The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-07-18
HOUSTON, TUESDAY, July IS, $500
TEN PAGES TODAY,
NOT AN ExpANsIoNIsr.

From the commencement of the dis
cussion of this expansion question the ad-
vocates of territorial aggression have been
citing the great Thomas jefferson in de-
Tense OF their schemes. Even the republic
cans, to whom, heretofore, his name has
not appealed very strongly, point with
pride to him, the greatest of Americas
great men. as an expansonist. The only
point in evidence ever offered by them has
been the fact OF territorial purchase mot
aggressive), and that too on our own con-
tinent.
In all OF the voluminous writings of the
great Jefferson there is slot one word to
Justify the charge against his memory that
he was modern day expansionist, So
far from 1t, indeed, there is every reason
to believe that were he alive today he
would be unalterably and uneompromising
ly opposed to the proposition as 1t now
oonfronts the American people.
In the first inaugural address Mr.. Jeffer-
son used this significant language:
Peace. commerce and honest friendship with
ali nations, entansling alliances with none.
In his third annual message to congress
he was still more explicit on this great
question, and wrote as follows:
Separated by a wide ocean from the nations
cf Europe and from the political interests thas
entangle them together, II can not be the IN
terest of any TO assail us nor ours to dis
turb them. We should be most unwise. In
deed, were we to cast away the singular bles6-
ings of the position In which nature has
placed us.
This language Is indeed plain and signi-
fcant. We are separated by many miles
from Europe. and he advised against any
''entangling alliances" there. What could
be expected then. when we are to con-
slider country much more than twice as
far from us? To the Corren he wrote In
1920:
Nothing Is so important as that America
shall separate herself from the systems OF
Europe aud establish one of her own, our
circumstances our pursuits our interests dis
tinct, the principles Of our policy should b.
also. All entanslements with that quarter Of
tho globe should be avoided II we mean thai
peace and justice shall be the polar star OF
American society.
How significant are these words and
especially so in connection with the propo-
sition to take under the American flag
millions OF people as far from us as are the
Philippines, and SO vastly different from us
in every essential particular of citizenship,
Some of them, intelligent enough, 1t Is
true, in their way, but of a mongrel race,
reared for hundreds of years under gov
eminent influences directly opposite TO our
own, and the great mass OF them in state
OF semi barbarism. Is ii right for
America to force her government upon
them? Do we desire such a citizenship ?
The Post makes one more quotation from
this great and master mind. and the most
pointed of them all. He says:
have ever deemed It fundamental for the
United states never to take active part in tho
quarrels of Europe; their political interes s
arc entirely distinct from ours. They
are nations OF eternal war, On our part,
never had u people so favorable a chance OF
trying the opposite system of peace and fra
our means and facilities TO the purposes OF
improving Instead of destruction
Peace and neutrality seem to be our suty and
interest.
He ever deemed II fundamental for the
United States never to take active part in
the quarrels of Europe" Were we as a
nation taking active part In the quarrels
OF others when we took from the hands of
Spain her quarrel OF hundreds OF years
standing with the Philippines. 1t seems
that we did. and that We got upon our own
hands quarrel that may last u long time,
and be to the American government a
source OF untold annoyance and great OK