The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-04-28
OUR EXPANSION POLICY.
The Point of Least Resistance of the Monroe
Doctrine,

To Editor:-The relative Importance
of the Monroe Doctrine, and the tariff
has been revised. 1t would be a hopeless
task to defend army and navy multiple
cation by an appeal to the tariff. There
is no smell of fresh blood to this device
of the national money-makers. McKin-
ley demonstrated to his own satisfaction,
that colonial expansion was q sort of
university extension of our prosperity.
Western Democrats do not believe that
hiGh-priced prosperity can be successfully
grated on a cheap country. The hand
some trust blanket, which it is intended
to spread out over the earth, as the wa
ters cover the sea contains all the traf-
tc will bear.
Some thing formidable and actual
must exist to furnish a valid excuse for
the projected increase of our fighting
strength. Those who advise haste regard
less of cost, speak by the card. The sill
Yer trumpet gives forth no uncertain
sound, but where is the grindstone on
which they have sharpened their conclu-
sions, and affixed bayonets afterwards?
Our nation is committed to majority
rule. The number OF decent law-abiding
citizens is greater now than ever. What
has persuaded the other world powers
that Yankee constitutional government
is a menace to them? Expansion for us
means contraction for them. Their re-
ply to our policy of discounting their
brains and pOcket-books is the threat to
move on our works at once.
Colonial expansion has cultivated am
bition at home, and domesticated a lying
spirit abroad. 1t says to the foreigner,
that the Yankee nation has perjured it
self. Just when the Old World was ready
to say: almost thou persuadest me to
believe in free government" our old
fashioned principle of attending strictly
to our own business was pulled up by
the roots. In return we get the white
mans burden. The North American does
not enjoy being made the pack horse for
humanity. He believes in the essential
morality and justice of the scriptural
injunction: eff any man will not work
neither shall he eat Defense of colonies
of ~wcaklings is a fearful drain on good
nature and patriotism.
What do the common people of the
United States get from the Philippines?
Smallpox and famine, mayhap, but home
seekers find no opportunities. The tropi-
cal sun burns out the American marrow
and causes degeneration. Preservation
in the brine of charity goes against the
grain. Our experience with the Indian
and negro teaches us what to expect for
a century.
It was Zola who said on one occasion,
that he sometimes went into his study
feeling as if it would be impossible to
take up his pen, but when he would drive
himself to work he conquered. Spring
fever is eternal in the tropics. Instead
of pushing toward the front by manifest
~r +ho 49,
which Abigail Adams moralizes, the de-
sh1eratim is how little can be done, and
body and soul still kept together. The
Republican party cannot re-arrange the
order of Divine Providence. Subsidies tc
half-baked colonies are not we'll bestowed
when we have a continent at home to de-
velop- Home made expansion will set
tie some of our Indigenous questions.
Tariff revision and q redistribution OF
our surplus population are needed public
improvements. The trusts, rather thar
face hostile public opinion in the United
States, are moving heaven and earth tc
bring on a collision between the Ole
World and the New World. Commercial
supremacy for US in the Orient is only
a pipe dream. Japan is liable to per
petuate a melo-dramatic criminal offense
similar to the historical Instance where
~ hoLIdhS SlOle the SABINE women. AT
bitration was resorted to, and both sides
found out that the bargain was a fail
one.
Western Europe must expand. She is
tempted above what she is able to bear
by Russia on one hand, and the United
States on the other. The trans Siberian
Railway has made it possible to perpet-
uate and develop the wildnerness, which
has aforetime separated the Orient from
Europe. Our tariff has obtained for lis
commercial supremacy in Europe. Thu
point of least resistance Is the Monroe
Doctrine.
JAMES E. FREE.
Billings. Montana. April 81.
1t takes a man with strong Will power
to question the sincerity Of his inaacina.