The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1899-08-24
Expansion Becoming Popular

it gains followers. Mduy VI IAAOSC
who, when the question was first
raised, gave it only vigorous OPPOSE
ton, have gradually retreated from
their position until they are at the
present moment out and out expan-
sionists. Notable among these con-
verts is the Harper's Weekly. When
the question was new there was no
paper more bitterly opposed to the ad-
ministration and its expansion policy
than the Weekly. It fought the pro-
ieot tooth and nail All who were
supporting the President at the time
took the Weekly seriously and gave It
credit for being true to it's convictions,
as it no doubt was. But now the
Weekly has made a radical change IN
it's policy. From an anti-expansionist
of the strictest kind it has become an
expansionist devoted to the policy OF
the administration and in complete
sympathy with the President. Now
that the paper has made the change
there will no doubt be tendency to
attribute to it some other cause than an
honest change of conviction by those
who still cling with hopeless tenacity
to the opposition. But those who have
sided with the administration from the
beginning, as they, ascribed only con-
scientious reasons to the Weekly in it's
first position, now recognize it's change
of heart with unfeigned. pleasure, and
regard it as another indication of the
right and potency of the expansion
policy
In the issue OF week ago the Weekly,
in commenting upon the policy of the
administration and the work of Gen
era1 Otis in the Philippines, upho1ds
the President in every particular.
The article concludes with the follow
ing words:
''The truth is that the people are
behind the Presidents determination
to conquer the instruction and the
anti-imperia1ist who favors surrender
is not likely to meet with much SYM
pathy or to advance his cause"
there is an editorial commenting upon
the views of Mr.. Mckinley, which
takes the matter of American control
of the Philippines for granted, and
suggests that they ought to remain
under military control until Congress
provides a form of government which
shall include colonial service resting
on the merit system. 1t supports it's
suggestion with arguments which at
the same time Justify it's change of
thought and give evidence of the wis
the government. They are as follows:
american military rule in the islands
from which we have driven Spain, and
in which peace prevails, has turned out
to be the best rule which these long
suffering provinces of Spain have ever
had. Cuba, for example, has never
known quite so much political happi-
ness as it is now enjoying. The main
point is that the good which has been
accomplished is the work of honest
and efficient men, of trained men, who
have risen to general officers in the
army" These statements are truths,
and while they point to the sagacity of
the Wee1x1y's suggestion relative to a
merit service, they further serve to
They indicate that conditions in Cuba
land the same is true of Puerto Rico)
have been wonderfully ameiorated by
the interposition of American inf1u-
ence. The people of these islands are
enjoying a greater freedom and a
greater prosperity, even under our
military supervision, than they have
ever before known. These populations
are not only contented, they are happy.
The utilization of their great resources
has contributed not only to their own
plenty and contentment. but it has
added to the wealth and prosperity of
the world. The operation of American
ideas and methods in Cuba and Puerto
Rico has been rep1ete with splendid
results. When the reign of ignorance
and despotism shall have been broken
IN the Philippines the same results will
be evident there. 1t is the contemp1a-
ton of these facts that has brought the
Weekly to see the error of those views
which in theory looked to it 50 reason
able. Every day that passes proves
again the great good to all concerned
involved in the administration policy.
Strength of the Army