Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-24
THE REPUBLICAN KEYNOTE.

The Cuban resolution distinctly pledged
| US against a war of conquest, and in
spirit. all of our pledges antecedent 20 the
passage of that resolution put us under
| the Same pledge. Moreover, the majority
in Congress, speaking for the administra-
| ton, sought sedulously to produce the i'm
| preston that the administrations policy
would rise above partisan considerations,
and that the war was not TO be a party
war; but crusade of the American peo-
pie in the cause of humanity.
We do not undertake to say that the
drift of events will not compel us to re-
tain permanently territory from which, in
the pushing of hostilities we may drive
the Spaniards; we do not undertake to
say that conditions will not justify our
departing from our time-honored doctrine
of isolation. AS to these questions, we
only undertake to say that as the case
now presents itself it carries no argu-
ment for the reputation of precedents,
and furnishes no defence for those who
would have us turn a deaf ear to tho
warnings of the fathers of the republic
That aside, for the nonce, however,
The war has been on only two months,
and what has become of Republican pro-
testations that that party would rise
above partisan considerations, and unite
with all other elements of the country in
making the struggle solely one for the
emancipation from Spanish tyranny and
brutality of the down-trOdden Cubans?
Let Mr.. GrosvenQr. the mouthpiece of
the administration. answer. In his speech
before the Ohio Republican Convention
this fidus Achates of the Presidents pro-
claimed the war TO be both Republican
war and war of conquest. He sounded.
the organs OF the administration tell us,
the keynote of the Republican State
campaign, and it goes without saying,
considering the source, the keynote of
the Republican national campaign, also.
Hear him:
He (McKinley) is at the head of the
army. We are among the people who will
support that army. Momentous issues are
before us. Great questions Of politics.
growing out of the capture--as l believe
we shall capture-fOreign territory; ques-
tons that will be new in American poll
tics; questions that will challenge the
statesmen Of the hour questions that can
be better settled by the party that made |
Mckinley than by any other party that |
can be formed in the United States |
(Cheering)
And again:
81 make no representation except this: |
doubt very much whether you and will |
live to see the day when, by order of "A |
Republican administration, and surely not |
by the order of McKinleys Administra-
Of nP
try's glory shall be pulled down from
any flagstaff where conquest of arms has
placed it,"
This is the Republican policy as au-
thoritatvely enunciated-a policy of i'm
perialsm involving the dangers of mill
tarism and entangling alliances and the
certain evil of a vast Increase OF Office
holders, who. while battenlng on the
peoples of ''our conquered provinces" may
be used to strengthen the grip of the
Republican party on the country.
Now, as opposed TO this political scheme,
what has been the broad American
policy--a policy indicated by the expe-
rience of century? We let Washing
ton answer, as follows:
Europe has a set of primary interests
relation Hence, she must be engaged
In frequent controversies. the causes of
which are essentially foreign TO our con-
Germs. Hence. therefore, 1t must be un-
wise In us 10 implicate ourselves by
artificial ties in the ordinary vicissitudes
Of her politics or the ordinary combna-
tons and collisions Of her friendships or
And once more:
''Our detached and distant situation in
yltes and enables us TO pursue different
course. II we remain one people, under
an efficient government. the period Is not
lar off when we may defy material injury
from external annoyance; when we may
take such an attitude as Will cause the
neutrality we may at any time resolve
upon 10 be scrupulously respected; when
Deligcrent nations. under the impossi.
llity OF making acquisitions upon us,i