Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1899-02-09
CHAMP CLARK LETTER
For Expansion if In the
Right Direction.
DON'T WANT PHILIPPINES.
Would Gladly Annex British
North America.
DON'T WANT PHILIPPINES.
NOT SAVAGE AsIATIo ISLANDS.

NOT SAVAGE AsIATIO ISLANDS.
The Perpetufty of Our Institutions
Jeopardized "A Reckless Venture
In which We Have Nothing to
Gain--spirit of the Nation Changed.
From Conservatism to Reckless
Ambition.
Especial Washington letter.
The great debate on the Hull army
bill took on many phases, but the one
feature that more persistently appeared
than any other was that of the new
American policy of expansion as illus
trated by the proposition to annex or
in some way take or absorb the Philip
pines. Consequently make no apology
for devoting this letter to that subject.
It is amazing how implicitly fall
lacy, skillfully clothed in words, is ac-
cepted by even well informed persons
and how tenaciously they cling to it.
0udhtSp6dlG piOpOuuuo eHo AuCopAOht
'sWhat's in Manner
And then answers it himself by say
ing: "a rose by any other name would
smell as sweet.
His dictum is correct as to the aroma
of the flower, but his idea that there is
nothing in name, though almost uni
versally accepted as true, is fagrantly
erroneous. There is much in a name
A name may make or mar a policy. A
name may give life or bring death to a
party
The high protective tariff owes its
long lease of life ON this continent large
ly to the fact that Henry Clay, without
warrant of truth and contrary to all
history, bestowed upon it the fascinat-
ing title of ''the American system, !"
although the system had existed for
centuries before Christopher Columbus
turned his prows westward in search of
new world 1t was hoary with age
before there was any America to have
any system upon any subject or of any
kind, but the immortal Kentuckian,
and after him divers imitators, rallied
the people again and again successfully
and enthusiastically to that system, ;"
denouncing those who opposed it as
American The cry Of ''the
American system, to borrow a eu-
phemism from Thurlow Weed, proved
to be "a good enough Morgan for
many campaign.
Something In a Name.
The early demise of 1.-THE native
American party was unquestionably
hastened by reason of the ridicule heap
ed upon its members under the prepos-
terous name of Know Nothings. Scores
of other instances might be cited, but
these must suffice to show that there is
something in a name, the bard of Avon
to the contrary Notwithstanding.
"To expand or not to expand is the
question now pestering every mind
'sExpansionists, ''antiexpansionists, :
'shold downers' and like names are be-
coming familiar to American ears.
lam not certain but that by appropri-
ating and being permitted to appropri-
ate the title of "expansionists' the pro-
Philippine party in this country has
gained a great tactical advantage, one
which may prove TO be hurtful to the
country, for no man of patriotism and
good sense is opposed to expansion
on safe lines and in proper directions,
No man of patriotism and sound discre-
ton is in favor of expansion" on all
lines and in all directions.
PROFOUND the blunt question, care
you an expansionist p to the average
American citizen and he will not be
willing to answer yes or no without
qualification.
In his first inaugural address Thomas
jefferson uttered great truth when he
said, "We are all Federalists, we are
all Republicans So take it that on
general principles we are all "expan-
sionists, we are all ''antiexpansion-
lists I"
Concerning Expansion.
Once during reconstruction days
two unsavory characters from the south
were contesting for a seat in congress.
Somebody said to Thaddeus Stevens,
sThey are both rascals No doubt, "
growled old Thad, "but which is our
rascal?" Asked as to whether ! am an
s.expansionist, /" in like spirit | would
inquire: IAN expansionist about what
An expansionist in what direction r
If a proposition were pending-as as it
will be some day-as to expanding by an
nexing all of the North American Brit
ish possessions, would be an enthusi-
astic 'expansionist for various cogent
reasons: ~ they are contiguous terri
tory (2) the people are OF our blood
and habituated to institutions similar
to ours; (3) annexation would give us
a natural frontier north, east and west;
(4) it would forever remove us from
the neighborhood Of Great Britain the
most quarrelsome and coyetous nation
on the face of the earth.
would not have one drop of blood
split or one tear shed or expend much
money to acquire these British posses
sions for it is written by the finger OF
fate on the scroll of destiny that they
will finally be ours. All things come to
him who waits, and our neighbors be-
yond the ST. Lawrence and the great
lakes will in the fullness of time. be our
fellow citizens.
But when it comes to expanding by
taking into our possession some two
thousand Asiatic islands in the tropics,
Inhabited by savages. removed by 10.
900 miles from our seat of government
and By Z, 900 miles from the remotesi
confines of the republic, am rabid
antiexpansionist.
Thomas Carlyle, the gruff old Scotch
man, once declared that there never had
been an argument advanced against the
repeal of the English corn laws that
would not make the angels weep by
reason of its sheer Righteousness 1t {
really pity that his grim spirit cannot
revisit the glimpses of the moon long
enough to hear Philippine expansion
ist deliver a speech.
Unheeded Warnings.
A man apparently sane upon every
other subject becomes mad as March
hare the moment he touches that fatal
theme
The wisdom of the fathers is scented.
Their solemn warnings are held foi
naught. They are said to have beer
good enough to create government
and legislate for is young. feeble, in
choate states. but they had their day.
They are out of date: they are INSULT.