Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1898-08-12
Imperialism.

t"P~t
One of the most interesting
things in the world is to watch
the development and unfolding
of public opinion on new ques-
tions, especially those relating to
the government and condition
of the country. There is pro-
cess which curiously and mysteri-
ously almost brings men into
universal harmony of opinion or
into distinct lines of difference.
With reference to our foreign re-
lations there is now noparty i'm
pulses moving men in any direc-
ton, so that all are studying the
subject candidly and patriotic
ally. A colonial policy is some
thing new in the minds of our
people and the present condition
for it is new. In the first place
we all need to be informed, for
Americans have been culpably
ignorant with reference to the
islands now being conquered
from Spain, their resources, con-
ditions, and the nature and con-
ditions of their inhabitants. Ad-
venturous spirits have been sleep
ing almost in sight of rich and
fertile islands without seeing
their invitations or enticements.
But they are wide awake now
and when peace is restored there
will be such a flood of emigra-
ton poured into the West Indies
as to make them very soon ca
pable of self government. 1t will
be one of the wonders of the
times, corresponding with the
miraculous naval achievements
of the day, when the people or
those islands as suddenly as the
movement of Kaleidoscope anc
the people of this country will be
in almost complete homogenity
and that too without any I'M
perialism so far at least as re.
lates to the West Indies. What
imperialism is is being fast form
ulated or, more accurately speak
ing, defined. One OF the best def
nitions we have seen of it is giver
us by attorney general Harmon
of Ohio. He says it is:
"To get dominion over strange
peoples for the mere purpose o
governing them, not admitting
them as equals in our family o
States, stretching into per
manence for that purpose powe
meant to be temporary and oc
casional only, and for that rea
son unrestricted"
He says further that:
1--WE cannot under our syster
govern any people without let
ting them help govern us. TIL
reaction would be swift and sur
n n. An imperis
policy will surely lead some da
to an emperor n n
The British properly added En-
press of India to the title of til
Queen. When his office outgrow
the descriptive name given hi
by the constitution, what sha
we call the President of tt
United States of America ?"
Our government was frame
for the limited purposes of hon
government and supposed to |
supported by people friendly
it and bound to it by every tie
affection and interest, and ed
Gated to its support by all tt
traditions of a people educate
and accustomed to looking at i
ternal conditions. So the sag
cious and learned attorney ge
eral says that to "set it to wo1
under conditions just the revers
we would both invite and multi
ply all the hazards which ha
always beset free institutions.
In considering what is to
done with these conquered pr
vinces or islands, Judge Harme
says: "No obligation, legal (
moral, prevents our leaving SUI
countries as we found them,
giving the people control of the
own affairs, if we think best
IfAguinaldo says "we helped ye
conquer Spain, and you must Mt