New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-29
1.-THE KIND OF EXPANSION. "
DR. sTEvENSON's REASONS FOR OPPOs-
ING ANNEXATION OF THE
PHILIPPINES

AZ ANTI-EXPANsIoNIsT WHO HAS No SYMPATHY
WITH THE METHODS or THE ANTI
npERIArlsT LEAGUE"
TO the Editor of The Tribune
Sir let ne fair IN this matter % the Philip
pines The mans absurd assertions made by me
called Ant-Imperialist League do not cover the &C.
sues Involved. There very many men having
no sympathy with the methods ~ that league who
are earnestly opposed 10 annexation % those dis
tant islands The two groups Of opponents should
not 10 COMPOUNDED. and the snoers and threats en-
ployod against one are not proper arguments In
dealing with the other Certainly. without good
reason there could be no difference Of opinion such
o. now exists among thoughtful men.
The question concerns nor expansion but the kind
of expansion Nj McKnleys labored address
he history ~ territorial expansion was wholly r.
relevant Those who opposed the purchase % Lou
.siana. Florida and Alaska may have been wrong
tina arguments used by opponents ~ hose pur-
chsses may have been adopted by some opponents
81 Philippine annexation. hut n neither case has
The fact anything whatever % do wh the matter IN
hand Tie former additions. aside from the Alaskan
were simply moving of our fence line over upon
the Immediately adjacent property. But now
are face 20 face with the demand that the United
States change the whole policy which has pre-
vailed from the beginning and that instead o. con-
firing ourselves % our immense corl1a0t area in
effort 20 solve the Derpexing problems due % cl-
mate AID heterogeneous population. Ve assume
responsibilities attending The possession OF 0utiy-
ing areas separated from us ~ thousands - miles
% ocean. 40 question 50 momentous has been
presented 20 since 1851 L oush, TO Be discussed
In the frankest. rnanlleet manner possible. II g
truly open 10 discussion % IS tariff or himetaism
tho more 60 because no Congress has ever passed
upon &c.
For 20 {. remembered that newspaper disputes
and the addresses or prominent men. NJ. McKn-
ley among the rest have tended n obscure Tho con-
ditlons one might imagine that the Philippines
have been annexed and fhe whole question Is re-
adjudicata.
Bur this Is not the case We eve told frequently
that the Philippines became ours by the hazard ot
var and that We cannot shirk the responsibility
imposed upon Us by the sct Of Providence hlt
this e untrue Deueys capture OF Manila did not
ntcessitate the annexation Of the Philippines any
more than the capture OF Paris necessitated the an
nexation OF France TO Germany. our Admnistra-
ton recognized that IN the protocol. and Mr.. Day
has stated explicitly that the Philippines became
ours hv purchase not ny conquest Since his letter
We have been told that az purchased those
islands from the rtchtful owner the responsibility
is the same Possibly But we have shown
strange anxiety 20 secure the resQonshtity Prov
1o-o4 -ri,1 10 stop US FOR the seller could not DE-
liver tho goods after making the sale lnSteao OF
demanding the delivery we relieved the sele' an'
undertook the delivery ourselves.
The treaty IS regarded by many as having settle1
the question OF annexation Not so. The treaty
vas passed by a majority o: only three above the
necessary two-thirds vote. and that conhrmauon
was secured only by A solemn pledge 70 hummer
% those voting tor r. that pledge being ruined IN
the EXPLANATORY resolution saving nor IS = n
.,.4oa "a -e-r,ano--iv annex said islands an IN
,oeroi mart NJ the territory Of the United States
r Is s.e,osertv clear that Tho question IL an open
one desnite all that fhe persistent defenders OF
Mr Mckinley may say.
Notviths-anainC General Funston's positive as
se,tfon the fact remains that the Teutonc races
80, coforize tho Philippines This Statement
os,ro. no cOntroverted successfully. y annexed
cha ,eiands filled with artagonistic populations,
must remain simply costly appendage
AZ for ourselves. are unit 70 assume ne r.
sronsi1illtes attending this broad extension OF o-'
domain. We have no civil Ser lce ~ no'"'' ~"
cent n name and We have none even IN name.
oh-oad Our colonial service has been exemQHfe9
In Indian agencies and in appointments 10 Alaska
As 10 more than one instance onr Western terri
tories have had m receive men not "ahie' III
home the Philippines VIII have 30 accept those
q hose absence viii not 900 feyorei IN America For
o., century rlrff.ir-s rl.ie ir foreign lands was
productive only ~ scandal and discussion surely
We have enough ~ those - home without seeking
new solds in which 10 SOW seed for an aaaiii''a
evan
p.t We cannot become. ~ f.e 'rue SENSE NJ int
,,rs .-a ~ fhe worlds great nations. for the
80 s,,.es &c q nation ir hut narrow son-e
There RE constitutional limitations which would
render the Federal Governmfrf helpless IN 'Il-.-
t-,a- now - cannot guarantee 20 its citizens me
natural rights Of afe. liberty ana pursuit '. 'itF-
moss in the seleral states n cannot 'ofi''
state excent by to~ro ~ arms. go f'ln' contract
~ -, no ,feii-r- DO the Constitution orr weakness
. .. ..,o.fr ,o~, apuarert On otfe-
nations The Italian f01rr7'- are oi-''s7i'F ,l'7
- .- LOU ~ the Taila.sh massacre our ne.
Dei''' go 80, -.-,,... i, ami asserts thar q
..t sr..,1e~i,,a niue. 10 terminated ae-
s. ,ts Federal Government cannot prevent In
cause me fe''i4. $500 - ,te .,,srio.en-, le
lr"''''"S 81 , .. and -oroectirg matters
80 patent I'D ''''''S ~. 80 - u'if no orl, TOO
Of c0mparai' D'''"i' - ,-o,l-,ert
apparent I'D '''S 49,. ~ ,bs question The