Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-07-09
IMPERIALISM.

extend the Empire" is the cry OF
blind enthusiasm and judgment run
mad. A cry based up neither common
! sense nor necessity. 1T is an invita-
ton to go upon a fools errand with
! butter experience as a sequel.
| In arraying ourselves under the ban
+ ner of imperialism what Is necessary
| We must subjugate and throttle the
| independence of alien races in distant
| lands. In doing this we must nul-ify
| the certificate of our birthright-the IL
| lumined pages OF the Declaration OF
Independence-we must destroy this
| document for in its obsolete lines it
| says all were created equal and that
| the right to govern comes only from
| the governed. We must subyert the
Constitution, document that chatters
about rights and citizenship. We must
relinauish the Monroe Doctrine-a doc
ument that humorously says, I'VE have
not interfered in the colonial posses
sions of any European nation, nor do
we intend to''-these faded documents
must be sealed in the coffin along with
the pallid corpse of democratic govern
ment.
We must tear down the statue of
Liberty with her tame and placid fea-
tures-with her insipid branch of olive
and kick her off her pedestle with
out ceremony, and erect thereon in
stead the majestic Bellona with the
form of war stamped forever upon her
face, and in one hand the dripping
sword, the linked shackleS in the other.
If We are to be an empire and not a
republic, we must beat ploughsheares
into swords, for our authority must be
constantly upheld by armies and
navies. We shall be in recurring
quarrels born of the jealousy OF ma
tons.
Whence the necessity OF all this?
This grotesQue anomaly of a demo-
CRATIC m tffe Is to BIZ fashioned to
capable administration. A huge mon
grel creation it will be, casting the
shadow of insincerity and falsehood
upon our institutions.
The imperialistic idea has COM
menced with the annexation OF a con-
| gressional summer resort in the shape
of the Hawaiian Islands. One Of the
agreeable features OF this subverslon
of a peoples right Of expression lies
in the fact that each summer the
River and Harbor Committee will be
Obliged to visit these islands, on free
masses. with friends-to inspect the
harbors. The Judiciary Committee,
with friends, will also visit it to ex-
anime the costs. The Naval Com
mittee must also go, likewise the
Coast Defense Committee. The Com
mittee on Epidemic Diseases will
probably stay there during each sum-
mer. The Committee on Territories
and Private Lands will Of necessity
be obliged to go out there once year
at least. This will be hard on our
Congressmen, but still there is an ele-
ment of pleasure in it.
It is probable that instead Of having
our Congressman scattered about
Florida In winter, and in New Eng
land and the coast resorts in summer,
1t can safely be supposed that a work
ing quorum could be usually found In
blessed Hawaii.
What need have we for new territory
at present? We have plenty OF breath
ing space and vast resources nyet I'M
densely inhabited as Great Britain we
would have over one billion OF pop
ulation: were 1t as dense as Japan, we
would have over eight hundred MILL
ions: as dense as France, our pOpula-
ton would be four hundred millions.
These nations mentioned must pursue
a colonial policy or SURROGATE, else
allow the progeny to sink their nation
atty in foreign emigration. Our ne
cessity along this line has not yet
arisen and perhaps never will.
1t is source of wonder to many who
are poorly informed, that the Demo-
cratic party, which has added such
great expenses Of territory to our ma
tional dominion. should oppose the in
discriminate thirst for territory that is
now manifest. The Union as it is to-
day is the result of the prudence and
wisdom Of this great party-not the
result of the avarice Of this age.
Louisiana, Florida, Texas and the
Mexican cessions were attached, not
from imperialistic motives, but from
necessary political reasons; the result
Of the exigencies Of the times. More
over, they are but expansions of our
national geographical limits, they are
physically attached to our soil and with
no barrier on earth TO divide but the
cretical line, they tremendously and
nationally become integral portions of
compact and homologous national
structure-adding strength to strength
and duration to perpetuity.
Yet there are many strabismic poll
ticians who cannot understand the diff
ference between the acquisition Of con-
tiguous territory and the acquisition of
remote territory, hence they misunder-
stand the past and present policy of
the Democratic party.
1t Is well TO remember that this ma
ton was fashioned in the wisdom OF the
father Of mocracy-Thomas Jeffer-
SON. It has been fostered and nurtured
by the party of his creation. 1t has
added over two thousand miles TO its
territory north and south. It carried
the stars and stripes westward thous-
ands of miles and planted them on the
shores OF the Pacific
Over half of the territory comprising
our union may be credited - The DEM
ocratic party. The moral is: Follow