The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-05

Tonight, CdFl Scnulz dellNered the con-
vocation address, his subject being
The Issue of imperialism" His re-
marks We're discussion of the expan-
sion idea, and strongly against it. He
contended that it was wrong for the
United States to annex any of its con-
quests during the war with Spain, and
predicted much trouble for the country
if it annexed Porto Rico and the Phil
ippines.
Mr.. Schurz, at the outset of his ad-
dress, briefly outlined the conditions of
the United States year ago.
Had the Cars rescript reached us
then, said the speaker we would have
hailed it with enthusiasm as a triumph
OF one example. Peace reigned within
our borders, and there was not the
faintest shadow Of danger of foreign
attack. Our voice, whenever we chose
to speak in the councils of nations, was
listened to with respect, even the
mlghuest sea power on occasion WELD
ing to us a Difference far be-
yond its habit in its inter
courst with others. We We're
considered ultimately invincible, if not
lnVulnerable, in our continental strong
hold. 1t was our boast, not that We
possessed great and costly armies and
navles, but that we did not need any.
This exceptional blessing was our pride,
as II was the envy of the world. We
looked down with plying sympathy on
or ef nations which submissiyely
sroaned under the burden of constantly
increasing ornaments, and we praised
our good fortune for having saved us
from so Wretched a fate.
continuing, Mr.. Schurz said, in sub
stance:
Then came the Spanish war. A few
vigorous blows laid the feeble enemy
helpless at our feet. The whole scene
seemed to have suddenly changed. Ac-
cording to the solemn proclamation of
our government, the war had been un-
dertaken solely for the liberation of
cuba, as war of humanity and not
OF conquest. But our easy victories had
put conquest within our reach and
when our arms occupied foreign terri
tory, loud demand arose that. pledge
or no pledge to the contrary, the con-
quests should be kept, even the Philip
pines on the other side of the globe, and
that as to Cuba herself, independence
would be only a provisional formality
Why not? was the cry. Has not the
career of the republic almost from its
very beginning been one of territorial
expansion? Has it not acquired Louis
lana, Florida, Texas, the vast countries
that came to US through the Mexican
war, and Alaska, and has it not d.
Sested them well? We're not these ac-
QUESTIONS much larger than those now
in contemplation? If the republic
could digest the Old why not the new?
What is the difference?
Only look with an unclouded eye. and
you will soon discover differences
enough warning you to beware There
are five of decisive Importance.
%. All the former acquisitions We're
on this continent, and, excepting Alas
ka, contiguous to our borders.
a. They were situated, not in the
tropical, but in the temperate zone,
where democratic institutions thrive
and where our people could migrate
in mass.
(3) They We're but very thinly peo-
pled-in fact, without any population
that would have been in the way of new
settlements.
a. They could be organized as ter
ritories in the usual manner, with the
exception that they would presently
come INFO the union as governing
states with populations substantially
homogeneous to our own.
81 They did not require a material
increase of our army and navy, either
for their subsection to our rule or for
their defense against any probable for
eign attack provoked by their being in
our possession.
Compare now with our old acquisi-
lions as to all these important points
those at present in view.
They are not continental, not contigu-
Gus to our present domain, but be-
yond seas, the Philippines many thou
sand miles distant from our coast They
are all situated in the tropics where
people of the northern races, such as
Anglo Saxon. or generally speaking,
people Of Germanic blood, have never
migrated in mass to stay: and they are
more or less densely populated, parts Of
them as densely as Massachusetts
their populations consisting almost ex-
cluSiVely Of races to whom the tropical
climate is ongenial-Spanish creoles
mixed with negroes in the West Indies,
and Malays, Tagals Filipinos, Chinese,
Japanese, Nigritos, and various more
or less barbarous tribes in the Philip
pines.
When the question is asked whether
we may hope to adapt those countries
and populations to our system of gov
eminent. the advocates of annexation
answer cheerily. that when they belong
to us, we shall soon "AmericaniZe"
them. This may mean that Americans
in sufficiently large numbers will mi
CRATE there to determine the character
of those populations SO as to assimilate
them to our own.
This is a. delusion of the first magni-
tude. We shall, indeed, be able if we
go honestly about it, to accomplish sew
eral salutary things in those countries.
But one thing we cannot do. We cannot
strip the tropical climate of those
qualities which have at all times deter
red men of the northern races, to which
we belong, from migrating to those
countries in mass to make their homes
there, as they have migrated and are
still migrating to countries in the tenn
perate zone. This is not mere theory
but fact Of universal experience.
What shall we do with such popula-
tons? Shall we, according, not indeed
TO the letter, but to the evident spirit
OF our constitution, organize those coun-
tries as territories with a view to their
eventual admission as states? If they
become states on an equal footing with
the other states, they will not only be
permitted to govern themselves, as to
their home concerns, but they will take
part in governing the whole republic.
in governing us, by sending senators
ana representatives into our Congress
to help make our laws, and by voting
Tor president and president to give
our national government it's executive.
ire prospect of the consequences which
would follow the admission of the Span
lsh creoles and the negroes of West In
cia Islands and Of the Malays and Ia
gals of the Philippines to participation
IN the conduct of our government is so
Q farming that you may well pause be-
fore taking the step.
But this may be avoided, it is said.
W governing the possessions as mere
depehdencles or subject provinces. II
viii waive the constitutional question
and merely point out that this would
be a most serious departure from the
rule that governed our former acquisi-