The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-02-03

son was opposed. All efforts made to
annex 1t were secuted in congress. 1t
was thought a barren wilderness filled
: with snow capped mountains. Ben
TON, a rabid eXpansionist for those days,
hxed the Rockies as the last boundary
OF the nation, but thought it our
DUTY to plant in Oregon the seeds of
future empire. Daniel Webster was
willing to barter that fair country for
a few paltry rights in the cod fisheries.
! CoaflSh were nearer Massachusetts.
Yet Oregon was secured. Providence
gained it for us when we ourselves were
willing to throw it away.
The purchase of Alaska in 1867 was
bitterly opposed. 1t was not contigu-
Gus, and it was too far removed The
price was too dear. The country was
enough on some of the Yukon tribu-
taries to pay the national debt, includ-
ing the increased expense of running
colonies.
Next comes Hawaii in 1885, l believe
the chief opponents to the acquisition
of that island were those ill disposed
to foreign missions, who could not
appreciate the spirit which sends forth
our young men and women to lives of
self-sacrifice among the heather. They
hated to admit Ehat missions were
good for anything. Yet We took them
in and even Senator Hoar voted to do
so. they We're such little islands.
What are some of the conclusions 20
be gained by the study of American
expansion in the past !? First, history
teaches us that there is no constitu-
tional barrier to expansion. What has
been done can be DONE Nobody knew
that better than the framers of the
constitution, who fought it out and
hna1lU voted n tifW tho nI1TNnhoga of
Louisiana.
Secondly, popular sentiment in this
country has never been afflicted with
the lust of empire. Quite the reverse.
Growth has been forced upon us by ex-
ternal circumstances.
Again, what is the character of those
who oppose expansion? They are for
the most part able, conscientious, but
narroW-Visioned men who are not act
ing for the lands best welfare. Plenty
of those who talk about the vast dis
lance to the Philippines are those who
spend their summers in Europe, but
never get west of the Hudson in their
own country.
There never was a time when the
motives in favor of expansion were
higher and the difficulties less. What
is distance? Our new canal wedding
the Atlantic to the Pacific will soon
TeI1lONH+ IL GREAT QCdl Ol Llldt. lie dCl-
fic greyhounds that will soon be afloat
will do the rest. The time will not be
long before the president will go to his
telephone in the executive mansion and
call up Manila.
And is there not surplus energy for
expansion? Look at our wealth, twenty
billions of dollars greater than that
of England. Look at our millions idle
and waiting an investment. Look at
| L IL. T.
there not room for expansion?
We surpass the world in the excel
lence of our manufactures and agri-
cultural products. But in one great
branch of industry we are sadly lack
ing, that of commerce. This will come
with our colonies.
We have that great factor toward
colonization, race vigor. Our moral and
religious impulse is greater than ever
before. We are absolutely unrestricted
as to method in dealing with our new
possessions.
Lastly, in dealing with this question
we need two things-courage and pa
| tience-courage to believe that Gen.
| Wood is not the only one skilled in
colonial government or Col. Warning
in sanitation. Courage, in short, to
believe in the best American man
hood.
Then we must have patience to re-
member that the problems sprung
upon us so suddenly will take years
to settle. Gods great movements al
ways take time.
At the close of the lecture Rev. A. q.
Conrad moved that it be the senti-
ment of the gathering that the peace
treaty ought to be passed. The mo-
ton was enthusiastically carried.
| Coffee and light refreshments were
served in the church parlors.