Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-04-21
STATE DELEGATES.
Continued from lst page.)
at the beginning of the Spanish American

at the beginning of the Spanish-Amcrican
war settled that question conclusively.
Its necessity for commercial purposes
is even more important. We have reached
the point in our development where we
are producing more than We are con-
suming.
In consequence we have surplus, year
by year rapidly increasing, which must
be sold in the markets Of the world. We
must have our fair share OF those in the
Orient, or stop producing because of in
ability to sell.
With the Isthmian canal, the Atlantic
seaboard and the Mississippi and Ohio
valleys are made practically as near to
China and Japan as the Pacific slope.
In this way our whole country Will be
placed nearer to these great markets
of the future than are our competitors.
With this advantage in our favor and
with an open door, We have only to
maintain our prestige and pursue the wise
policies upon which we have entered
OUR PHILIPPINE POLICY.
Much has been said in criticism of the
acquisition of the Philippines and our
other insular possessions because of their
cost and the expense and trouble incident
TO their government.
Those who thus criticiso do not take
n very broad view.
Great national and International tran
sactionS are not measured by dollars
and cents. We are not proposing TO eX-
pend two or three hundred millions of
dollars to construct an isthmian canal
with the idea of collecting tolls enough to
make the enterprise dividend paying
We did not acquire Hawaii. or Porto
Rico. or the Philippines because we needed
or wanted more territory, merely as such,
nor because We wanted to extend our
authority over more peoples. We had no
thought of tribute, and would not exact
a dollar II we could.
Our purposes were higher, broader and
more patriotic.
We are proposing to build the inter-
oceanic canal. not for revenue, but be-
cause of its general supreme Importance.
ana If We are to invest the vast sums
necessary TO the completion of that work
we must he in a situation TO defend II.
In that behalf I'orto Rico and our naval
stations and military reservations in Cuba
become of incalculablc value. More money
does not suggest any measure Of their
worth.
They will enable us to command and
control the Caribbean sea, and in that
way protect and defend the approaches
to the canal from the Atlantic side, and
that is beyond computation.
Hawaii ILLS a like office on the Pacific
side, Those islands are 50 situated that
WIN theIt IN our posses u u We ~ "a n
strategic advantage that at once protects
and defends not only the approaches to
the canal but our entire Pacific coast
line.
In the great commercial rivalries of the
Orient the Philippines will play for US
more important and more helpful part
still. With them in our possession we
have a base Of operations that will be
OF inestmable benefit in both peace and
war.
They lie In the very front of the hun
drcds of millions for whose favor in
trade we are to contend against the
other commercial powers.
Their acquisition and our successful gov
eminent of them have greatly enhanced
our prestige and influence
If We should abandon them we would