New-York tribune., 1908-01-30
MIR. TAFT ON EXPANSION
Continued from first page.


of the most grievous industrial depression, change
Mas emSc1e. ana b51d sdncatona campaign
10 the right and forever to stamp 9ut one
6 that b seor see Ii e aan half Of
that in real value which he loaned to his debtor
history OF the country, it was rather an electoral
victory than OF the administration or Mchin-
lev That which really distinguishes the admins
tration Of Mckinley is the with Spain and the
expansion which followed H.
Taking up the question of island posses
sions Secretary Taft said:
Since the foundation of our government the peo-
tnguished from the territories-have been engaged
in governing other people But il is said that we
have been engaged in governing them with a view
ultimately to making them part of govern
ment That bees the question The question is
any time. We have done it for a hundred years.
We did it in the case of Louisiana. We have done
quenty admitted TO the United States, and we are
doing it to-day in the case Of New Mexico and
Arizona.
TERRITORIES AND COLONIES.
What inherent difference is there between the
government of a territory and the government OF a
colony by the Congress Of the United States ana
the executive appointed in accordance with us G-
rection? OF course, / understand and know the
nice distinctions that are made in Supreme Court
Constitution and territory belonging to the United
States the government OF "hich Is not oroughe M
within the operation OF certain limitations OF the
Constitution; but l am speaking now as man 10
difference between the assertion by Congress of the
right to pass a law which shall be obeyed by men
in New Mexico who have voice in the selection
OF the representatives or the Senators VINO wore
that law. and the passing by Congress OF sGch a
Rico CUBA when these islands are within our
control? If the latter is violation of the DecaTa-
ton of Independence, have been violating the
Declaration Of Independence for hundred years,
The statements in the Declaration o. inae9enoeaCe
history. - '0''
Of nd
and merely from the lust of power, then we may
be properly denounced as imperalists; but if we
assume control over people for the benefit OF that
people, and with the purpose OF developing tleh
of giving them the right to become independent
when they shall show themselves Mt then t In, me
charge that mperialsts is utterly without
foundation. A nation like that OF the l hl,eu
sources unexampied in the history OF the world,
with ideals as high as those OF any nation, WIN {
erty and Of popular government. cannot maintain
position of isolation with respect to the peoples
those peoples under control.
NECESSARY RESPONSIBILITY.
We must assume responsibility with respect TO
that the Lord has given US for the purpose OF as
ss1ing our EeghboTs- The policy of isolation Whlch
our direct control in matters where we capable
OF doing good ana advancing the Worla pr9e[tS, ,i1
is a narrow, selfish and altogether unJust@liIaole @
policy The world is not a large one. The facilities
ity as to shrink The distances and the area or me me
world for practical purposes into one-quarter OF the
when this government was organized, while at the
same time our country has grown from Httle
empire, extending from the Atlantic to the PacItlc
and from the Canadian border to The Gulf-a teem-
ing. sympathetic and highly nervous community.
with population which embraces representatives
from all the nations Of the globe; a peopo that
distant fellow men. Under sucn cream stances We
neighoors are doing and when we can assist them
we we cannot pass by on the other :ide 1s the Leye @
naritan did, and bind up their wounds and prepare
future which NcKTniey saw for his coIntrv
What has been the result TO the United States of
her trade something over one hundred millions of
dollars. / do not think that is important except
friendly policy toward Porto Rico and the Philip
pines, and opens her markets as well to the Philip
quadruple in u marvellously short time, that
merely from the standpoint of material progress
the mutual benefits for the people we are helping
and ourselves will be no mean justification for the
policy.
AMERICAN WORLD INFLUENCE
Again. our action in assuming our part of the re-
ment Of the world has added to influence the
world round and has made voice influential in
growth that the immediate successor of William
Theodore Roosevelt. has been able TO
accomplish more in the preservation of the peace
OF the world than President that ever admins
tered any monarch that ever regned. The in
Central America, in Europe and in China is mucn
of it, the result Of the policy OF expansion adopted
under William Mckinley. -!
said that this policy has entaed upon us the
enormous burden Of = navy l believe that 1t has
increased the necessity for greater navy. be-
eve that a is the greatest insurer of peace
that we could possibly have-a navy commensurate
with our resources, and commensurate with our
coast line. and commensurate with the number OF
dependencies we have and commensurate with our
DoDula ton, and commensurate with our influence /
as 4 world power. The expression world power /
has been made occasion for ridicule and sneers /
but il has a real meaning and real significance !
Ii means an influence throughout the world and so
long as that influence is welded for the better /
,arf of
fortunate fellow creatures. for the maintenance OF
peace for the announcement of trade. for the /
ororrotiOn of morality and civilization, may well
be proud to have taken any part in the change or
our national policy which made US world power /
rhe highest claim of William Mckinley for the /
gratitude OF his countrymen is that in spite or the
abuse and c0ntumely that were heaped upon ms /
1ead for this policy. he placed country in the !
forefront OF nations as cviizer and uplifter of un-
fortunate peoples.