Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1899-07-26
Watterson on Expansion.

SlouiSt. Mr.. Bryan 10 the contrary
notwithstanding. Mr.. Watterson
looks TO the boundleSs Pacific as
the new field for commercial enter
prise-to China, Japan, Australia
aud the multitudlnous isles as
new world, with its myriads to be
clothed and fed, to be educated IN
wants, to be cultivated in arts, 10
be elevated in civilization. Con
siderIng these things, he says;
How is it possible that any
thoughtful citizen of the gulf states
should listen with patience to
the vaporings Of a lot of political
adventures, who blind to their
claims upon a thinking people,
would set up against them a hud..
die Of hair-spli,,ing theories about
the Monroe doctrine and the con-
stitution Of the United States
What should we think OF letter
son if, ignoring the practical adj
vantage he had, on the grounds of
constitution or other scruples. he
had lost the chance to buy
Louisiana o! Napoleon What
will be thought of us a century
Aence, f, through fear of trouble
or any other fear we yield the van
tage ground which all unbidden
has come to us, vainly seeking re-
tention of the bucolic republic of
Washington and Franklin, which
has already gone from us beyond
recall? The globe is shutting up
like telescope, and, through the
smaller end, one can see farther
than Jefferson saw through The
larger. Manila is not so far from
Washington under modern condi-
lions as New Orleans was in Ieffer.
sons DAY California was harder
to reach at the time of the Gads-
den purchase. Every year the
world gets smaller. Yet the gulf
states of the south have stood
apart, seeing the narrowing stream
quite pass them by, and just as
the great ocean outlet is offered
come troupe of pennytrumpeters
to toot the old cant about the CON
sent of the governed'-who own
author did not consider it when the
enlargement of his country was
involved, and to drone about con-
stitutional forms, which have at
no time, stood against the expand
ing desires or practical needs of a
people essentially enterprising and
progressive.
The twentieth century will be
given over to great commercial
battle between the nations, and the
law OF the universe will read the
survival OF the fittest. In all these
possible incidents and transactions
the gulf states have but a subordi-
nate interest. Their beacon light
IS the Nicaragua canal. Thereaf-
ter their hope is the development of
the universe on the other side of
the Nicaragua canal, and the trans.
Ter OF the activities Of the Atlantic
TO the Pacific; this transfer is inev-
liable. All that the political ad-
venturer in American politics can
do with with his sophmoric ebuli-
tiohs OF mistaken patriotism, and
his documentary notions about in
ternationa! policies, will be to OBJ
struct and delay it. If the gulf
states are true to themselves thew
viii, stop him in his mid. career.
They will rise up en- masse and
show him they know thing
or two. They will Impress upon
his understanding the fact that he
Is not upon rate-catching track.
They will fling aside any party
who dares step across the pathway
OF their prosperity and which
proposes to manure their waste
fields and fill their hungry mouths
with commonplaces about the con-
sent OF the governed They will
say TO him as we say to him, Sir,
the south cannot live forever ON
cobwebs.' They will say to him
as We say to him, Sir, we do not
get our bread aud butter out of
politics, anyhow, AMI as between
Wheeler and Lee and the flag
and you've follow Wheeler and
Lee and the flag, and the further
1t carries us the better They will
say to him as we say to him, Sir.
1 he MNK inin,.