Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1899-06-29
UNCLE JESSE BENNETT
Wants to Know Where the Journal Stands
on Expansion.

|
an Expansion policy, as he calls il
writes this paper a strong letter and con
cludes it with this question:
One object have in writing this let
ter, is that you may reply: Will yoI
support, and vote the gold-standar,
ticket, rather than the silver ticket o
the man that does not indorse expan
siou as you see itP
As Uncle Jesse Bennett seems to have
made up his mind what he will do in
1900 it may be useless to argue with
him. This paper believes the quickest
way to bring foreign war to a close is
or all Americans, regardless Of party, to
present an united front to the world. 1t
is the duty OF Bimetallists, Populists and
Democrats, as well as Republicans to as
Loyalty support Mckinley as Douglas did
Lincoln. II MIR. Bryan were president
and had the Spanish war on his hands
or was dealing with the problems grow
ing out of it, such as subduing the Fill
pino insurgents, he might have an hon
ester set of men around him, but the
duty of patriotic citizens would still be
the same to uphold our government.
He would be entitled to support just as
Mckinley is, in spite of Algerism, etc.
If Bryan were in McKinley's place
Republicans who joined in crying down
the administration in the conduct of the
war would he severely condemned as
disloyal and giving encouragement to
our country's enemies, and they would be
called shallow, mean partisans by Bry-
antics. When Cleveland threw down
the gauntlet to Great Britain in the
Venezuela affair Americans forgot all
party distinctions and rallied to his sup
port as an united nation.
No one can tell at this time what will
be the paramount issue in 1900. II in
1900 this country still has foreign war
on its hands the money question will
not be the issue, and it will be the duty
OF all loyal, patriotic citizens to support
the government or the party that most
clearly and definitely represents an ag-
gressive policy OF sustaining national
sovereignty at sea or on land.
In 100 years past the domination of
the English speaking race, with its
language, commerce, courts and laws has
extended over the North American con-
tinent, across the south of Asia and all
of Australia, over the north and south
Of Africa, over the East and West
Indies the Hawaiian Islands and other
islands Of this seas, and is now struggling
ior complete supremacy in the Philip
pines.
II we wanted to put Uncle Bennett in
a tight place, we'd ask him which he
would give up first, Texas or Alaska,
Oregon or Louisiana, Hawaii, Cuba or
Porto Rico? Perhaps he'd say, keep all
we've got but don't take the Philip
pines. But he is a good loyal man and
if the musket were put in his hands and
it were left to him to shoot the insur-
gents down or withdraw the American
flag from Luzon-well we'd hate to trust
him if we were Filipino. Would he
withdraw the American troops or rein
force them2 That is the question for
Mr.. Bennett and every American to
answer just the same as for Mr.. Me
Kinley. We say sustain the Army and
Navy. Once you put your hands TO the
plow don't turn back. 1t is un-Ameri-
can and unpatriotic to desert in the
midst of a campaign.
The situation was correctly pictured
by Gen. Otis in his last report no doubt.
The masses OF the people in the Philip
pines are returning 10 agriculture. The
Filipinos are hoping for political re-
versal of the Mckinley administration,
10 put party in power that will with
draw the American control and the
navy and army and give Aguinaldo and
his Tagalos faction, backed by one of the
orders OF Spanish friars, the control OF
those islands. Then there would be
neither civil, political or religious lib
erty. There would be no protection 10
life, property orcommerce. The islands
would be thrown as an apple Of discord
into the arena OF eastern and European
politics, and the dream Of liberty, civil
ization and humanity be turned to a
nightmare.l En-. j..