Senator Beveridge’s Imperialist Speech (1900)

Tue Jan 09, 1900

Image

On this day in 1900, Senator Albert J. Beveridge (1862 - 1927) gave a speech that made plain the United States’ imperialist intentions for the Pacific region. It was given a few years after the U.S. had acquired Puerto Rico, Cuba, and the Philippines in the Spanish-American War. Here is a short excerpt:

"Mr. President, the times call for candor. The Philippines are ours forever…and just beyond the Philippines are China’s illimitable markets. We will not retreat from either.

We will not renounce our part in the mission of our race, trustee, under God, of the civilization of the world…The Pacific is our ocean…Where shall we turn for consumers of our surplus? Geography answers the question. China is our natural customer…The Philippines give us a base at the door of all the East…"