The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-04-24
TWO VIEWS OF EXPANSION.

TWO VIEWS OF EXPANSION.
The American people are divided on the
subject of cNpansi n The line oc cIeav-
age is clearly marked. although ii does
not follow party lines From the time
when the first attempt was made to an
mex Hawaii there has beer a consider
able element which questioned the ad-
disability of increasing our territory be-
you'd seas. Expansionists they we're,
but expansionists who believed in the
theory Of national territorial contiguity
They contcnded that a republic embrace
mg different races in different climes
would fail Icy reason Of insurmountable
natural obstacles. To attempt to govern
territory inhabited by people of a race,
foreign to our civilization, with no
knowledge of our institutions. would be
en- experiment that would tax the inge-
nuity of the republic to the utmost. The
dominent race might, by show of phys
tcal force, maintain order and develop
the newly acquired territory and at the
same time materially advance the civiIi
cation of the native inhabitants. This
vas the status of the question of ex-
p2nsion when the Hawaiian islands
were admitted to the Union as territory
A majority of the people with President
Harrison at their head thought that such
step would be best for both the Amer
1can people and the natives Of the Ha-
Waiian islands. This was expansion be-
vond seas, bat within the constitution.
When the Spanish war developed the
lust for territory the ultra expansionists.
acknowledging the weight Of the argu-
ments of the original anti-expansionists.
conceived the plan Of acquiring territory
and governing it without the constttu-
ton, thus avoiding the dangers of a poly
glot republic. To do this tbs repupilc
must lay it's a4,uirnt robe aside and take
On the purple trappings of imperialism.
L hat is. the constitution must stop with
our shores. but the arm of the govern
ment might reach out to anv part OF the
globe and govern by a colonial system.
the acquired territory for the benefit of
the inhabitants of the republic. The crv
or for the sake of humanity" with
which the war with Spain was begun. was
superseded by the cry of for the sake
OF American trade" The very argu-
ments employed by the original anti-ex-
pansionists IN the Hawaiian case were
used by the advocates Of this system
OF Republican imperialism, for the DIR.
pose of inStitnffpor
system of commercial and Industrial
subjugation.
Inc u l o b is Of the opinion that a
large majority of the American peonle.
irrespective Of political bias. are today
eXpansionists, but they demand that fla
expansion shall be within the constitu-
ton They believe that the United
states shopld keep the Philippines and
Porto Rico, they believe that the best
interests of both Cuba and the United
States demand the annexation of Cuba
but they believe that these Islands should
be governed as states and te. ritories nm
der the constitution int. ad of as COL
Onies by a clique of political and com
mercial adventurers for the purpose Of
exploitation.
Expansion is an accepted fact by thu
whole country, the question is now one
OF government-of Imperialism If Won
wish The late ex-President Harrison
an original expansionist, and Grover
Cleveland, an original anti-expansionist.
were a unit In their opposition to the
theory Of imperialism The advocates
of colonial policy-those who desire ex-
pansiOn for the benefit Of the industries
of this countrywide want to open the
markets of the new possessions to Ameri-
can products and keep out the island
products by means of our old tariff wall
would now oppose expansion which takes
with it the guarantees of the constitu-
ton. With them the whole matter is
one of Collars. and cents. With this band
of political and commercial adventures
is the present administration and ma
jortty of the Republican congress.
There are few senator's, such as Hoar
and Beveridge, who would favor the omen
door for our new possessions. but thew
are in a small minority.
The material interests of this country
demand prey-a people upon whom our
trade can be forced without any fear
of retaliation. The annexation of C,,ba
would be opposed by the very arch ex-
pansionists They want Cuba and
Porto Rico and the Philippines but thew
want them for purposes of their own
They want them, not for the purpose of
comforting upon them the blessings of
civilization-not for mutual benefits. but
as the eagle wants the lamb Here ara
the two views of expansion This is the
line that separates the expansionist
from the inlpcrialist By imperialist. we
mean, not the crank who processes to
believe that we will have an emperor In
the presidential chair within quarter
of century, but the man who advo-
Gates the establishment of a colonial
system outside and beyond the constitu-
ton OF the republic and subject to q