Willmar tribune., 1900-11-28
ExPAnSlo i .FEELERS.

s a = Z 4
While the people will not endorse
The holding Ct colonies under an ar
bitrary military despotism, It Is, hove
the above local self government with
would meet with quite general approv-|
pines would ce1 tainly enjoy more |
loose and left to drift and SHIFT for
themselves. If the administration pur
sues such q liberal policy toward the
Philippines the people will no doubt
uphold it. They might even be willing
under such q policy to acquire other
additional colonies. II China is to be
dismembered We will probably got some
sort Of share, at least . harbor.
The Spanish-American republics are
in mortal dread lest we have covetous
designs on their little bailiwicks. It
Is due to this feeling that Mexico has
just voted large sums to improve her
army and navy. Our leading papers
of the administration type are fire.
quently, dropping hints that look sus-
piciously like feelers. Is the admin
istration' contemplating further
conquests? OF course, by far
the greater bulk of the South
American trade is at present in
the hands of the European nations,
and they wouldn't t for moment think
of allowing us to deprive them of all
of it, but they would probably be more
than glad to agree to a partition and
let US have the lions share at that,
say the entire western part, the plat
eaus of the Andes, with their enor-
nous mineral wealth and their beauti-
full climate. - ~
According to latest Indications Me-
Kinley is down with his ears to the
ground trying to catch the still small
voice of 'duty and destiny. ST. Paul
Globe.
Three years ago an American editor
who would have had the brazen effront-
cry to write so cody about conquest
would have been liable to have been
brought before .lunacy commission.
The idea of forcible |annexation has
been so utterly repugnant to American
sense Of right and justice that itwould
have seemed impossible that such a
great change in sentiment could take
place in three short years. Even the
president denounced it as terminal
aggression. That was the sober judg-
ment of the nation, unblinded by the
fierce glare of military glory. But
war came and woke the baser passions
of a portion of our people. The cor
poration press obeyed the commands
of it's masters and urged the retention
of the Philippines on philanthropic
grounds. They did not yet dare to
advocate the theory of conquest for
gains. The republican press had to
support it because it dared not oppose
the president, for fear of furnishing
ammunition to the democrats. Thus
the people were misled and now our
nation stands so committed to the the.
ory of forcible annexation that there
appears nothing improbable about the
idea of our going into ''cahoots" with
the European powers to rob the South
Americans of the liberty this nation
has been guaranteeing them for three
quarters OF a century.
The Globe says the administration
organs are throwing out hints to act
as feelers. To those COZ versant with
the position of the Globe it seems as
ii the man who controls it has nsed it
to throw out stronger feeler than
the openly avowed administration Or
| gans would dare use. If it causes too
much adverse criticism the expansion
lists can disavow it because it has no
authority to speak for the administra-
tion.. On the other hand, should it be
received without much opposition the
organs will undoubtedly take up the
discussion and prove that it is our
duty to take South America in order
to give it's people a stable form of
government. The leaven of imperial
ism is at work.