The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-22
Maine for Expansion.

Speaker Reed. Representative BOutelle and
others are always quoted as violently OPP
posed to any extension of American SOW
ereignty. Senator Frye being the one
progressive American in the delegation.
II was a cause of no little surprise,
therefore when there was talk of 4 split
among the Republican Legislators in Maine
over the reelection of Senator Hale be-
cause of his anti-expansion sentiments.
He found it eXpedient, for the first time,
to address The caucus. The opposition was
not organized and he was renominatcd
without fight. But when the formal vote
was cast in the Legislature fifty OF the one
hundred and twenty-six Republicans alb
scented themselves as a protest against his
course Even this, however, did not rep
resent the strength of the expansion eie-
ment. Because the success of Mr. Hale
was construed as an approval of his views
on the Philippine question, a resolution
was subsequently introduced in the lower
house endorsing the policy OF the Presi-
dent and declaring that the Treaty with
Spain should be speedily ratified by the
Senate and that American government
should be established in the Philippines.
This resolution was adopted on Thursday
by a unanimous vote, amid much enthusi-
asm.
Senator Hale Speaker Reed and Mr..
Boutelle have not single supporter in
the popular branch of the Maine legisla-
ture. They have not the favor of a single
newspaper in the State. We may justly
assume, therefore. that an overwhelming
majority Of the people of that common
wealth are against the provincialist no.
tons of Hale and in favor of the patriot
ic policy of Frye Probably on no other
issue that has been raised since the for
nation of the Government have the peo-
pie Of a State so unanimously repudiated
a majority Of their public representatives.
1t is important to consider that this vigor-
Gus expression comes at time when the
antiquated, unrepresentative Federalists
assert that the wave of expansionist en-
thusiasm has receded. 1t follows Senator
Haie's argument before his legislature
against expansion. 1t follows the numer-
Gus sereeds Of Mr.. Bryan pointing out the
dangers of American sovereignty over the
Philippines; the speeches of Hoar and
Vest, and the letters and essays of Carne-
gle, Schurz. Carlisle. and Edmunds. 1t is
even stronger than the endorsement of the
Presidents policy in the November cleo
tions.
If this is true of Maine, one of whose
Senators and all of whose Representatives
have been voIuble in defending the obstruc-
Zionist methods. what must be the state
of mind and feeling in other sections where
the President made extraordinary gains
in the elections because of his decision
about the Philippines? II Mr.. Hale, after
his reelection, is thus formally repudiated
by the legislature which elected him, what
hope can minority obstructionists from
other States have of escaping something
very much worse?
The folly of their course is apparent
when We consider that they have absolute
ly nothing to gain by their opposition. The
unconditional ratification of the Treaty is
assured. and therefore it is idle to expect
its advocates 10 submit to any sort OF COM
promise. Infinite complications may fol-
low the delay for which the minority is
wholly responsible. even war with Ger
only possible motive is unpatriotic. The
obvious insincerity of their forced and in
adequate arguments. which refute them
selves, must prevent them from making II
successful prctence of Obeying their con-
victions. The mere assertion that they are
concerned about the welfare OF the Fill
pinos is a cause OF laughter, since they
would condemn them to the tyranny OF an
adyenturer. The charge of Senator Turner.
which is the keynote of Federalist pro-
vincialism. that the American people lack
the wisdom of the fathers is not calculated
to win any great amount OF popular favor,
since our institutions are based on the in
telligence and patriotism of the people II
they cannot be trusted TO stand for repub-
lican principles in the Philippines then
they are not to he trusted with their own
government. and popular institutions are
d failure. But if, after a century of ex-
perience, the American people are too de-
generate to govern themselves with the
wisdom OF Senator Turner and Senator
Hoar what hope can We have that the in
experienced FilipinOs will fare any better?
If there is grain OF sincerity in all the
arguments made against American admin
istration in the Philippines, we have the
old fight between the Democracy and the
Federalism represented by Alexander
Hamilton. who distrusted the people and
hoped for the overthrow of the republic
and the establishment of a monarchy on
its ruins Democracy won in that contest.
as it Will now, but it is curious to note
that Democrats now constitute majority
of the Senators who support the Federalist
doctrine.