The age-herald., 1900-06-24
HANNiS TAYLOR
 BEFORE THE ALUMNI
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 can be sold only in the markets of the United States.
 At the beginning of Cuba's last war with Spain her total exports amounted to about s1oO, O,OOO at least four-fifths of which represented the proceeds of the sugar crop the remainder representing tobacco and other miscellaneous items. Years ago the beet industry drove Cuban sugar from every market in Europe. The result is that the one remaining market in which Gu ba can new sell the one crop without which she cannot prosper is that offered by the United States. In that way the material interests of Cuba must ever continue Tn perperual jeopardy long as she bears such political relations to us as Will ex- pose her to prohibitive tariff legislation from the Congress of the United States The day that such a nation as 1 nave Tn mind is accomplished the value of every sugar plantation in Cuba will increase fourfold, and everything else in proportion Before that blessed consummation can be reached, however, two obstacles must be removed. First the people must remove from power the Republican party, the guardian of trusts and monopolies that de- mand the maintenance for their benefit against all of our dependencies, of such an imperialistic tariff as was originally pro- posed in the case of Porto Rico. Only the Democratic party see its way to of fer an open door to Cuban products in the ports of the United States. Only for that party will it be possible to say to Cuba, your products may enter the port of New York under conditions no more onerous than those imposed upon the products of California.
 "The time has come when the autocratic and irritating domination of the major gen. erals should be superseded by territorial civil regime managed by the consolidating hands of diplomats and statesmen. These Vtally important results could soon be at- tained, if the imperialistic Republican sys- tenn now perverting our diplomacy could be superseded by the liberty-loving methods of Jeffersonian Democracy.
 t'The moment that party, unblinded by imperialistic illusions, is entrusted with the management of our foreign affairs, an hon. orable and expedient method may be found through which we may eXtricate ourselves, without offence to the national honor, from the unfortunate predicament in which we now ind ourselves in the Philippines.
 ''The methods employed by the European nations in the recent partition of Africa among themselves added a new chapter to International law which, at this moment, is full of useful instruction for us. AS a gen. eral rule the first acquisition made by European power in that quarter is in the form of a settlement on the ocast which is fliuG lIe DdSlS Ol d Cidlul lO d Wlue area behind it, inhabited by savage peoples oyer whom it would be expensive and inconve- nient to extend any form of positive con- tro1. In order to escape that difficulty, and at the same time to pre-empt a wide do- main for future settlement, European gov ernments interested in Africa have entered into series of treaties defining spheres of infiuence,' an indefinite term used to de- scribe a given area which a single nation is entitled to settle and dominate. In that way, as a great pubicist has recently ex- pressed it, No power Is taken out of the hands of the tribal chiefs; no definite re- sponsibility consequently Is incurred. For eigners enter the country with knowledge of these circumstances, and therefore to great extent at their peril'
 European nations are too wise to enter upon the ridiculous undertaking of subdu- ing through great expenditures of blood and treasure vast areas, inhabited by sav- age or semi-savage peoples, for whose gov ernment they are not prepared to be re- sponsible. If we were only wise enough to adopt this simple expedient, now fully sanctioned by European usage, we would first declare the entire Philippine archi- pelago within our sphere of influence and then restrict our actual occupation to Ma nila, and such other points as we may find eXpedient to hold for strategic and trade purposes. In that way our future interests in the Pacific would be carefully guarded, while our responsibilities would be confined within very narrow limits. There would be no taking down of the flag: simply re- fusal to assume responsibilities for con- quest and government which existing con ditions do not justify.
 "All of these practical and wholesome re- suits would soon be brought about, if there could only be g return from over-ambitious methods to that simple and sincere spirit in the conduct of our public affairs which Jefferson inaugurated when he entered the White House. We must advance by falling back upon these earlier and purer ideals of liberty under law which guided the fathers when they entered upon their fate full experiment. They foresaw everything they provided for everything. We need on- Iy steer our course by the chart they have prepared for us. And when we are trou- bled and in doubt we may still have the wise counsel of the Sage of Monticello.
 "Who has ever visited the cemetery of Pere la Chaise at Paris without looking with wonder and admra ton at the tomb of the dead philosopher crowned by a sar- cophagus whose lid is lifted by a marble hand thrusting forth scroll as a reminder of the fact that recorded thoughts are im- mortal. The better part of our great found- CT has lived after him in the deathless mes sage he has transmitted to posterity. Let us heed his precepts and follow his exam- ple"