The Worcester spy., 1899-01-07
CROKER.
Tannmany Leader Be-
lieves in
EXPANSION POLICY,
He Also Thinks Silver is a
Dead Issue.

New York, Jan. 6.-The Journal and
Advertiser will tomorrow print the fol-
lowing statement given out tonight by
Richard Croker:
Il believe in expansion; l believe in
holding whatever possessions we have
gained by annexation, purchase r war.
This policy is not only patriotic, hut
1t is the only safe one to pursue Any
other policy would show weakness on
the part of the United States and in
vite foreign complications. This must
be avoided, hence our policy must be
vigorous.
Jefferson was an expansionist, 9TH
erwise he would not have favored the
acquisition Of Louisiana, with its for
eign population, which in Jeffersonls
time was quite as remote as the Phil
ippines. In this age of steam and elec-
tricity, distance is no argument
against expansion.
I'VE 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 new lands
good, law abiding citizens, who in time
viii be loyal to our constitution and
our flag. Take England, for example.
| the people Of that little isle comes pref
ty 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 iIlnGtra re- n the yUAr11 that ~.
fully able to cope with greater prob
lens than we have had occasion to in
the past, and in the future dominate
any emergency"
we have population of S0Htnihions
Of people; the country teens with
young men full of life, hope and aHnbi-
tion. Why not give these young men
a chance to develop our newly acquired
possessions and build up a country
rivaling in grandeur and patriotism
our own United States?
II say by all means hold on to ali
that rightfully belongs to us. If the
great county west of the Rocky noun
| tains was filed with wild Indians al
the present moment, how long would II
take us to suppress them and makE
them respect our laws and our educa,
ton? The same thing applies to the
Philippines and any other country thai
| MAY Idll lnIO our RanQS Dy Cne prov
| ince of peace or war.
cit is an insult to the American peo.
pie and to our flag even to suggest that
we abandon the peoples we have re-
leased from bondage, or what would
would be more disgraceful. that we
should offer to sell them to the highest
bidder. Such a proposition places the
American people in the same category
with the Chinese, who have neither pa
triotism nor foreign policy, and are
in consequence utilized as a door mat
by the powers of the world.
| "This is too great a question to be
considered as mere matter of dollars
and cents. Our people want theil
rights protected; they will not figure
on the cost. Bring it down to loca
government in the case of street
cleaning The cry is We want clear
Streets regardless of the cost. They
demand them as their right. Just Sc
with our possessions. The people want
the properties acquired by war pro.
tected. They will pay for a standing
army, powerful navy and the pro
lection of our flag the world over, re-
| gardless Of any momenrary considera
ton. They have proved their willing
ness to sacrifice their blood for the
honor of their country and their flag
And when the question is brought t
an issue they will arise as one man anC
demand expansion as a citizens sacret
right.
II think the 16 to 1 question, as out
lined in the Chicago platform, de
cidedl JF1ead issue. This was fully dem
onstrated in the last election. We diC
not embody the 16 to 1 question In oul
PLATFORM and the result is that W.
elected every one of our congress
| men,"