The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1901-10-25
NUMBER Sc.

otner Independent sovereignty, and
that among our powers is the power
to acquire, hold and govern territory
as congress shall prescribe, without
making it an integral part of the Unit
ed States.
This is forcibly illustrated by our
recent experience.
When the Spanish-American war
commenced, we had an important
commerce in the far east, and we
had naval squadron there to protect
it. But in that part of the globe there
was no harbor or station of our own
where our ships could remain, in time
of.war, to protect our interests, either
on the land or on the water. Within
"a hours after the declaration of war,
international law closed all the ports
of that part of the globe against US.
The nearest American station was San
Francisco; and, so far as the protec-
tion of our commerce was concerned,
our navy might as well have been in
the moon as there.
But instead of going home to do
nothing, Dewey went to Manila and
| captured just what we wanted and
what we shall continue to need more
| and more as time passes. Are we to
| hold it and govern it, or are We to pro-
| fess lack of power and abandon it, and
| when another war comes be again
where the last overlook us? If SO, we
| may find ourselves at war next time
| with power that has not islands or
| harbors in the Orient that we can cap
| ture. In that event We would have to
| retire on San Francisco or Hawaii
| with our navy and thus leave our COM
mercial interests in that part of the
world unprotected. The trought of
| such humiliation should be enough to
vindicate all we have done. Except
only the Democratic party. nobody de-
MES our power-with everybody else
1t is only question of policy; and
what policy teaches, is plain to every
student of public affairs.
These islands are not only Just
what we needed, but they have come
to us at a most opportune time.
NEW MARKETS.
The greatest business problem with
| which American craftsmanship now
has to deal is that of finding markets
for our rapidly increasing surplus pro-
| ducts, and the greatest field for the
development of new markets is in the
Orient Our trade there is growing by
leaps and bounds. If we are wise, we
can increase 1t almost indefinitely;
but as it grows, the necessity increas-
es to maintain the prestige of our po-
sition and all the advantages upon
which it depends.
The value of the Philippines does
not depend on their resources, or on
the amount of their trade. any more
than the value of an isthmian canal
will depend upon the amount of tolls
that can be collected.
Great national and international en-
terprises and movements are not to be
measured by dollars and cents. We
do not expect to ever collect one dollar
of profit IN money from either Porto
Rico or Hawaii; and yet, their value
to us is beyond calculation. The oae
| is essential to the command of the
Caribbean sea, and The other is the out
post that protects our Pacific coast.
What these islands are to us here
on this side of the globe, the Philip
pines are to us yonder on the other
side That is not all. Whether we
like it or not, we have become world
power and must help do the work Of
the world. We can not conf1ne our
selves to this continent, and we should
not if we could. We are destined to
come and go to and fro throughout the
earth. Let us realize and appreciate
what we are. and are to be.
This is the golden age of the repub-
lie. Our exceptional blessings Of
; strength and wealth and honor have
not been gwen to us for luxurious en-
joyrens, bit f. conscientious use in
the great fields OF eFFeFtHhst7 that Ae
About us.
The world is growing better, but
millions yet await ia darkness the
|, light and liberty We only can sivc.
Our good name, Ctr honor. our self.re-
spect, our self-interest. and also our
back but to so forward. The way to
60 forward is to re-elect
Il GOVERNOR NASH.
In every sense he personally merits
the honor. He was gallant soldier
for the Union. He has been a stead
| fast upholder of the doctrines and pol
icies under which our national great
ness has been developed. He has CIV
: en- the state a clean and efficient ad-
ministration. He is the representative
in this contest of the policies of Presi-
dent Mckinley. His reelection will
: be the best return blow he can give
!. to the cowardly crime of anarchy. It
q will strengthen the arm and gladden.
the heart of that splendid American
b upon whom the mantle of Mckinley
e has fallen; and this we should gladly
do. Theodore Roosevelt is singularly
well-equipped for his great Office. He
l is broad-minded. He is progressive
He is able. He is experienced. He Is
E patriotic. He has spotless name
r and his integrity is irreproachable. He
D has unselfishly consecrated himself to
e his work. He follows in the footsteps
: of Mckinley. He is his worthy sue
+ cessor. He is executing his policies.
!, Under his guidance no harm will come
o to our country. The whole American
people owe him their support, their
e confidence and their encouragement.
:? But above all other states Ohio, the
: home and the last resting place of Nc
q Kinley, should approve his work and
honor his memory by endorsing his
r successor Such verdict in Novem-
ber will quicken the Spirit of Ameri-
y canism and strengthen the courage Of