The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1900-09-21
BOSS CROKER
Warmly Supported Expansion
in the New York Journal.
Views Of the Tammany Leader-"An
Insult to Suggest that We Aban.
don the Peoples Rescued
from Bondage.
(rrom the New York JournalO


Every man, in my opinion, should ex-
press himself clearly on the great ques-
ton of the day. That question is ma
tional expansion. which has been the
handspring of this nation and the policy
Of the Democracy since the nation S
birth. The views which follow are mine
personally, and write them as private
individual:
l believe In expansion; l believe IN
holding whatever possessions we nave
gained by annexation, purchase, or war.
This policy Is not only patriotic, but 1t
Is the only safe one to pursue. ANY
other policy would show weakness on the
part Of the United States and invite for
eign complications. This must be avoid
cd, hence our policy must be vigorous.
Every patriotic American, and every
Democrat in particular, should favor ex-
pansion.
jefferson was an expansionist, other
wise he would not have favored the nc
QUESTION of Louisiana, with its foreign
population, which in JeffersOn's time was
quite as remote as the Philippines. In
this age of steam and electricity, DIS
lance is no argument against expansion.
We spend millions annually for mis-
sionary 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-abidine
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 uni
verse. Are not our people rs intelligent
as powerful and as patriotic as the Eng
lsh people? The United States is the
only country on earth superior to the
English. Why not illustrate to the world
that we are fully able to cope with great
err problems than we have had occasion to
in the past. and in the future dominate
any emergency?
We have population of eighty mill
ions of people; the country teens with
young men full of life, hope and ambi
ton. Why not give these young men a
chance to develop our newly acquired
possessions, and build up country rival
| ing in grandeur and patriotism our owl
United States?
/ say by all means hold on to all thai
| rightfully belongs to us.
| If the great country west of the Rocky
Mountains was filed with wild Indians
at the present moment, how long would
it take us to suppress them and make
| them respect our laws and our Constr
tuition? The same thing applies to the
Philippines and any other country that
may fall into our hands by the province
Of peace or war.
t. g, IN ba ANN
pie and to our flag even to suggest that
we abandon the peoples we have released
from bondage, or, what would be more
disgraceful, that we should offer to sell
| them to the highest bidder.
Such proposition places the American
| people in the same category with the
Chinese. who have neither patriotism mol
foreign policy. and are in consequence
utilized as a doormat by the powers Of
| the world.
| This is too great question to be con-
sidered as mere matter of dollars and
cents. Our people want their rights pro-
tected; they will not figure on the cost
Bring it down to local governmental
the case of street cleaning-the cry is,
1--WE want clean Streets" regardless OF
the cost. Iney demand them rs tnelr
right. Just so with our possessions
the people want the properties acquired
by war protected. They will pay for a
standing army, a powerful navy, and the
protection of our flag the world over re-
CARELESS of any monetary consideration
They have proved their willingness to
sacrifice their blood for the honor of
their country and their flag! and when
the question is brought to an issue they
will arise as one man and demand ex-
mansion as a citizens sacred right!
RICHARD CROKER.
New York, Jan. @, 1899.