Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1899-04-05
Letter from Madison County
DAVID SNYDER AND NAvY-PAR.
TIES DIVIDED ON EXPANSION.

MADISON 9. H., VA, March 81, 80
Editor of CLARKE COURIER: A.
the Spottsylvaula county people say,
Let NE Introduce you 10 me.'
nave recently been thinking about
old friends IN Clarke. Among them
our old and valued friend (pardou
me, should have SAID our young
and esteemed friend) David SNYDER
Somewhere along Ia The late tiftles,
friend Snyder was cadet AT the An.
na2olls Naval Academy. lie resign
Ell his position and went West. Since
Dewey and Hobson aud Schley anu
Philips and Evans aud others of our
naval heroes have filled the world
with their fame, | have wondered if
friend Snyder was with them, or any
OF them, at the Naval Academy. If
SO, few pen pictures of the heroes
mentioned would make very interest
ing reading for those who get the
! COURIER.
The gentlemen that have named
have changed the map of the world.
/ Query, which is better TO have assist
Ell IN breaking the power of Spain.
filling the world with the glory of
exploits. or to have remained quietly
on Clarke county farm, viewing the
many beautiful landscapes of that
matchless picturesque section.
Speaking about Dewey, the Span
lSh- American war and marvellous ex
poits of HobSon mot only in sinking
the Merrlmac. but in kissing all the
pretty girls from the mouth of the
Hudson to San Francisco Bav) leads
me to reflect upon great question
that Just now seems TO be ayitatiug
the American mind.
Parenthetically. permit me to re-
mark that 1t is not a political ques
ton. The democrats haven't a corn
er on 1t. nor have the republicans
monopoly of 1t. The wicked trusts
and constituencies combines are di-
Nlded on 1t and the entire American
people seem TO be waiting to hear
something "drap' before they cline
mp IN the matter of complete and
unconditional committal. With these
few Introductory but brilliant re
marks. now announce the subject.
1t Is that of ''EzpanSioR."
have read much. thought long.
and talked times without number
about IT. Int have nowhere seen.
nor have myself, at any time, said
ANYTHING half so comprehensive in
regard TO it as the following:
Here is 10 the United States,
! Bounded on the north hv the aurora
horealis. on the south nv the process
sion of the equInoxes. on the east bv
the primeval chaos. and on the west
Nv the dav of Judgment"
Now. Mr.. Editor, if anv of orr
statesmen can expand hevond that.
they will have 10 bust off all of their
gallns buttons and swell their pom
deroSity to proportions in compari
son to which the frog, in the fable,
that tried to swell himself as BIG AS
the bull, will. henceforth, be AS small
as the most diminutive tomtit bv the
side of the great American eagle.
Maybe vOu would like to know
how | stand on this absorbing ques
ton.
Well, if you think my opinions are
worthy of publication, send over All
interviewer. That's the way fell
low generally starts out for Congress.
he best part of the business, how
ever, Is To TO interview the interview
er and find out how other folks
stand. You haven't been in politics
all your life, have you, not to find
that out?
said The question was not
political one, uidn't /? You NAV
very we'll conclude that if Texas
Democrats ale Tor It and Massachu
settS republicans are dgin il; aud if
Mary lana denlocrats are f0rRenSt it,
dnu AiaOauIa democrats are dDDlaud
I" cf It, Tie political complexion of
Tue question 10, ~ say the least. re-
duceu To the minimum. Wi'h Bro.
Bryan say Ing " the u. 5: thus far
shalt tnou 10 and no farther, and
BRO. Croker declarlag that ter. ito
rally We are yet In our swaddling
bands, what KIND of conclusion can
you arrive at OH democratic lines?
When Bro. Foraker takes the DO
sitlon that this great country should
stretch out until It's right hand grasps
the moon and its left all the planets
that blaze III the heavens, ought We.
with friend HOar, 10 conclude that our
boundaries should be circumscribed
by Buzzards Bay on the east aud
trail for the Comanche Indians on
the west!
These questions are propounded
with all the solemnity due to their
"NershadowIng gravity and it is ex
pected that you, Mr.. Editor, will de-
eide accordingly.
Having thrown all the light upon
them that wide experience, unlimited
travel and profound reflection have
enabled me- tn command | mill 81.