at one end Of the route and Southern and Pacific
/ ports at the other end.
A little practical, logical reasoning like
Fthe above is worth tones of the false SEN
timent. Misrepresentation, and treason
which Is being spread abroad by the Hoar
and Atkinson Filipino junta of Boston
under the influence of domestic and for
eign capitalists who resent the acquisition
OF new American sugar producing terri
tory. or who remble with fear that the
development of the Pacific Coast and Of
our imperial trade with the Far East, ant
the construction of the Nicaragua Cana
may tend TO minimize the Importance o
New England as compared with other por.
tions of the United States.
We have expanded! Where is the power
that can contract us?
Slow Progress In Cuba