Omaha daily bee., 1898-07-03
EoRWARp.

ton say that the time has come for the
United States to look forward and not
backward and to lend n hand In the
worlds great work of trade and civiliza-
ton, as II there had ever been a time
in the history of this nation when it was
not looking forward and helping In the
work Of civilization. American progress
proves that this country has been con-
stantly looking forward. It's advance
in Industrial strength and commercial
power has been greater than that
achieved by any other nation. Its con-
tribution to civilization has equalled If
1t has not surpassed that of any other
country. Looking forward and moving
forward has always been characteristic.
of the American people, but most for
%tunately 1t has not taken the direction
of acquiring remote territory. We have
won a commanding position in the
worlds trade-a position from which we
cannot be driven so long as American
energy and enterprise remain unim-
pnired-without having to absorb dis
tant lands or enter upon n European
colonial policy. We have gone on doing
Il great work in the cause of civilization
without possessing Il foot of territory
in distant seas or remote parts of the
world.
But 1t is said that conditions have
changed and that the nation must now
look forward in "a direction which it
has hitherto sedulously avoided, under
the guidance of the wisest statesman
ship of the past. The counsel of i'm
perialism is that we shall renounce the
prudent and safe course that has been
adhered to for more than a century and
follow the policy of Europe; that we
shall abandon the principles and the
line of conduct so long deemed to be
essential to the security of the republic
and adopt the European plan of terri
torial expansion, with all that it in
wolves. That such a departure would
inevitably draw the United States into
the political complications of the old
world; that it would compel this country
to maintain great naval and military
establishments which would enormously
increase the taxation of our people; thai
it would place us in n position where
our peace would be almost constantly
menaced; that it would result in Euro
pean nations refusing to further ac.
quiesce in Il assertion of the Monroe
doctrine and that it would open the door
to unlimited political jobbery and cor,
ruption-all these are matters of little
consequence to the apostles of imperial.
ism. Arrogating to themselves Il super,
GRITTY of wisdom and of patriotism, they
characterize as narrow-minded, unpro.
i. gressive and even cOwardly those who
still respect the teachings and example
of the founders of the republic and the
great statesmen who succeeded them
: Those who recognize the dangers and
, point out he cost Of an imperial policy
: are secuted as unfrlendly to American
progress, as persons who would retarC
the advance of the nation.
$ To adopt the European policy Of terri
! torial expansion is not to look forward
: but backward. 1t would be a distinct,
t retrogressive step on the part of thi;
republic. We should fall in with n Euro
pean practice centuries old, n practicl
which we have always condemned ant
Y which is utterly %repugnant to every prin
ciple of our political system. The Ameri
1 can people have always rcprobated tn,
land grabbing policy OF European ma
tons and the Monroe doctrine was in
2 tended to prevent the application of tina
policy in the western hemisphere. Nov
t the American people are cOunseled t
O initiate the example of Europe in thi
respect and thus to stultify their Who'll
record, turning their backs upon til
wise and patriotic advice of the grea
Il men of the past and proclaiming tina
It what has been good for the rcpubIi
during more than n century is no longe
Il of any value. But we do not bellev
that n majority of the American peopl
will be deluded and beguiled by the or
for territorial acquisition. When the
# shall have carefully considered thr.lal
gers and the cost of such Il policy W
70 have no doubt they will overwhelmingl
reject it.