The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-06-04
MAYOR v, P SAVAGE
Addressed the Congress on
Foreign Possession.
GOOD RESULT OF WAR
With Spain in Cuba and the
Philippines

Ex-Mayor w. R. Savage of Wellington
said on foreign possessions:
Mr.. President and Gentlemen of the
Trans-AIississippi Congress:-I stand here
today, a citizen Of the great state Of
Kansas, with my heart full of pride and
admiration at the great results and bene-
fits that we today enjoy from the expan-
sion, or imperial policy, as it is called to-
day, Of that great statesman and presi-
dent, Thomas Jefferson.
The beginnin gof this great imperial pol
icy, it seems 10 me, dates from the land
ing Of our forefathers at Plymouth Rock
and the settlement at jamestown; and
the completion and fulhEment of this plan
Of the survival Of the fittest will only
come when the great English-speaking
race to which We belong shall circle and
encompass the globe, and liberty, law and
justice shaIl be a FIRE heritage to all the
sons and daughters OF the human race.
What statesman or party has, during al
this time, planned, schemed or predicted
to bring about the great results that have
so far been accomplished, for the purpose
Of bringing about what IS now called an
imperial policy of our government? Did
that humble band that landed at Ply
mouth Rock, on the bleak and barren
coast Of Massa chusetts, have for their
purpose this design? Did this little hand
who sought these shores that they might
find a land and home where they could
worship God according TO the dictates Of
their own conscience, adopt this plan and
make it the fixed policy Of their Iowly be-
ginning? No gentlemen, it was not even
dreamed of. They fed from the persecu-
ton Of the old world with the one pur-
pose TO plant here an altar of religious
freedom from their oppressOrs and in do
ing this, God not man. in His own provi-
dence and in His own way, has done all
the rest; and our race, who IN the later
centuries has seemed 10 be His chosen
people, has simply been the instrument in
His hands in the accomp lishment Of His
great planl What man or what party, in
later days, in this country sought to bring
about a war between France and England
that made it necessary for apOIeon Bona
parte to, Of his own accord, offer TO cede
to this nation the vast possessions that
include the great state ard city which
during the convention have 50 Hospitality
entertained US? party aid the plan, but
when the opportunity cae and the offer
was ade by the French emperor to sell to
this nation, at a prica less than the tax
able wealth of scores of counties in what
was then thought to be the desert and
arid portions Of this great territory, that
today contains so large part of the popu-
iation and wealth Of this nation.
There was a statesman who sat in the
presidents chair who while he could only
7-- f,+
have had scarcely a conception Of what
we today enjoy. still saw enough to feel
and believe that the time would come
when the clamor that was raised against
dim for this act, would be srIenced. And
since that time, and believe. for, all time
10 come, the name Of Thomas Jefferson
has been Yenerated and viii be enshrined
In the hearts Of our people, forevrl
Step by step. from that time on, the
boundary lines OF our country have been
enlarged and extended. No war of con-
quest for that purpose has been waged
against a weaker nation. The war with
Mexico was not fought for the purpose
of Wrestling from her that great territory
that was afterward purchased and ami
cably settled for. It was a war waged in
the defense of the rights of our citizens!
The original inhabitants OF this country
have been paid and cared for. and upon
the title deeds OF this great republic rests
no stain Of robbery and pillage
And 50 onward from the eastern to the
western coast the tide of emigration has
pressed forward, until from our northern
TO our southern boundaries this vast do
main has been practically subdued and
settled up.
And now the great question that con-
fronts the American people is, shall a halt
be called in this great march of progress !
and advancement that un TO recent times /
we have all been so justly proud Of? And
here again, while no statesman or party |
has in the past advocated or planned 10 /
extend the boundaries of our country. as /
they existed a year ago. It seems TO me
higher and greater power has opened /
UD the way and made Il the duty Of this
nation to 90 forward without fear or hesi- /
taion toward the great destiny that has !
been mapped out, not by the designs of |
man. but by the Ruler of the Universe.