Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1899-03-03
POLICY OF DEMOCRATS.
Must Be an Aggressive One,
Says John P. Altgeld.
FOR JUSTICE AND EQUAL RIGHTS.

!
Philippines-R ehabiIitate Our Merchant
Marine.
In an article i'll The Democratic Mag
azinc Ex-Governor Jonn p. Altgeld of
Illinois outlines the attitude of the
Democratic party and the policies it
should continue throughout the war.
The governor says i'll part:
| Commercial advantage rather than
political is now the aim of the power
| full nations. Africa has been divided
up by the nations of Europe i'll order to
monopolize trade, England alono pur
suing the policy of opening her harbors
to the world. The same nations are
now forcibly dividing up China for the
purpose of monopolizing trade.
BY reason of our position and ability
we should get the benefit Of most OF
this commerce, but in order to do so
we must be able to offer reciprocal ad
vantages and must have a force on the
seas that will make US respected.
We must put ourselves i'll a position
to demand the privileges that are ell
| JONCu ny tHC IhOcb 1hNOlCo AabAObo,
and it will always be easy to secure
justice if We can say, Here is our
navy to argue this question.
Therefore, while we do not need an
army at home and the maintenance of
one would simply be menace to our
own people, we do need a navy ON the
foreign waters of the earth.
| Tho xx,o, hoe forcad ,,no,, o,,r ffo,,
ton the extreme absurdity of being
obliged to sail clear around South
America when we want to take our YES
sells from one part of our own country
to another part Of our own country and
the great danger it leaves us in if we
should suddenly be attacked by pow
erful enemy on the sea.
| 1t is manifestly the duty Of the
American government to absolutely
own and control this canal, not to assist
a private company dig it. but to dig
and own the canal itself. The shipping
of our own vessels would soon pay for
lit.
Further, our commerce on the Pacific
will soon be great, and if we do not
1
maintain almost twice as large navy
as would be needed if vessels could be
speedily taken from New York to San
Francisco. Tho Shiny hands of the Pa
cific railroads should not be permitted
to longer control the situation.
Cuba.-The w"r has again brought
to our attention the TACT that II Cuba
were held by Il great hostile power hav-
ing a strong navy we would be con-
stantly nervous and feel sense of in
security which we now do not feel.
| We dare not allow foreign or o
hostile power to have this island. In
fact, when viewed from a geographical,
a political, a commercial or military
standpoint Cuba belongs to this republic
and is necessary to properly round off
our southeastern boundary. The people
of Cuba would gladly join us now, but
If 1t is not ripe for annexation or if the
assurances we gave the nations in de-
claring war forbid cur taking it now
then let the Cuban republic To placed
under our protection.
This done the island will soon be
overrun with American people and
American enterprises, and i'll short
time it will ripen and knock ut our
door to become a member of the Union.
This would not be a conquest, because
it would not be forcible, and it would
not be founding colonial system, but
would be simply following the law Of
our development and increasing our
safety.
Porto Rico.-This island is situated
almost in tho center Of the Atlantic
ocean and is only q few days. sail
from any point on either side of this
ocean. Consequently it would be in.
valuable as naval station. Especially
would this be SO il we build the Mica
ragua canal.
| Viewed from any standpoint. we
should have Porto Rico asa al sta
ton, and as it is small it would not in
volve the establishment Of colonial
policy.
Harbors.-With our prospective in.
crease of commerce and of shipping and
the necessary increase in the navy it is
manifest that we need harbors in every
quarter Of tho globe as coaling stations
and as convenience-yea. a necessity
for our trade and for our navy, not har-
bors floating the flag of some other ma.
ton and granting us some privilege, but
harbors owned by us and floating our
flag, where our vessels can lie as long as
they choose.
We must have, if possible, q number
OF the best harbors Of the Philippines
and any other good harbors we can get.
This will not be conquest, nor will it be
establishing colonial policy. It will
simply be making provisions for the
more complete development Of our own
country.
| Jobbery.-It is objected that to even
build the Nicaraguan canal would in
volve SO much jobbery and rottenness
that it should not DO undertaken. Up-
questionably it will involve great job
berry, but SO has every great movement
In this country. The Revolution was
full Of jobbery, the war Of 1912 was
full Of jObbery, and the war of the re-
bellion staggered with corruption, yet
the country moved forward in each Of
these wars, and the world was made
better.
This canal will be filled with job
berry, yet necessity will compel us to dig
1t. Honest and progressive humanity
cannot fold its arms or stop the onward
march simply because there are YAM.
pires that suck human blood by night
and vultures that devour human flesh
by day.
1t was during Democratic control that
our navy was respected by all the ma
lions, and it was during Democratic
control that cur flag floated ON all the
seas, and, although our country was
young. our shipping surpassed that of
all countries except England, and un-
der genuine Democratic control these
conditions will come again.
During all these years the Democratic
Sarty was an aggressive party. 1t recog-
aized new needs and new conditions and
met them. It was this fact that kept it
in power and enabled it to shape the
early cGrppr IF tho uotioy,