Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1898-06-30
Our Letters on imperialism.

Jul ACGGC4o O44 4dA4S4A
In letter to the Democrat and Jour-
nal. which will be published with 9TH
ers on the same subject in the issue OF
next week, Hon. Charles B. Lore,
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court OF
Delaware, says that lit will be an evil
day when the poison of colonial depen-
denotes, which has sapped the life of
Spain, shall become our national poll
cy.
In letter on the same subject, re-
ceived too late for publication with
those which appear elsewhere this
week, Hon. W. G. Musgrove, of the
Lexington (Mo.) I'atelhgencer, writes:
Il recognize that many of our lead
ing men are beginning to advocate the
doctrine Of territorial expansion, but |
am utterly opposed to any and all such
schemes. At this time our army and
navy are making heroic efforts to drive
the Spanish soldier from the islands of
Cuba, Porto Rico and also from the
Philippine islands. and | approve and
endorse every blow that has been given
Spain. | do so because | believe the
war was begun in the interest of hu-
mauity. But | DO not believe
in annexing any of these islands. Ne
must make cuba and Porto Rico free
| hope the Inhabitants of the
Philippines will be strong enough and
intelligent enough to establish a gov
ernment of their own, and that they
will be able to defend themselves
against Spain; but whether they shall
be or not, | think we have no right to
hold them after our indemnity shall be
paid, cuba must be Il free Repubhc."
This is justice; this is Democracy;
this is Americanism.
There is no room for two opinions
among just and honest men who be-
lieve in human rights as the basis of
government. If we go on as the ad-
ministration has begun; if we do in
Cuba what has already been done in
Hawaii, we will betray the hope of the
world, which for century, has turned
to US as the representative of freedom
and justice-of government by consent
as opposed to government by Krupp
guns and bayonets.
Look what has happened in Hawaii!
A handful OF carpet-bagger deter
mined and ruthless men who care 10
more for the lives of Hawaiians than
for those of so many ants, seized the
arsenals and military supplies of the
island, overthrow the native govern
ment, usurped power, organized a ''re-
public" dominated by the San Francis
co Spreckles branch of the sugar trust,
and in the interest of that trust demand
ed admission to the union of ''free and
equal self-governing States"
To ascertain whether the trust inter-
ests in Congress intend to attempt the
same usurpation in Cuba, they were
asked to recognize the Cuban Republic.
They voted down the resolution of re-
cognition, and revealed their intention
of appointing a military governor" to
s.reorganize" Cuba on the carpet-bag-
ging plan the same element used IN
robbing the people of the South, in
the old days when Wall street imper-
ialists were using the bayonet and the
black vote to force repeated bond is
sues against helpless people.
If the American people consent, we |
will have all the shame of the Recon
struction period repeated and exagger-
ated after the close of the Spanish war;
and before we are done with it we will
be plunged into vast scheme of col /
onial imperialism and bayonet govern
ment, utterly opposed to our constltu-
ton and sure to end in the destruction /
Of the liberties we enjoy under a con-
stitutional union of equal and self-gov
erning states.
The question of whether or not this
plan shall be allowed to succeed is now
he greatest question before the world.
It is astounding and alarming that the
o-called great dailies" pass it by in
silence and that the responsibility of
American public sentiment
against Bond-dealing Imperialism falls
IN the weekly press of the Valley
states cooperating with the Democrat
md JoWr71al.-MtSsissippi Falley Dem
,crdt and Journal.