The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-05-12
PRESENT DAY THOUGHTS.
BY G. Grosvenor Dave.

| Who Said Slaves PA friendly editor
writes me: What have you to say as
to the legal right Of the United States
| to purchase Z, 10000 persons and to
govern them without the consent of the
governed" Just this: That the United
States has as much right to purchase
100000 people as it has the right to
purchase one But the right to purchase
one is non-existent, so also is the right
| to purchase 100000. Just one other
element enters into this dictum: name
| ly, that the United States has neither
purchased one or. 100000. To so praise
| the compact between the United States
and Spain IN relation to the Philippines
| is 81 perversion of terms that is quite
| too deep for the comprehension of the
averaged unbiased man.
1t tseems now to be thoroughly I'M
derstood that the question of expansion
will be a very vital element in the next
Presidential campaign, and very fitting
| ly so, because it represents a policy that
while not new in the history of the
| United States is new in this particular,
that the expansion takes in territory
that is separated by vast stretches of
water from the Union itself. This is
new in our history, very new; and as
all new things-new books, new bon
nets. new dresses, new babieS-are con-
sidered fit objects for comment and
criticism there will naturally not be a
shrinking of either great parties from
the fullest sort of discussion in relation
to new politics. This is quite as 1t
should be, for while in the multitude
of counselors there is wisdom, there is
also wisdom in the conflict of thought
The opposing notes prior to a great
national election in this country remind
one strangely Of the discords that char
acterize the few minutes prior to the
beginning of a concert. These discords,
however, subside when the conductor
Yields his baton, and they give place to
the harmony that is possible with all
the instruments. Thus it is with our
puissant nation when an election is de-
cided Remember if you will the fierce
feelings that seemed to run riot during
the last Presidential campaign. Excite
ment was SO intense that wise men and
brave men feared violence would be
SHOWN Dy WHICH ever party was uelcdl-
ed. Remember, too, that two days after
the election the excitement had vanish
ed and feelings were quiet.
Thus will it be in 1900, no matter how
fierce the feeling that may be aroused.
But as l remarked last week, it is es-
sential in order that this country may
understand the full merits of the ques-
ton and in order to act intelhgently,
that certain details dragged in by writ
ers as if part of the main question
should be clearly understood as having
no connection with it at all Such, for
instance as the institution of likeness
between the struggle of Aguinaldo and
the struggle of George Washington.
This we touched on last week. Now
comes up the other one raised by the
friendly editor; a question so adroitly
put that unless answered emphatically
and eliminated from next years dis
cussion will make Americans appear to
themselves as national traffickerS in
human flesh. In Yankee fashion this
question can best be answered by ask
ing another. When the United States
yielded to its expansive impulses earlier
in the century by the louisiana or by
other purchases that have made it what