The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-07
LET'S EXPAND SAYS CROKER.
THE TAMMANY CHIEFTAIN. AS
USUAL. WANTS THE EARTH.


Take in the FiiipinOs and Let Them
Grow to BE Americans, He Says.
Could Send Young Men There to
Grow Up with the Country-''HOld
onto All You Get" Is Also His Pub
lie MOtto-says 1G to Is IA Dead
Issue.
New York, Jan. 6.-The following state
ment was given out tonight by Richard
Croker;
Il believe in expansion; I believe in
holding whatever possessions We have
gained by annexation, purchase or war;
This policy is not only patriotic, but it
is the only safe one to pursue. Any other
policy would show weakness on the part
of the United States, and invite foreign
complications. This must be avoided, hence
our policy must be vigorous.
Jefferson was an expansionist, other
wise he would not have favored the acqui-
sition of louisiana with its foreign popu-
iation, which in Jefferson's time was quite
as remote as the Philippines. In this age
of steam and electricity, distance is no ar
gument against expansion.
1--WE spend millions annually for mis-
sionary work in foreign countries. We
now have a chance TO spend this money
in our own possessions and make the peo-
pie of our new lands good, law-abiding
citizens, who in time will be loyal to our
constitution and our flag. Take England,
for example The people of this little isle
come pretty near owning the universe.
Are not our people as intelligent as pow
erful and as patriotic as the English peo-
ple. The United States is the only coun-
trv on earth superior to England. Why
not illustrate to the world that we are
fully able to cope with greater problems
than we have had occasion to in the past,
and in the future dominate any emergen-
cy?
Give Young Men n Chance.
eve have a population of S0OO0OOO of
people; the country teens with young men
full of life, hope and ambition. Why not
give these young men a chance to de-
velop our newly acquired possessions, and
build up country, rivalling in grandeur
and patriotism our own United States?
II say by all means hold on to all that
rightfully belongs to us. If the great
countrp west of the Rocky mountains were
filed with wild Indians at thep resent mo-
ment how long would it take us to sup
press them and make them respect our
laws and out constitution? The same
thing applies to the Philippines, and any
other country that may fall into our hands
by the province of peace or war.
1t is an insult TO the American people
to even suggest that we abandon the peo-
pie we have released from bondage or
what would be more disgraceful, that we
should offer to sell them to the highest
bidder. Such a proposition Places the
American people in the same category with
the Chinese, who have neither patriotism
nor a foreign policy, and are in conse-
quence utilized as door mat by the Pow
ers of the world.
Thinks the People Want 1t.
'"This is too great question to be con-
sidered as a mere matter of dollars and
cents. Our people want their rights pro-
tected; they will not figure on the cost.
Bring it down to local government, in the
case of street cleaning, the cry is We
want clean streets, regardless of the cost.
They demand them as their right. Just
so with our possessions, The people
want the properties acquired by war pro-
tected. They will pay for a standing
army a powerful army and the protec-
ton of our flag the world over, regardless
of any monetary consideration. They
have proved their willingness to sacrifice
their blood for honor of their country
and their flag. And when the question
is brought TO an issue they will arise as
one man and demand expansion as citi-
zen's sacred right
II think the IS TO 1 question, as outlined
in the Chicago platform a decidedly dead
issue. This was fully demonstrated in
The last election. We did not embody the
16 to / question in our platform and the
result is that we elected every one of our
congressman"