Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1900-09-25
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.
(From the New York Journal.)

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 nations
birth. The views which follow are mine
personally, and l write them as a private
Individual:
I believe in expansion; l believe in
holding whatever possessions we have
gained by annexation, purchase, or war.
This policy is not only patriotic, but it
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
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
tance is no argument against expansion.
We spend millions annually for mis-
sionary work in foreign countries. Now
we have chance to spend this money
in our own possessions, and make the
people of our new lands good, lawa biding
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 to
in the past, and in the future dominate
any emergency?
We have a 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.
chance to develop our newly acquired
possessions, and build up country rival
ing in grandeur and patriotism our own
United States?
1 say by all means hold on to all that
rightfully belongs to us.
If the great country west of the Rocky
Mountains was filled with wild Indians
at the present moment, how long would
it take US to suppress them and make
them respect our laws and our Consti-
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.
1t is an insult to the American peo-
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. .---r>,- -
Such a proposition places the American
people in the same category with the
Chinese. who have neither patriotism nor
a foreign policy, and are in consequence
utilized as a doormat by the powers of
the world.
This is too great a question to be con-
sidered as a mere matter of dollars and
cents. Our people want their rights pro-
tected; they will not figure on the cost.
Bring 1t down to local goyernment-in
the case of street cleaning-the cry is,
''We want clean Streets" regardless of
the cost. They demand them as their
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-
gardiess 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-
pansion as citizens sacred right!
RICHARD CROKER.
New York, Jan. 6, 1899.