New-York tribune., 1900-03-04
we hiled UP our Senate with twelve or fourteen
more senators. representing conditions incom-
parably worse2

parably worse2
is 1t said this danger is imaginary? At this
iioileht some of the purest and patriotic
men IN Massachusetts, along with a great many
OF the very worst in the whole country are
Vehemently declaring that our new possessions
are already part Of the United States that
IN spite OF the treaty which reserved the ques-
uon OF citizenship and political status for Con
gress, their people already citizens of the
United States and that no part Of the United
states can be arbitrarily and permanently ex-
cluded from Statehood
The immediate contention, to be sure, is only
about Puerto Rico, and 1t is only a very little
island. But who believes he can stop the ava
lanche? What wise man at least will take the
risk Of starting It? Who imag gines that we can
take In Puerto Rico and keep out nearer islands
when they come? Powerful elements are already
pushing Cuba. Practically everybody recognizes
now that we must retain control OF Cuba's for
eign relations. But beyond that the same in
huences that came so near hurrying into
recognition Of the Cuban Republic and the
Cuban debt are sure that Cuba will very
shortly be "Americanized" (that is, overrun
with American speculators) that it cannot be
denied admission-that in fact It will be as
American Florida! And, ofter Cuba, the
deluge! Who fancies that could then keep
Santo Domingo and Hayti out; any West
India island that applied; or friends, the
Kanakas? Or who fancies that after the Daser
sort have once tasted blood in the form of such
rotten borough States, and have learned to form
their larger combinations with them shall
still be able to admit a matter of right part
Of the territory eXacted from Spain, and yet
deny admission a matter Of right to the rest?
The Nation has lately been renewing its af-
fectionate memories of q who died in his
effort TO hold on, with without their consent,
@ he haV
but who never dreamed of casting a dragnet
over the worlds arChipelagoes for more. Do We
remember his birthday and forget his words?
This Government (meaning that under the Con-
stitution ordained for the United States Of
Americd,') this Government cannot permanently
endure, half slave, half free" Who disputes II
now? Well. then, It endure half civilized
and enlightened. half barbarous and pagan
half white. half black. brown. yellow and mixed:
half northern and western, half tropical and
Oriental; one half homogeneous Continent the
other half in myriads of islands, scattered half
way around the globe, but all eager TO partici-
pate in ruling this Continent which our fathers
redeemed from barbarsm and subdued to the
uses of civilized man?
I will not insult your intelligence or your
patriotism by imagining it possible that in view
OF such considerations you
CLAMOR THAT could consent to the mad
NEED NOT mans policy Of taking these
DISTURB. islands control into full
partnership with the States
Of this Union. Nor need you be much disturbed
by the interested outcrtes to the injustice you
do by refusing to admit them.
When it is said you are denying the natural
rights Mr.. Jefferson proclaimed. you can answer
that you are giving these people IN their distant
islands, the Identical form of government Mr..
Jefferson himself gave TO the territories on this
continent which he bought. When 81 Is said you
denying our own cardinal doctrine Of self
government. you can point TO the arrangements
for establishing every particle OF seif-govern-
ment with which these widely different tribes
can be safely trusted. consistently with your
sponsibiity for the preservation Of order and the
protection Of life and property In that archi
pelago: and the pledge of more, the moment they
are found capable OF It. When you asked.
a leading champion asked the other night at
Philadelphia. Does your liberation of one people
give you the right to subtugate another" you
him: NO. nor TO allow and aid
Aguinaldo to subjugate them either. you pro-
posed" When the idle bubble that after
Dewey's victory Spain had no sovereignty to
cede is repeated, It may be asked why acknowl-
edge then that she did cede 1t in Cuba and
Puerto Rico, and deny that she could cede It in
the Philippines? Finally. when they tell you in
mock heroics appropriated from the great days
of the anti-sleVery struggle for the cause now
OF a pinchbeck Washington. that results OF
the irrevocable past two years settled. that
not the title to possessions is
settled, and never will be until It is settled
cording to their notions. you answer that
then the title to Massachusetts, is not settled,
nor the title to a square mile of land in most
Of the States from ocean TO ocean. Over prac-
tically none Of it did assume sovereignty by
the consent OF the inhabitants.
Quite possibly these controversies may
barrass the Government and threaten the secu-
rity Of the party in power
WHERE IS YOUR New and weighty respon-
REAL INTEREST? sibilities often do that
But is 1t to the interest
of the sincere and patriotic among the dis
contented to produce either result? The
thing is that party in power in this
country viii dare abandon these posses
sions. That being SO, do those Of you who
gret it, prefer to lose all influence over the
outcome? While you repining what is
beyond recall events moving on. If you
do not help shape them. others. without your
high principle and purity of motive, may. Can
you wonder If, while you are harassing the Ad-
mnistration with impracticable demands for
abandonment OF territory which the American
people Will not let CO. less unselfsh influences
busy presenting candidates for all the offices
in its organization? II the friends of a proper
Civil Service persist In chasing the ignis
fatuus Of persuading Americans throw
away territory while the politicians busy
crowding their favorItes into the territorial
Offices who will feel free from self-reproach at
the results? Grant that the situation is bad.
Can there be a doubt of the duty TO make the
best of it? Do you ask how? BY being an
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