Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1900-10-22
PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN
OF 1900.

by F. p. Ufford of Barton and read at
the recent reunion of Go. D. 9Th VT,
Vols. in NewIoit. Published by
request.
On the 10. of February 1898 the
| Spaniards Dlew up the 'Maine." All
the crimes of Spain, all the wrongs of
Cuba had not aroused the Indignation
single insult to the American flag.
The war spirit kindled by the incident
was used to justify war Of conquest
declared in the ns me of humanity.
| The original purpose Of the admins
tration was accomplished by the ces-
sion Of Cuba and Puerto Bico and the
purchase of the Philippine Islands.
In the campaign of 1896 our foreign
policy was not in issue. President
Mckinley was then elected as the
| champion of sound money. For more
! than a generation the sufferings of
the Cuban people had been calling for
redress but their distresses found
| little sympathy in the heart of the
| American voter. The administration
| seized the opportunity which was
presented by the explosion of the
| sMaineo in the harbor of Havana to
| interfere with Spanish control in Cuba
| in a manner wholly unwarranted by
| international law The acquisition of
| territory in the far east concluded by
| the treaty Of Paris marks departure
I'll. 80
office. Hitherto all newly acq uired
territory except Alaska has been con-
| tiguous to the old. The development
| of our domain from the Atlantic to
the P acific was natural process,
fated from the day when England
first gained a foothold on the eastern
coast. The annexation of Canada
would have been bold step in expan-
sion, but not SO bold as that which is
now contemplated, and more consist
emit with our traditions. The question
is now raised whether the American
people are prepared to ratify the rad
ical and unauthoriz ed policy which
President McKi nley and his party
have adopted.
The administration and its support
ers insist that the time had come for
the United States to take her place
among the nations as an imperial
power. The situation in Cuba de-
manded decisive action: Intervention
accomplished a righteous purpose:
the terms Of the peace treaty were
the inevitable outcome of our success,
and though opinions differ as to the
wisdom of the course pursued, the
step has been ia en- and it is too late
to retreat. Nor is there any occasion
10 retreat. There are substantial ad
vantages to be had by retaining these
outlying possessions. They are rich
in natural resources, they produce
many things which we cannot pro
duce: they will now exchange their
products for American manufactures
in preference to those of any other
nation. They will also afford an out
let for our OVERT owing population
and promising field for the invest
ment of American capt. al. In g word
they are financial and commercial
bonanza not to be despised. They /
will also add to the power and dignity
Of the United States with other ma
tions, giving her a standing abroad |
which she conld never attain by re-
naming i'll her hitherto isolated posi- /
ton. We owe duty to humanity to
illustrate the benefcence of republi-
1tr,f1 a.
this: we owe duty to those native /
peoples to show them the ways of |
Christian civilization and to protect |
them from foreign oppression and in
ternal disorder. To abandon them /
now would be to tnrow away an adj |
vantage and to shirk a responsibility. |
Statesmen of a year, with the temper
ament of Henry Cabot Lodge, have
alluring visions of America marching
abroad with the banner of progress,
competing with mother England in
leading the ben1ghted inhabitants of |
distant lands in the paths of civiliza-
ton, while under the fostering inf1u-
ence of this imperial sway they see,
at home, our farming and manufac-
turing industries increase, our trade
expand and the wealth and power of
imperial republic the glory of it's citi-
zens and the admiration Of all foreign |
states. What part political ambition
and the almighty dollar play in their
rosy dreams these statesmen do not
confess.
1t is not the purpose of this address
to take sides on this question, but to
suggest that there are emphatically