The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-01-07

NEW YORK, Jan. 6.-The following
statement was given out tonight by
Richard Croker;
II believe in expansion. 1 believe
in holding whatever possessions we
have gained by annexation, purchase
or war. This policy is not only patrio-
tic, but it is the only safe one to pur-
sue. 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.
otherwise he would not have favored
the acquisition of Louisiana, with its
foreign population, which, in ,Jeffer-
sons time, was quite as remote as the
Philippines. In this age of steam and
electricity distance is 10 argument
against expansion.
I'VE spend millions annually for mis-
sionary work in foreign countries Now
we have chance to spend This money
in our own possessions, and make the
people in our own lands good, law
abiding citizens, who, in time, will be
loyal to our constitution ard our flag.
Take England for example The peo-
pie of this little island come pretty near
owning the universe. Are not our own
people as intelligent, as powerful, as
patriotic as the English people The
United States is the only country on
earth superior to the English. Why
not illustrate to the world that we are
fully able to cope with greater prob
lens than we have had occasion TO in
the past and in the future dominate
any emergency?
I'VE have a population CT $4,000, 600
people, the country teens with young
men full of life, hope and anlbitine.
Why not give these men chance 10
develop our newly-acquired possessions
and build up a ascountry rivaling in
grandeur and patriotism our own Unit
ed States?
HOLD IT ALL.
Il say by all means hold on to all
that rigltfully belongs to US. If the
great country west of the Rocky noun
tains was filed with wild Indians at
the present moment, how long would il
take us to suppress them and make
them respect our laws and eenstitu-
ton? The same thing applies to the
Philippines and any other country that
may fall into our hands by the provi-
dence of peace or war. It is an insult
to the American people and to our flag
even to suggest that We abandon the
peoples that we have rescued from
bondage, or what would be more dis
graceful 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 for
eign policy, and are in consequence util-
lied as a door mat by the powers of
the world
This is too great question to be
considered as a mere matter Of dollars
and cents. Our people want their
rights protected; they will not figure
on the cost. Bring 1t down to local
government in the case of street clean
Ing, 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 prop
critics acquired by war protected. They
Will pay for a standing army, pow
erful navy and the protection Of oul
flag the world over, regardless of any
| monetary consideration. They have
proved their willingness to sacrifice
| their blood for the honor of their coun-
| try and their flag. And when the ques-
tion is brought to an issue they will
arise as one man and demand expan-
| sion as citizens sacred right.
] ''I think the 16 to question, as out
lined in the Chicago platform, decid-
edly dead one This was fully demon
strated at the last relection. We did
| not embody the 1e to 1 plank in oul
! platform, and the. result is that we
elected every one Of our congressman ;