Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1898-07-28
THURSDAY, JULY as, 1898.
WHAT ABOUT IMPERIALISM ?


Shall we adopt the imperlalistic
policy? This question does not ex-
actly coincide with The question Of
territorial expansion, as many seem
to think who are rushing into the
''imminent deadly BREACH" with
much sound and fury. There is no
difference OF opinion among the
American people as to the wisdom Of
territorial expansion itself. 1t is a
policy which we have always followed,
and which we would all be glad to
follow today "if the sign we're right. :"
II Canada were ready to ask for an
nexation. we would welcome her with
open arms. and we would not stop to
ask "the aid or consent of my Eu-
ropean nation" either. If Mexico
we're peopled with.the same kind OF
inhabitants as is Canada, we would
accept her with equally vociferous
enthusiasm, though with her present
population we would not all be un-
animously In favor of taking her In.
We would think twice before admit
ting any of the South American
countries, but solely on account OF
the character OF the people. We
would be nearly a unit In favor of the
annexation OF any OF the West India
island, whenever we can honorably
take that course. But there are still
some of US left who think that our
national honor lis at stake In some
other quarters besides in the payment
OF 100 cent debts 10 200 cent dollars,
"a decent respect for the opinions
OF man kind" II I'VE have no respect
for ourselves, should preclude all talk
OF the :annexation OF Cuba, at the
present time. Later perhaps, II the
people Of Cuba, to whom we pledged
ourselves 70 give oyer the possession
and government OF the island, should |
manifest desire TO come under the
stars and stripes, we would all be
glad to take her in.
So far as our precedents go, we can
expand until we cover the whole
western continent and its outlying
islands, without doing violence TO our
traditions. But when 1t comes to the
annexation OF islands on the other |
side Of either the Atlantic or the Pa
cltic, that Is another story. 1t is an
entire departure from our heretofore
settled policy. That Is not OF itself a
fatal objection, by any smeans, but 1t
throws the "burden OF proof" on the
advocate of the policy. 1t must be
shown that IL Is an improvement over
the course which we have followed
during all OF our national life. And
after the general policy OF free and
unlimited annexation is shown TO be
wise, 1t Will still remain TO be shown
that IL Is wise la the particular In
stance OF the Philippine islands.
Up to date there has been brought
forward no good reason why we should
permanently annex the Philippines
Manifest destiny" is manifest nom
sense. The assertion that we haye
been "hermit nation" and must now
throw OF our reserve aad take our
place among the powers OF the earth
isludlcrous on both points. The only
respects Ia which we have been her
mlt-llke have been in our tariff policy,
and In mindlng ourown business. The
former finds its most prominent sup
porDer III the president himself, and
the latter Is the correct course OF ac
tion for either nations or individuals.
The person who makes practice OF
poking his proboscls into every body's
business but his own is an unmltl>
gated nuisance. The Intimatlon that
Uncle Sam must now take an active
part 10 European, Asiatlc and Afrl-
can intrignes, iealousies, chickering's,
lsnd-grabbing and general all-round
eussedness, Just to'show that he ia ''all
right" is an exceedingly poor argn.
meot. We have always occupied an
ensiable position among the nations