The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-01-24
Expansionis.s Becoming FretfuI.

Not many weeks ago the imperialstic
press was predicting the passage Of
the peace treaty through 1he ratifica-
ton process with swiftness that was
calculated to make ones head swim.
Now that same voice Is heard In
piteous appeals to the patriotism Of the
senators to '..Ratify. ratify" The
Washington Post exclaims: "Ratify the
treaty at once. After that has been
done, the people of the United States.
through their chosen representatives In
both houses of congress. can be relied
upon for wise action in the future.
Trust the American people. Do not
invite the cortes to share in our domes-
tic concerns!"
Then comes the New York Herald
crying aloud: with the treaty ratified
the war will be formally ended. and
we shall be as free to discuss the
future disposition and government of
the Philippines as we are now.
Ratify the treaty; let us have peace
All. indeed! If the spirit Of aggran-
dizement had not taken hold of this
element Of the press and of the ad-
of our victories over Spain, the war
would have ended six months ago. But
the shout went up: 1--WE have taken the
Philippines; we must hold on to them
in the name of manifest destiny
weak president heard this shout. and
it tickled his ears. There must be a
peace commission and every condition
of peace must reyolve around the re-
tention of the Philippines: and finally,
In order that there should be no fali-
ure of this scheme. we must even pay
for them $20,000,000.
But cooler counsels have prevailed.
The sober second thought has had an
opportunity to secure recognition. The
people have begun to measure the cost.
They are brushing the dust out of their
ewes. An enlarged standing army is
looming up. The troubles with Agui-
naldo and the Insurgents are being no.
ticed. We have been dealing with saw
ages here within our home boundaries
ever since the nation was born. We
know what it means. This knowledge
forms a basis for our apprehensions as
to what the government of the Phlllp-
pines is likely to involve. The cond1-
ton of things in Samoa also gives
hint of what may be expected in our
.snew dependencies" down by the equa-
tor in the Pacific. The glamor of CO.
lorial expansion Is waning. Nobody is
able to show how our trade Is to be
benefited a fraction by taking in this
wretched community Of semi-barbarl-
ans, while the cost is certain to be
in, ri
Meanwhile, along comes the report
from Washington that ratification is
impossible of accomplishment at this
session of congress. Opposing senator's
will not be badgered into voting against
their convictions simply to protect the
administration from failure in the
pursuit of mistaken policy. Had the
Philippines been left out Of the ques-
ton. the whole matter would now be
adjusted The war for the freedom of
Cuba has already cost the United
States 5000, 900, 900. By projecting our
finger into the Philippine pie it is likely
| to cost double that sum before set
| Element is reached. 1t is idle to talk
of the senate baking the popular
Will by refusing to indorse the craze.
The blunder has been committed Let
| these who were responsible therefor
| bear the burden of blame.