The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-05-23
New Dispensation
OF Imperialism
From the New York Tribune

From the New York Tribune.
n IMPERIALISM is a word now Cfton
II heard in discussions Of our national
II policy. 1t has not hitherto had an
II uvcrpleasant sound to American ears
1t has been held synonymous with
Cacsarism and reminiscent OF the usurpa-
tion and tawdry despotism of Louis Ma
polcon; and against anything resembling
these latter 10 resistance could be too
strenuous. But such are not the only nor
the trucSt definitions of the term. There
is another Imperialism, the Imperialism
of the nation, not of its ruler. That is
the new imperialism of the day and of
the future, by no means repuSnant but
rather welcome to the thoughtful Amer
lean mind.
Tncountcd times New York has been
called an Imperial city, FOR century
this has been known as the Empire
state" In such sense, in its full ana log
ical expansion, we may well have an i'm
Uarial nation. Indeed, John Marshall,
nearly eighty years ago, called this the
american Empire The time has come
to face the fact and get accustomed to 1t.
We are not going into land-grabbing for
the mere sake of greedy acquisition. We
are not going to make big empire just
for the sake Of being big. But the iso-
lated, restricted, continental idea, never
well sanctioned and never approved by
reason. must hCnCefOrth be thing of the
past. There is no more reason why our
material possessions should be confined
within certain limits than why our COM
merce, our travels, our culture and OBJ
serVaton, our human sympathiCs, should
be thus Contired. There are strong rea-
sons why We should take and hold two
classes of lands, in whatsoever quarter
of the world they may be found.
nun Glass consists Of S1IE lands lie
so near these states as to belong natural
| ly to our system and to involve in their
administration our peace and welfare.
! Hawaii is such a territory. Porto Rico
may so be rockoned, and Cuba assuredly
will be. unless-as is to be hoped--she
shall develop sufficient ability for self
! government to make her an acceptable
! independent neighbor. The other class
| consists of such lands. however remote,
/ as may through the eXigencies of war or
! otherwise be practically and morally
! forced upon us. Such are the Philippines,
of which this nation is now taking pos
| session, and which it will administer ac-
| cording to it's Judgment and ability. We
| had to take them as Il war measure
| against a hostile power, and, having
! taken them, responsibility for their fu-
ture rests unavoidaby upon us.
The curious statement is put forward
! that the possession of colonial empire
| is incompatible with true republicanism.
| Nothing could be much wider of the
mark. The fact is, as every history-read-
| ing Schoolb1Y knows that republiCaniSm
| and this form of Imperialism go hand in
hand. The greatest and most lasting
! empires" have been built by republics.
| The example of Athens springs readily to
| mind-a republic yet the founder of
| colonial empire before which that of
Alexander seems petty. Or Rome, whose
| world-cmhracing empire was acquired un-
| der the republic. Great Britain may be
cited, too; a monarchy i'm form, but de-
mOCraCy in fact, whose empire in all
quarters Of the globe has been built Up
since the United Kingdom became for all
practical purposes a republic. So, too,
the colonial domain Of France is an out
growth of the Third Republic. These en-
pires are greater and far more enduring
than the monarChiCal domains of Philip
II and of Napoleon BOnaparte. The re-
public is the successful empire builder.
And this is so in theory as well as in
practice. The republican principle is the
| imperial principle. For only the state
that governs itself Alright is fitted to gov
crn tributary states and bring them up
to its own standard. The monarchiCal
empire may he acquired ana held for sell
fish ana oppressive gain. The republican
empire is developed and civilized for ITS
own lasting good.
We have hitherto shown that the inn
perial policy Is not only not forbidden
but is actually provided for by the con-
stituton, and has been sanctioned and
promoted by the action Of the nation and
the judgments of its foremost statesmen
for more than a hundred years 1t is nc
new thing, 1t is our constitutional and
historic policy. 1t is moreover, the pol
icy of all best suited to the genius of tht
people. For ours is pre-emnenty the col
! Onizing race. 1t is a commercial race
, too, and commercial expansion demands
colonial expansion, There is no fact more
marked than that PhOeniCia and Athens
i'm old times, Great Britain and German!
p in later days, eXemplify it in the mos
: convincing manner. Lessons come, too
! ana solemn warnings. 1t is to be remem
, bered how the ancient empires fell. Tn,
! impressive example of Spain is just be
: fore us Nay, this nation itself is a re
5 | minder to itself Of how Great Britain los
her finest colonies. In proceeding Will
this supreme development Of her polio!
? and mission the United States will d.
2 well TO bear In mind how Spain lost tn
[ Americas and is now losing the Antilles
and how Great Britain lost the Thirteel
colonies, but has retained Canada an,
$ Australia, If we shall heed the lessonH o
1 the past We shall stand secure, Wit
q tTopic domains added to our arctic prov
ince. If we shall not heed them, and no
. work righteousness In the estates com
y mitted to our care, we shah do as Spai
8 has done and meet the fate that has be
, fallen her.