The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-01-24
THE NEW YORK MEETING.

The anti-expansionists have con-
cluded mass meeting in New York in
which expression was made in accord
with the utterances of Mr.. Cleveland
and Mr.. Bryan. Among the resolutions
adopted was one declaring that the
meeting believed in discharging our OBJ
legations in regard to the Philippines
fully. But these imply, it was declared,
only that we shall help them to bet
ter government and then to liberty.
But the meeting was unqualifiedly OPP
posed to annexation Of the archipelago.
To this date it has not been proposed
that we shall annex the Philippines.
Aware of this fact the meeting went
still further and declared that the doc
trine Of the consent of the governed
applies to all the places recently ADAM
doned by Spain The meeting is there
fore on record as opposed to keeping
Porto Rico. 1t would be opposed to the
old-time thought of President Grant,
that this nation should purchase the
outlying naval station beyond the east
border of the Caribbean Sea-
There is in the resolutions general
declaration against abandonment of
the principles laid down for the guild
ance Of the republic by Washington in
his farewell address" But it has never
been proposed that there should be such
abandonment The resolutions assume
that our holding of a key to the Gulf
of, Mexico and the mouths of the Mis-
sissippi would involve US in broils with
European Powers. But it seems to have
been overlooked that the possession of
keys to the gulf. and therefore to the
delta of the greatest of our navigable
streams by foreign Powers, has not en-
broiled US with them, though such pos
session has ever been menace to the
republic
There is no reason whatever to antici-
pate that our occupation Of these Carib-
bean points of vantage would embroil
us with European Powers whose pos
sessions in the sea are, at best, without
the natural sphere Of their influence. "
AS to the Philippines there has not
been the slightest suggestion of pro-
test by European States against our
occupation of territory in the Orient.
Surely We have precisely as good right
to possessions there as have any of
the European States Our title. indeed,
will be better than any other in that
quarter, since the islands come to US
as the legitimate fruit Of war,
and by the concession of
State which has held the territory for
centuries
The proposition Of the Administration
is to work betterments for the Filipinos,
not to enslave them or do them harm,
but rather to fit them for the self-gov
eminent under our benign protection,
which they can enjoy only after such
experience and contact with higher
civilization as are essential to any self
governing people. 1t certainly is very
true that we have assumed "obliga-
tions" concerning these Oriental islands
which we must fully discharge, and one
OF these is, after having freed them of
save them from themselves; from the
anarchy and confusion that must fol-
low turning over of affairs to Agui-
naldo and his impetuous followers.
x,rectt1xy 5i1 not xxrffb oil
his prescience forsee the development
Of the American people as we realize it
to-day. His reference and warning
clearly referred to our direct interfer-
ence and attempted dictation in the af-
fairs of European States. 1t must be
shown that our occupation of Oriental
Islands by the consent of the conceded
dominating power, unquestioned for
wisdom of Washingtons warning APP
plies to the case. Even the author of
the resolutions of the New York meet
ing appreciated the difficulty of MAX
ing such showing since he does not
aver that the proposed occupation will
OF necessity embroil us with foreign
Powers. He says it might do it.
True, If we were assailed by conquest
ing nation, or met a demand to sur
render to some greedy Power a portion
of theisland group. we would feel called
upon to defend our possessions.
Surely Washington never intended to
advise that we should play the cowardly
part or fail to meet the conditions of
commercial and national growth The
age of steam and electricity, of which
Washington knew nothing, had
no premonition, have worked changes IN
the relations of States, their intercourse
and obligations, of which he had not the
faintest prophetic glimmering or the
slightest suspicion. 1t is this changed
condition which confronts US to-day,
and bids us answer whether we are to
house up and play the part Of a hermit
nation like China, or take our place in
the world among other States, CONNER
cial1y and as a great civilizing and up
lifting influence.
The San Francisco Chronicle" con-
siderably to our amazement. exhibits
astounding ignorance of State institu-