The record-union., 1899-07-30
AN ESSAYIST ON EXPANSION.

Just how far the element of national
pride enters into our intention to re-
tain the Philippines, and formed a part
of our policy in declaring war against
Spain is significantly presented in an
able article in the July number of the
American Quarterly Journal of Eco
nomics." Mr.. H. H. Powers takes the
position that had Spain, while in full
possession of the Philippines offered %
sell them to US, we could not have
brought the public mind to consent to
the purchase short of years of agita-
ton and more probably would have
failed completely.
Such an offer would have addressed
simple. question of economics. That ar
rangement would have had all the in
ducements of the present sale and
many others. All that is now urged
Conforming our. need for coaling sta
TONS naval posts, extended market
fields, prestige. and enlarged commerce,
as well as a footing in the orient
worthy of our importance would have
had equal force then, and have been
more weighty by so much as the cost
of the war, the loss of life and the in
creased pension roll.
But war gave us success over Spain;
the West Indies and Philippines fell
into our hands. National pride was
aroused, and we. made a settlement OF
peace conditions which included the
sale of the Philippines with readiness.
AS MIR. Powers forcibly puts it, a
change took place in the unconscious
forces which control our action as
people, and arguments that under the
suggestions case would probably not
have moved the people at all, we now
accept and emphasize.
AS the msonographist puts it we feel
differently5no The instinct of domi-
nation slumbering in every people was
awakened by the boom Of Dewey
guns the sinking of the Merrimac, and
the planting Of the Stars and Stripes
on San Juan Hill.
How true this is every proud Ameri-
can heart knows. We did not go out
for a war of conquest. We began the
struggle honestly in the cause of hui
mainly, and we carried it to success
with faithful adhesion to that declara-
ton and the result was the most dra-
matte war of modern times. What
II in l.
ton to the retention of the Philippines,
the possession is an accomplished fact
That fact, the people accept, even many
of the anti-expansionists. TT is a case
of war concluded and consequences
begun" The policy of expansion, de-
clares Mr. Powers, has passed the stage
of dispute, it is res ajudicata.' All
the discussion in the world will not un-
do what we have done or relieve pa
triotism of the obligation of acquiesc-
ing in the result"
That is to say, we have taken Puerto
Rico, we have accepted the whole OF
the Spanish possessions in the West
Indies excepting Cuba, and that island
we hold in trust for the carrying out
of a policy to which we are bound by
rational honor, and stamped indellibly
upon the pages of solemn treaty with
a European State. We have taken thu
island of Guam and the Philippine
archipelago under similar treaty, but
with the title of Spain fully passed
over to and confirmed in US. AS Mr.
Powers puts it: Wisdom may be ret
respective, but it cannot be retro
active"
The essayist holds that the supreme
result of the late war is to be found II
a new direction of national magma
tien. rather than in new territories OF
new problems and institutions. The
retrospective period is over he argues
.and the attention and interest of the
people are turning powerfully out
ward" This is at the bottom an emo
tional change, a change of sentiments
or prejudices. Whether it will be per
manent or not will depend, as in al
such cases, upon the pressure OF en-
vironfng conditions; but for the pres
emit it is reality.
The conclusions of the essaylst arr