The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-25
WAR AND POLITICS
As Viewed by Ex-senator John j.
ingalls,.

In an interview at Atchison the other
day, ex-senator IndallS said:
Political prophecy in Kansas is very
much safer after the event has taken
place than before it has happened. Bar
ring the unexpected, which is always Ii
able to occur, especially in war, Repub-
lcan success this year appears ineVlta-
BILE. We have an irreprOachabIe ticket
on an inVulnerable platform. Stanley
is a strong, clean, broad man, with no
embarrassing complications; an elo-
quent and persuasive speaker; capable
of the leadership in the new epoch the
country is entering; ambitious, but not
a cOnSpiratOr; not ashamed to be ac-
counted moral, temperate and active in
church and Sunday school, and yet not
a bigot, nor a fanatic, nor hypocrite.
He has a great opportunity and is for
tunate in his associates, his environ
ment and in his adVerSaries.
Asked his opinion of results to come
from the war he said
THE war can have but one result and
that is the expulsion of Spain from this
hemisphere, the loss of her colonial
possessions, and her degradation to the
lowest rank among European powers
Poor ignorant and exhausted Spain is
a decaying nation like an old rake who
has squandered his fortune in play,
wasted his strength in debauchery, and
is proud only of his dishOnor."
Imperialism?
imperialism is a word invented by
fools to impose upon towards. 1t has
no place in the dictionary of Democra-
cy nor is there any possible condition
to which it applies. Our mission in
this world has been to disclose to man
his capacity for civilization and self
government. The timid and apprehen-
sive spirits who dread the extension of
our boundaries forget that since the
thirteen colonies achieved their indie
pendence, by the Louisiana purchase,
the acquisition of Florida, the war with
Mexico, the Gadsden purchase, and
the cession OF. Alaska by Russia, we
have enlarged our frontiers without
datriment to the equality of man, or
harm to the declaration of independ-
ence, or injury to the constitution, or
disrespect to the memory of George
Washington.
THE annexation of Hawaii will not
impair the franchises of freedom in
Kansas. Whether we take Cuba, POr-
to Rico, and the Philippines under our
control depends entirely on the capac-
ity of their people to govern them
selves 1t is certain that they will not
be surrendered to the tyranny and ex-
tortion of Spain, nor to the squahd
barbarism of the native population.
I'VE have had no war when the party
which conducted it successfully did not
control the politics of the country for
the next generation, and it will be so
now. We shall have another quarter of
a century of soldier politics, camp fires,
reunions, military candidates, and war
issues. Bryan saw this and he is going
to Cuba lust as General Pierce and the
other Democratic candidates for the
presidency of that day went to Mex
leo. The war expenditures make money
plenty. Times will improve. The old
economic and social questions will dis
appear temporarily, till the next bust
ness depression brings them to the front
again. The next national campaign will
be Waged on issues growing out OF the
war; territorial expansion; the empire
of the Pacific; the Nicaragua canal. an
increased army and navy and methods
of the revenue taxation.