Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1898-11-15
Anatnat 1-spaneton.

Qne IoiiOWln2 Is q DrleI uopSl OF luS
recent speech of Hon. Vim. L. Wilson.
before the Georgia Legislature and citi-
zens of Atlanta, against imperialism,
which was heartily %applauded
Mr., Wilson began his address by sta
ting that this country had already enter
ed on a new aud strange career. which
was 10 tax the ingenuity Of the American
people 10 conduct TO a successful issue
He emphasized the difference between
expansion as had occurred before the
Spanish war aud that now proposed. say
ing that Texas aud the southern States
had not been gained BY conquest, mas
much as Mexico wa paid for the posses
sions of Which the war deprived her.
at the end of the Mexican war. Mr..
Wil4on said, a certain element had raised
the present cry-never to lower the flag
where once st bad been raised but
Washington's parting advice ngainst en-
tang!ing alliances and imperalism had
won and made a conservative majority.
All regulations hitherto hal been OF
lands uniuhabited or not populated by
races differing from those OF America and
with customs inimicsl to ours.
eve disclAimed i the beginning Of the
present war" Mr.. Wilson continued, IAN
intention to acquire territory, but, like
jim Gilpiu's wife, even when on our
pleasures I,ent, wc have n frugal mind
[ never doubted That Cuba would event
ualiy be connected with our government
in some form, hut to admit to close rela
tons the people OF the Philippines, II
nongrel race, will, mougrel customs aud
with no capacity for improvement or self
government, is dangerous and fatal.
ITO control such people another form
of government resembling imperialism
must be Fe5orted to, but no such word as
Imperialism is to be found in our consti
luton, to whose provisions and spirit il
is inimicai.
THE ultimate destiny OF the Filipincs
would be American citizenship, and l do
not suppose we want to degrade ourselves
by sharing the franchise with such a
mongrel race.
IAN immense army and navy will be
needed to support these new possessions,
which would have to be borne through a
federal tax, which, while hidden, is never
theless real and grinding.
Mr.. Wilson ridiculed The argumentthat
manifest destiny" played any part in
the matter, declaring that it was a catch
phrase which other nations now in deep
water had used rs an excuse for useless
acquisitions. He said there had been ILL
success in civilizing and C%hristianizing
the Indians and Alaskans, who were now
Starving by villages on account of the
iniquities of American fortune seekers
The difficulty of overcoming race preiu
dices was emphasized, together with the
claim that possession of the Philippines
will throw The United States into the
thick of the wearying problems of Euro
pean politicians.
The benefit which with the
islands would give, he-said;; would be
more thna sGsot by the expense of their
maintenance and protection, as America
could not, like Spain, monopolize the
trade.
He concluded BY saying when the
expansionists commend to US the example
of England, l hold up to them the fact
that the very earliest of England's con
quests-that territory which she acquired
earliest of NIL, and lies closest to her-has
never yet been pacifed, and its people
have never yet been satisfied with Eng
iish rule over them. She may nave sue
ceeded in India, South Africa aud Aus
%tralia, but she has no succeeded in paci
flying her IS n~eighbors, the people of
Ireland." Applause.
Good health is worth more than any