Mexico weekly ledger., 1899-02-16
GLARKS LETTER
For Expansion if In the
Right Direction.
DON'T VAN PHILIPPINES
Would Gladly Annex British
North America.
DON'T WANT PHILIPPINES.
NOT SAVAGE AsIArIO GLANDS,

9GNHMEAAAsa
In which We Have SothinE to
Gain-spIrit OF h Nation Changed
From Conservatism to Reckless
Ambition.
Especial washington Letter.l
The great debate on the Hull army
bin 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 a fall
lacy, skiIlfully clothed in words. Is &C
cepted by even well informed persons
and how tenaciously they cling to 1t.
Shakespeare ~propounds the question
whats in a namef"
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 a name. though almost uni
versally accepted as true, is fagrantly
erroneous. There is much In a name.
A name may make or mai a policy. A
name may give life Oh bring death to a
party.
The high protective tariff owe 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 1.-THE American system,
although the system had existed for
centuries before Christopher Columbus
turned his prows westward in search Of
a 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 1t as
''un-American." The cry Of 'the
American system" to borrow a eu-
phemism from Thurlow Weed, proved
to be ga good enough Morgan" for
many a campaign.
Something In n Name.
The early demise of ''the native
American party was unquestionably
fastened BY reason of the ridicule heap
ed upon its members under the prepos-
ferrous name Of Know Nothinga 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 Fostering every mind.
''Expansionists, +" ''antiexpansionists, "
''hold downers'' and like names are be-
coming familiar TO American ears
lam not certain but that by appropri-
ating and being permitted to a%ppropri-
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 nan 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 expansionist3 2" 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 a great truth when he
said, ave are all Federalists. we are
all Republicans" So l take 1t that on
general principles we are all "expan-
sionists," we are all ''antiexpansion-
lists"
Concerning Expansion.
Once during reconstruction days
two unsavory characters from the south
were contesting for a seat In congress.
Somebody said to Thaddsus Stevens,
"They are both rascals." 'fNo doubt,
growled old Thad. 'fbut which is our
~rascalf" Asked as to whether / am an
''expansionist. =" in like spirit / would
inquire; "An expansionist about what
An expansionist in what direction"
If a proposition were pending-as il
will be some day-as to expanding by an
nexing all Of the North American Brit
ish possessions, l would be an enthusi-
astic ''expansionist'' for various cogent
easons; ~ they are contiguous terri
tory; (2) the people are of our blood
and habituated to institutions similar
to oursi (9) annexation would give us
a natural frontier north. east and west 4
t4) it would forever remove us from
the neighborhood Of Great Britain-the
most quarrelsome and covetous nation
on the face Of the earth
LEould not have one drop Of blood
split or one tear shed or expend much
money TO acquire these British posses
sions, for II is written by the finger of
fate on the scroll Of destiny that they
win finally be ourA 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 1t comes to expanding by
taking into our possession some two
thousand Asiatic islands In the tropics.