The Hawaiian gazette., 1896-07-31
SENATOR ALLEN ON WESTERN
SENTIMENT.

Since the Democratic party has cham
pioned an issue that will test the
strength of the Eastern States against
the West, it is interesting to note the
remarks of Senator William V. Allen
of Nebraska in an article, Western
Feeling Toward the East" written for
the North American Review of May.
The article was called forth by an ar
ticle written by H. R. West, in which
the statement was made that the time
may come when the West viii see that
its highest development depends upon
the management of its own affairs.
Senator Allen maintains that among
the general run of Western people
there is no disaffection. He is inclined
to put the boot on the other leg and
say that the East is dissatisfied with the
West. He holds that there is change
of feeling from former days, when
nearly every public man in the West
spoke of his birthplace as in an Eastern
State. Those men have passed from
the scene of action, and their children,
born in the West, succeed them. The
Eastern thought, energy and sympathy
has given way to spirit distinctively
Western. In fact the people of the West
know comparatively little of the East
ern section, their dealings being al
most entirely of a business character.
Notwithstanding that Eastern capt.
tai and Eastern brains built up the
Western cities, Senator Allen main
tains that the people of the latter feel
that Eastern capitalists are endeavor-
ing to drain Western industry of its
profits Being a siIverite and a free
trader, he cites the protective tariff
and the continuance of the gold stand
ard as items in the general plan of ex-
tortion. He also states that it is felt
that Eastern capitalists. by attempting
TO control Western newspapers, have
endeavored TO create false sentiment
on the tariff, financial and transporta-
ton questions Furthermore, the ten
dency of the Eastern papers to speak of
the rotten Western boroughs," West
ern ignorance" etc, does not serve to
strengthen the bond of brotherly love
between the two sections
After reviewing these matters of dit
Senator Allen comes down to
the foundation of the discussion as fol-
lows:
But it must be understood that after
all these evils will correct themselves
by Intelligent and conservative agita-
ton and at the ballot box. The West
ern people are neither selfish nor dis
loyal They are, on the contrary, ex-
tremely generous and intensely Amerf-
can They believe in the union of the
States and the sacredness of the Con-
StiLutAOAs anu lHcs Will HOT listen 10 4
the advocacy of anything that looks
ike secession. Suggestions that have
in the Eastern press that
sentiment of discomfort bordering on
disunion exists among the people OF the
West are untrue and do very great in
justice 10 hundreds OF thousands of
splendid men who, in the hour of ma
tional danger. offered their lives as
sacrifice On the altar OF their country,
and in the interest of national peace
md the truth Of history such statements
should not be made.
THE possibility of secession or dis
union cannot be admitted. The United
States under its present Constitution.
must be preserved for all time. The
glory that attaches to the name Ameri-!
ca. American history and American