Wadsworth semi-weekly dispatch. [volume] (Wadsworth, Nev.) 1899-1904, 1899-08-30
EXPANSION.


our American standards of humanity,
the widespread sentiment against ex-
pansion would not be quite SO pro-
nounced. But even If 1t were other
wise-if the PHILIPPINE were ever 80
good a raw subject out Of which to
make a good American citizen-anti-
expansion would still have many sup
porters for reasons besides the polite
ians' absolute need of having an issue
on which to down the other fellow; that
part Of the business, as a party matter,
is all right. being a part of the bust
ness, and common, for, except this
with Spain, we never had a wal from
first to last that did not develop a big
party Of 'antis." 1t is to be noted,
however, that in no instance, no mat
ter which party prosecuted the war, did
such opposition affect the outcome;
the starry banner triumphantly waved
Just the same, as it surely will and
should in the pending trouble.
The idea that this banner which has
never gone permanently down before
any foe, though powder-burned by the
guns Of the strongest nations from
across the seas, and oftener yet by the
guns Of the brayest people in,the world,
ever those of our own blood-the idea
that after such foes had failed to pull
1t down only that such poor apologies
for soldiers as those ''niggers" of the
Philippines should be the first and only
ones to do 1t, Is just little too obnox-
ious to permit. let ultimate conditions
come as they may. That far and no
further are we ex~pansionists. 1t is not
for Mr.. Tagal or any Of his sort to pull
hat flag down and send IT home like a
dirty shirt to be washed, care Of At
kinson, Boston.
For over three hundred years those
Tagals tried. at times. eve in vain, to
pull down the Spanish flag which has
floated over them all those centuries.
Our sailors and soldiers, after they
started in. pulled that flag down in
about three hundred minutes. That,
plus 1000, 900, is our title to those
islands, just as a similar transaction
robbery, as it was called-gave us
title to all this coast land, Oregon ex
cepted, and the money paid SIS DOC, 900
less or SIS, 900, 900 in all-four times
as much as the whole country seemed
to be worth then, though the figures
would read billions now. Not a word
then Of the twaddle about the ICON
sent Of the governed" no more than
there had been from the days of the
declaration of independence down to
the present. during which time we have
forcibly gobbled up nearly the whole Of
the continent beyond the lines of the
original thirteen States-all Of which
had previously become the white mans
property by the same process-and
never once was the consent of the
governed talked about. The legions
OF rightful owners were simply forced
to yield to the needs Of civiliza-
ton; we took their homes and their
governments, and in due time, civil
lied them pretty much all off the face
.of the EARTH Sayages they were, but
in pride Of manhood. a nobler race
they were than the best of these Ma
lays.
But. there wasn't room for all, 50 the
inferior had to give way to the super
ior, the waste spots were made glad,
expansion. costly as 1t was in blood
and treasure, was the thing, and no.
body sniveled; we needed the country in
u business. wen the Pacific Coast.
which before the days Of the dutch
Flat Swindle' was practically farther
away from means Of defense and sup
plies as is Manila today--as much far