Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1899-10-05
DEMOCRACY AND EXPANSION.

sion by the United States was sound
Democratic doctrine then, and is
sound Democratic doctrine now. And
it being fundamental principle of
Democracy, it is coexistant with De-
mocracy. In fact it would not be
Democracy if it did not reach out
and extend the benefcient adVan-
tages Of personal liberty and individ-
ual sovereignty to persons fitted for
them. In is incumbent on Democ-
racy to lift humanity to higher levels
Of individual and community exls-
lance by example, or by the hand of
protection and encouragement. De-
mocracy does not believe that it ever
was the design Of Providence that the
principles of the American Declare
ton OF Independence should be con-
fined within the boundary lines of
the colonies, nor of the western hem
isphere, but that it should be An in
SEPARATION the world over for mankind
to strive for loftier manhood and
truer relations between man and man
Seventy-tive per cent of the present
area or the United Stares was added
to the original possessions by the ap-
pication OF the principles Of Democ-
racy, and every acre Of it came into
the fold during times of profound
peace. Not IN acre came by con-
quest OF arms or against the consent
of the people Of the acquired terri
tory
Thomas Jefferson earnestly advo-
Gated the annexation OF Cuba when
the conditions were favorable. It
may be said that practically every
American citizen is a Jeffersonian
Democrat, 30 far as that relation be-
tween Cuba and the United States
should be. 1t may be said that the
United States needs Cuba more than
Cuba needs the United, and the same
Is true Of Porto Rico. Cuba and Por-
to Rico are so situated geographical.
ly that they are outlying. military
posts and naval stations-a picket
line, 80 to speak-and they would be
as valuable, more valuable, indeed to
England, France Or Germany, than to
the United States. And because they
wo lid strengthen the military arms
OF either one Of those nations 80 enor.
mOusly the value to the United States
is apparent. Porto Rico is already a
part OF the United States and Cuba,
by the very nature of her location,
must and will, sooner or later become
a part of the United States. Cuba's
isolation and her long coast line to
defend would make it impossible for
any people to defend against invasion
by either one Of the great powers,
and her agricultural resources and
vast forests would always be coveted
by the European nations. Hence it
is the right and duty of this Govern
mont to apply the principles Of the
Jeffcrsonian Democracy in the prem
ises and extend the boundary line of
the United States to include Cuba
and Cuba's island posessions-not as
a province, not as dependency, but
as part Of the United States With all
the rights and privileges that acrue to
other parts.
But the principles Of the Jefferson
ian Democracy would not allow the
annexation Of Cuba at this time.
They could not sanction it without
doing violence to all that Democracy
holds sacred. Democratic principles
sbhor perfdty and hypocrisy, and
the United States could not now or.
tend lts jurisdiction over Cuba with
out beng guilty Of both in the most
BlariDg and tyranical manner. The
very fret Of the series of resolutions
declaring war against Spain said:
@The people OF Cuba are and of a
right ought to be free and indepen-
dent" Following the declaration of
war came the Presidents proclama.
ton to the nations that the United