The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-01-07
CROKER is FOR EXPANSION
And by the Same Token He Is Not for
I6-TO-I.

| New York Jan. 6.-The Journal and Ad-
vertiser will tomorrow print the following
statement, given out tonight by Richard
Croker:
| Il believe in expansion; believe in hold
ing whatever possessions we have gained
| by annexation, purchase or war.
This policy is not only patriotic, but it
| is the only safe one to pursue. Any other
policy would show weakness son the part
of the United States and invite foreign
complications. This must be avoided,
hence our policy must be vigorous.
Jefferson was an expansionist, other
wise he would not have favored the &C
QUESTION of Louisiana, with its foreign
population, which, in Jeffersor's time, was
quite as remote as the Philippines.
In this age of steam and electricity,
distance is no argument against expansion.
We spend millions annually for missionary
work in foreign countries. Now we have
a chance to spend this money in our own
possessions and make the people of our
own lands good, law-abiding citizens, who
in time will be loyal to our constitution
and our flag Take England. for example.
The people of this little isle come pretty
near owning the universe. Are not our
people as intelligent, as powerful and as
patriotic as the English people? The
United States is the only country on earth
superior to the English. Why not Illus
trate TO the world that we are fully able
to cope with greater problems than We
| have had occasion to do in the past?
I'VE have population of eighty millions
OF people: the country teens With young
I Nd lrroi,i
not give these young men chance tn 3
velop our newly acquired possessions Aid
/ build up a country rivaling in grandeur
/ and patriotism our own United States?
Il say by all means hold on to ali that
| rghtfuEy belongs to us. If the great coun-
/ try west of the Rock mountains were flied
with wild Indians at the present moment,
/ how dong would it take US to suppress
/ them and make them respect our laws and
{ our constitution? The same thing applies
1 to the Philippines and any other country
: that may fall into our han5a by the pro
vince Of peace or war.
1T is an insult TO the American people
and 70 our flag even to suggest that We
/ abandon the peoples we have released from
. bondage or. what would be more disgrace
fu,. that we should offer to sell them TO
the highest bidder.
such proposition places the American
people in the same category with the Chi
uese, who have neither patriotism nor q
. foreign policy and are in conse Queuce
utilized as 4 door mat by the powers Of
the world.
This is TOO great a question 10 be con-
s.dered as a mere matter Of dollars and
cents. Our people want their rights pro-
( tected; they VII not figure on the cost.
Bring it down 10 local government. in
the case OF street cleaning the CRY is. We
want clean streets. regardless Of the cost
They demand them as their right. Just so
with our possessions. the people want the
properties acquired by war protocol. They
Will pay for standing army. a powerful
navy and the protection OF our flag the
world over regardless OF any monetary
consideration.
They have proved their willingness 70
sacrifice their blood for the honor OF their
country and their flag. And when the
question i brought 70 an issue they will
arise as one man and demand expansion. as
a citizens sacred right
II think che is TO l question. as outlined
in the Chicago platform. decidedly dead
issue. This was fully demons era,ea in The
last election. We did rot erbo,fv tba 1e
30 question ia our platform and as the
result Of that We elected every one. OF cur
congressman"