New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-03-01
M'LAUR[N FOR EXPANSION.
THE FIRST DEMOCRATIC SENATOR TO
ADVOCATE THAT POLICY

ADVOCATE THAT POLICY.
Washington Feb. 2S-A feature Of the Sen
ates session to-day was the speech OF Mr.. Nc
Laurin, of South Carolina, on the Philippine
question. He is the first Democrat in the Senate
TO declare himself for expansion. He secuted
what he termed the "bugbear of Imperialism"
with which some Of his colleagues were trying
Brighten the people. declared that the question
was not one of politics. and maintained that the
acquisition Of the Philippines would be of I'M
mense advantage to this country, especially the
South. by opening to the United States the trade
of the Orient. Mr.. McLaurin spoke in part as
follows
In the discussion of this question there has
been manifested disposition TO ignore the con-
ditions by which confronted and TO pro-
ject the debate upon line OF political senti-
mentalism. This mode of discussion is not only
unpatriotiC. but is an evasion of the true issue
! This is not political question.
Mr. McLaurin strongly deprecated the position
which the Democratic party had taken In maxi
ing the Philippine question and expansion a
political issue. He pointed to the past to show
that some of the greatest Democrats who ever
lived expansionists. and to prove by their
acts and measures that If it had not been for
them the United States would not have been
the Nation 1t is to-day. He took the ground
that the Philippines are rightfully and legally
ours by the Trea-y of Paris and he maintained
that it was necessary the United States should
hold them. giving the Filipinos every oppor-
tunity TO acquire the art of government and all
the powers and rights possible in the circum-
stances He dwelt principally the great OPP
portunities for trade between America and the
nations of the Orient. He did not agree with
some of his colleagues the Democratic side
that our trade in the East was mere Pigment
| of the imagination. He quoted statistics TO
prove that the experience of the last decade con-
tradicted those who asserted that our Eastern
trade not of immense consequence.
1T is in the Orient" said he, that must
look for markets. There must be a change in
our policy. We must enter into actual compett-
ton for this trade. We must. a Nation
recognize changed conditions. and I believe that
by holding the Philippines trade in the
Orient will continue to increase until all our
surplus products for years to will find
remuncrative markets in the East"
THE SOUTH FOR EXPANSION
Mr. McLaurin then discussed the special in
terest of the South in the expansion of trade
II glad" he said. Ito believe that the
Southern people have determined to investigate
and study this question. rather than to be led
blindly by political anti-expansionists- The
Southern farmers, by the increased price received
for raw cotton last year, have become aroused.
Fealty to party and misleading informa ton, l
fear, have produced among them opposition to
perialism has been held up before the people
of the South to Brighten them, but believe II is
lmposs bic much longer thus TO misaad them"
Mr. McIaurin said, In sketchng the progress
of the South in the last twenty years, that the
blight Of negro suffrage and negro domination
had almost extinguished hope and energy and
manly effort, but, like giant released from fet-
tiers, she aroused herself at last and again
started upon an era of industrial life. Capital
has flowed into that section" he said. There is
confidence in all Southern enterprises The bit
ter memories of the past are being forgotten In
q Of oIYr
Our people feel that they are again part OF this
great country. and are left free and untram-
meled work out their own destiny. Our
Southern manufacturers have already reached
out to the markets of the Orient and discovered
their advantages. The Southern farmer needs
such markets for his raw cotton to make its pro-
duction remunerative.
MUST HOLD THE PHILIPPINES
by the acquisition Of the Philippines we hold
the key OF the Eastern situation. We need not
rely solely upon treaty rights to the
open door. but demand equal commercial
opportunities with other nations and II
sary with the vantage ground we have assert
that demand. VIII the United States throw away
the golden opportunity by giving UP the Philip
pines? | am for holding them, and believe the
Southern farmers and manufacturers will sustain
me in my position. / believe, further. that the
presence of the United States and OF it's flag
the emblem OF human freedom. progress and
Orient unnumbered blessings which in the COM
Ing years will be for their betterfnent and anne
Iteration and will conduce TO the perpetuity and
glory OF our free institutions and the commercial
supremacy OF the Nation"