The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1869-04-23
DpaHtS,
Morem0nt howard ImnerIalism.

Are we approaching imperialism
Who asks a question so 0bsufdp What
timid soul trembles at the shadow gifts own
unreal fancies2 Whpt citizen ofthe great
republic" bamboozles himself into the no
ton that the great republic is not able TO
maintain itself against all tho thrones in
creation2 Who's Afraid2
Those who ask the question are not many.
II there were more the danger would be
less. p-
But those who ask the question are not
timid souls, nor persons who tremble mt
shadows. Theyare not persons Who are
wontgto jumpat conclusions from unsub.
stantial premises. There arc the careful
and thouehtful observers of fncts; men who
study ami compare facts with reference TO
their Interpretation of events; calm unde-
monstmiive men, not easily moved by sur
face agiiations and who look deeper for the
causes and meanings Of superficial move
ments. .r| 4, fr
There is q great undercurrent OF move
meut in the worlds AFFAIRS which themass,
of men fail TO recognize, eXcept IN some
conspicuous instances where sharp outlines
are thrown against the past so wildly as to
attract universal attention. Such revela-
ton Of outlines usually follow but seldom
precede, the accomplishments of events.
| When the republic of Rome became the
empire Of Caesar, the undercurrent OF facts
and opinions which had gradually, but
surely, prepared the way for that event, but
which, until then, the people had failed to
recognize, became apparent to all. History
is monotonous with the records of political
resolutions that have resulted in the seine
way.
During o period gilmore than eight years,
the great unobservod undercurrent of pop
ular sentiment In this republic has moved
steadily In the direction on centmlizing the
powers of government. Thoughtloss poo
pie stand ready to say that 1t is not so, sim
ply because the fact has not been suddenly
aud violently forced upon their attention.
Had the powers over the several states that
are now assumed by the federal congress,
with the assent and approval ofa majority
of the people, been assumed by that body
Of Legislators eight years ago, the people
would have risen almost as one man to re-
pei so violent an attack upon their dearest
liberties. Tho beginning of the usurpa-
ton was possible, because 1t was unseen.
Il assumed Tie seductive guise of n patriot
ic desire 10 preserve republican liberty, not
TO destroy it. IL is so always. 1t adyanced
slowly and by degrees, going no faster on
farther than il was borne by the invisible
un%derouirent which itself helped TO stimu.
late to greater mpidity. The idea Of cen
Utilization, once so abhorrent to every pat.
riotic mind, gradually lost its terrors.
Capitalization in government is notneces-
/. snrily destructive of social w~oll-being,' /,
now the automatic declaration Of an ortho.
dox organ and defender Of an imperialisl
tendency. "On the other hand,
''An autocmcy is the cheapest and best o.
all governments, when the autoerat is wiser
and better than his subjects"
"The weakening Of the central power il
a government tends to anarchy"
Capitalization il the law Of nature. The
soul shall returnto God who gave it'-e. q.
popular liberty shall return to the centra
power, which did not give it,
"These 'glittering genemlities are saidt'
be advanced by the writer, not because h,
approves Of the movement toward impor
! ia1ism, but because they are facts. In truth
they are not facts. The law Of nature il
not CONTINUATION, any more than is the OPP
posite. The fundamental law Of nature i
change, and it is in obedience To this law
Of change that every movement in nature,
in matter, or in mind, takesplaee. Rest i
impossible. If the general movement o
the public mind he not in the direction o
an opposite form. The republican party
writer already cited arrests as a furthe.
fact, that, "a stronger central government
already exists, while there is an absolut,
: weakening of resistance toimperial tenden
cies."
There is no point short Of imperialism
where this powerful u~ndercurren that flow
in the direction Of imperialism can stop
Mind cannot rest, any more than matter
It's movement must continue in the presen
direction until il be changed to n dileren
direction. Is there any point short Of i'm
; petinlism where that change, in the move
! ment of the American mind will take plnce
, In the answer 70 this question is involve,
! the future of this republic.