Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-29
REPUBLICAN OR IsfPERIALs
Which Shall Our Government BET
Letter from n Democrat.

\ Letter from DemOcruts
| To the Editor of the Dispatch:
1t is obvious to all intelligent men in
this country that our government is about
| to be precipitated into the most serious
crisis of its life. The misgiving fore
bodings. on this side Of the Atlantic as
well as on the other, when our ship Of
state was launched, seem now about to
be subjected to test more trying than
that Of any ordeal heretofore. In fact.
until now the current of thought and
| of feeling among the American people
| In opposition to everything with
monarchic coloring has been so over
whelming that ii has been phenomenal
to find an individual with the hardwood
to express distrust of the righteousness
or permanency OF our republican institu-
tons. How do We find II to-day? IL Is
not to be denied that we find ominous
evidences of a. changing tone In the minds
OF men of intelligence and worth, and
that their fellow-men, though unready 10
turn into any imperial pathway with
them, are not SO shocked and startled as
they would have been even six little
months ago. The truth is, this country
is near and rapidly drawing nearer to
point in its career presenting TO our
American people policy OF imperialism,
and so gorgeously arrayed, withal, as 10
lend TO it the force of the fascination
which, not unnaturally, is SO often found
in novelty with garish garb and a gla-
NOR of adventure about II.
The war with Spain is not the primal
source of this new trend Of thought ana
feeling on the part of our imperialisuc
friends and fellow-cltizens. 1t is only the
occasion for the manifestation-the OPP
portunity for the tentative movement In
the direction of this contemplated revo-
luton. The change we are noting mas
doubtless, been silently. secretly fermenr-
ing in the minds of some men for years.
Indeed, IL 1t were possible to trace II
back through the generations, we might
find its germ in the teachings or the great
Alexander Hamilton. who, though
statesman, patriot, and gentleman.
was not a Democrat
It need not be a matter OF astonishment
for us to find northern men OF intelli-
gence, public spirit, and philanthropy,
too, despairing Of the republic and wish
ing for a stronger government under
which they may feel safer than they do
now with tens of thousands OF an tgno-
rant foreign element holding the balance
of power in their States and In their |
cities. They are rich men, they are men !
of culture, refined. and fastidious; they |
they have not been trained in Jeffersonian /
schools. and they are afraid of the peo- |
ple 1t may be that there are southern |
men. too who, looking around them and |!
rejecting on the dangers from enfran- |
chised ignorance and the changes In party |
methods, are not so strong In the faith |
of their fathers in popular government es |
they used TO be. But imperialism VIII |
not find the southern atmosphere wen |
suited to the work of its propaganda. /
The South always has been, and let Us
hope always will be, conservative. Though |
born abroad the great Alexander Ham
ilton was a New York man; the greater
Thomas Jefferson was Virgnian.
II was in 1851 think that Mr.. Macau-
Law In his letter to Mr.. Randall, the |
of Jefferson foretold a down.
fall for our government, because, as he |
conceived, of its extreme and unbalanced
democracy. Is the downfall now in view?
And IL IL is, can it be shown TO be the
resultant o: any combination OF >condi-
tons fairly traceable to the principles
by the sage of Monticello?
That there are dangers inherent in free
Institutions is not TO be denied; but there
are dangers inseparably associated with
almost everything pertaining to life as
well as liberty. In the pregnant and pro-
found axiom that terror ceases TO be
dangerous when reason Is left free 10
combat It," we find the great Jeffersonian
ruth that brings the American magnet
back to its polarity. however 1t may be
temporarily warped from the rectitlde
Of its mark
Withstanding the tremendous strain
lpon 1t during the appalling period OF
when every spark OF
freedom in the South was stamped out
inder the soldiers heel. this wonderful
grandly exemplifisd its resili-
mt vitality when each Southern State
gain took her place and resumed ner
fights In the sisterhood Of the Union,
lfter years of alienation.
It is easy for any intelligent mind TO
and appreciate the enlarge
nents of Federal power and the corre-
ponding shrinkage Of state sovereign
v" as logical consequences Of our sec
ional war. The country outgrew the ear
Ter Interpretation OF the Constitution just
IS 1t outgrew the original articles OF con-
ederation, and called for the establish
nent of "a more perfect union" And yet,
ut for those earlier interpretations. but
or the stout and stubborn resistance 20
federal encroachment on the States made
" the men of the Calhoun school, who
nows that the government would have
cen tcggh enough 10 stand through tna | ,
forms II was destined subsequently 20
ncounter? But be that as IL may, the ,
act OF the change Is a factor In the his
Dry and in the present presentation OF ,
he problem OF self-goyernment, as this
ountry Is now demonstrating II to the ,
'orld. Imperialism would show the ex-
eriment proved to be impractlcable. 1t .
fould show that In a vast territory like | Z
his, with population in proportion, free
are not compatible with hu-
IAN nature. II would show that const'-
ltional liberty but an Areadian dream.
9TH background of abstract philosophy, |
ancifully contemplating the capacities
I man. For. II FREQ institutions shall fail I
4 this land. SO blessed by God above /
very other land, well may all the world
esign itself to the fate OF thu mastery |
( man by his fellow-man forever.
There is fascination, no doubt In the I
airing and dashing policy - ss Ny