The sun., 1900-09-25
BOSS CROKER
Warmly Supported Expansion
in the New York Journal.
Views Of the Tammany Leader-"An
Insult to Suggest that We AbaH-
don the Peoples Rescued
from Bondage.
(From the New York Journal.)

(From the New York JournalD
Every man. in my opinion, should ex-
press himself clearly on the great quese
tion of the day. That question is ma
tiona expansion, which has been the
handspring of this nation and the policy
of the Democracy since the nations
birth. The views which follow are mine
personally, and | write them as private
individual:
/ believe in expansion; l believe Ill
holding whatever possessions we have
gained by annexation. purchase, or war.
This policy is not only patriotic, but it
is the only safe one 20 pursue. Any
other policy would show weakness onsthe
part of the United States and invite for
eign complications This must be avoid
ed, 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 ac-
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
tancc 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-abiding
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 as intelligent
as powerful and as patriotic as the Eng
lish 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
er problems than we have had occasion tC
in the past. and i'll the future dominate
any emergency?
We have population of eighty mill
ions Of people; the country teens witt
young men full of life, hope and amb
tion. Why not give these young men /
chance to develop our newly acquired
possessions, and build up country rival
ing in grandeur and patriotism our Owl
United States?
l say by all means hold on to all thai
rightfully belongs to us.
If the great country west of the Rock,
Mountains was filled with wild Indian,
at the present moment, how long Woult
it take us to suppress them and max,
them respect our laws and our Consti
tuition? The same thing applies to tn,
Philippines and any other country tina
may fall into our hands by the provinc,
OF peace or war.
1t is an insult to the American peo
pie and to our flag even to suggest tina
we abandon the peoples we have released
from bondage, or, what would be mor'
disgraceful, that we should offer to sci
them to the highest bidder.
Such proposition places the American
people i'll the same category with thu
Chinese, who have neither patriotism no
n foreign policy, and are in consequence
utilized as a doormat by the powers o
the world.
This is too great question to be con
sidered as a mere matter of dollars AM
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
I'VE want clean Streets" regardless o
. the cost. They demand them as thei
right. Just so with our possessions
| the people want the properties acquires
. by war protected. They will pay for
standing army, a powerful navy, and tn
protection of our flag the world over re
gardless of any monetary consideration
. They have proved their willingness t
1 sacrifice their blood for the honor o
, their country and their flag! and whe
the question is brought to an issue the
will arise as one man and demand eS
I pansion as u citizens sacred right!
! RICHARD CROKER.
New York, Jan. 6, 1899.