Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1899-11-30
PrOuty on Expansion.
WA,mNGroS. November Is. 1879
Mn l.. b. JOHNSON,
Randolph. Vt.

/ MH. L. ID lNiiN~hNt
Randolph. VI.
DEAR Sm Upon returning q
Washington this morning. ailer AZ ab
sence Of seyeral DAYS. lind your Ia.
/ ter of recent date In which you say.
II think Il Is a fact that there j. somt
question among Vermont Republican.
as 10 Yonr position on what Is termed
the administrations policy OF ekpan
sion. arising, possibly, from the re.
ports Of your Brooklyn speech last
/ winter"
do not know what ''the admins.
tmtion's policy Of expansion Is and
cannot. therefore. state my position
upon that policy. Ny Brooklyn
speech treated the Philippine sitaa.
ton As TO the attitude of the admin.
istration towards that subject / thea
used this language What shall We
do with the Philippines ! Tor one
am perfectly content to leave that
question where the law leaves twin
the present administration VITA
that ! am content now a. then Up 70
the present time the administration
has taken no step with reference 10 The
Philippines of which do not heartily
approve
At that time the Spanish treaty vas
under consideration by the Senate |
took the ground that no other treaty
could have properly been made and
that il should be promptly ratified L
was ratified aud the United STATES
thereby came into possession Of ihe
Philippine Islands. The instruction
now existing there is without our fault
and against our lawful authority, and
should be put down In the spccdiosi
and most summary manner. Upon
that proposition | have never enter
tanned the slightest doubt. The tnt
thing TO do Is TO end that war.
When that is accomplished We must
decide what shall be done with those
islands. The question is not, shall Ee
take them? They are already ours aad
while do not like aud would not have
sought the situation. 1t came 10 rs n
the path of duty and its responsibile
ties must be met. In the determine
ton Of this question the Republican
party must assume the Initiative Our
Democratic friends are in the attitude
which they have occupied a 10 almos.
every great national issue for the lasi
forty years OF being able 10 find iaah
with whatever course is adopted
Now just what should be done IN the
Philippines is, TO my mind. a practical
question depending upon conditions
actually existing there of which the
masses in this country can have no sd
equate idea. The problem. in it pres
ent stage, is peculiarly one which can
best be solved by the careful sild!
and patient attention OF the executive
and legislative branches of this gov
eminent. There are, however, c. ram
fundamental ideas which should
think, operate as far as possible 10 oui
treatment of that question.
First. The honor and dignity o.
this nation should be maintained /"
any cost but let il ever be remeni-
bered that the true honor of natlos'
like that Of an individual, lies in right
not might
Second. Those people should p
accorded the largest measure OF en-
government of which they are capahns'
| wish they were capable of entire sen
government, but | expect they are hoe
II not, we must exercise in some mes
ure that function over them.
Third. The United States shou"
not voluntarily and unnecessarily e.
ter upon any career which will inNoNs
its participation in the Eastern ~"
ton. | feel certain that the peIIHs
nent greatness, glory and honor OF , lns
nation are better subserved by holding
entirely alooi. for the present at leas.
from the political entanglemenis o ,le
old world. We need pay no such ply
to secure and retain the markets WIN.
our commercial development reqnlle
Before imposing upon ourselves Z IA
manent burden of taxation we shoui"
inquire what is to be gained by IT, n.
| endeavored TO say substahlias
his at Brooklyn. What | said the,s
then and still expresses ~
The most effectual ansNs
% the distorted use which has peea
made of it by one of my opponents -
he address itself. and ] propose
print and circulate it in that view =
he meantime you are at hberi! ~
publish this, if you think il VIII Vo
my interest to your readers.
Very truly yours;
e. A. PRoUIf'