Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-01-24
"A POLICY OF INFAMY"
Big New York Meeting Protests
Against Expansion.
Ex-prcsident Cleveland. Hon. YIN.
j. Bryan ana bishop Potter Sent
letters Approving object OF Gn,h-
crinS.

Crlns.
New York, Jan. ga large mass
meeting of citizens was held in the
Academy of Music last night under the
auspices of the Continental League for
the purnose Of protesting against the
policy of imperialism ana entangling
alliances with European powers"
a list OF vice presidents was read,
including these names: Wheeler H.
Peckham, Ablam S. Hewitt, Henry
LOOMS Nelson. William Ii. Hornblower.
Roger y. Pryor. Francis Wayland
Glen, John c. Shcchan and Frederick
Coudert. y number of Nice-presidents
were announced as representing the
Central Labor Union, including Samuel
Gompers, president of the American
Federation of Labor; John NJ. Parsons,
general master workman OF The Knights
of Labor: Daniel Harris. president OF
the State Federation OF Labor.
LETTERS FROM CLEVELAND AND
BRYAN.
Communications were read from ex-
President Cleveland, Col. William j.
Bryan and Bishop Henry G. Potter
regretting their inability to be present
am so opposed to the expansionist craze
now affecting our body polite that any
organization formed in opposition to it
has my hearty sympathy and APP
prevail"
Mr.. Bryan said that he was fully in
sympathy with every effort put forth to
save the nation from the dangers of
imperialism.
Bishop Potter wrote: "The purpose
of the meeting have my hearty APP
proVal, and i should be glad IL | had
time 10 say how strongly l feel that
the policy OF imperialism or expansi-4ii
in any such sense as proposed at pres
ent. threatens equally the moral integ-
rty Of The nation and the conditions
on which its prosperity has hitherto
rested"
"A DANGEROUS POLICY" SAYS
COCHRAN.
w. Bourke Cochran, one of the speak
crs. said
This hercsy of Imperialism sweeping
over the country is threatening the sta
hillty OF our institutions and our meas
use of free government 1t is 4 policy of
infamy. Shall this country step down
from the high eminenca which she has
attained in the family of nations, in
the matter Of imperialiSm?"
when we are asked TO take this
step. il is but natural that we ask its
DromulgatOrs TO unraVcl their pre-
lenses, and when we do SO we ind them
advocating contradictory arguments.
The question of Imperialism and eX-
pansion, boiled down to it's true i'm
port, Is a dangerous policy to either
adopt of pursue. The imperialists tell
YOU that trade follows the flag, when.
in fact. every American knows that the
opposite is the case.
''It is the flag that follows trade. Is
1t part of the duty of our free and in
dependent government To proceed to
civiliZe weaker people by first shoot
ing and then rObhing them? We shrink
from the responsibility imposed on us
by destiny. and when we fail to be con-
WINGED OF this appeal to destiny, we arc
charged With being n-Amcrican. This
child OF destiny IS a new growth in this
country, but in the old world he is as
old as human depravlty.
AGAINST THE FAITH OF WASH
INGTON.
"No nation. particularly the Ameri-
can nation, can have citizen soldiery
and Il mercenary army. 1t is against
the faith of Washington and the sign
ers of the Declaration of Independence.
The imperialists of to-day would have
YOU and me believe that Washington
and the trainers OF the constitution de-
scended on the Capitol ut Washington
and played havoc with the nation and
of course, We're decidedly un-American
W ltn regard 10 the l'nlllpDlncS, II
we are to become barbarous let us excel
in our barbarity as we have eXcelled
in our civilization all the other nations
of the world Ertttet II
weight of cannon balls for moral in
tegrity and support. l confess l am in
favor of expansion IL il is meant i'm the
right direction. In this case everything
depends on what is meant by the right
direction.
IF we want expansion, why here to
the north of us lies country which is
Il natural part of us. Why not annex
Canada? ia be delighted to see that
line of custom houses beyond our Dor
der blown into the great lakes and our
line of territory to the north of us ex-
tended to Iattins Bay. Deeply as
desire annexation with Canada / would
not have il by force or arms
THE histories of Alsace and lorraine
and Englands treatment of Ireland but
too we'll illustrate the foolishness of
annexation by force and coercion Now
If England likes us. as she claims she
does. let her convince Canadians that
their true destiny is with us
TRASH IDEA OF EXPANSION"
Hon. James Il. Eustis, former am
baSsador 10 France. said in part:
The sentiment of the American peo-
&c TT (-TTp a JsI rs