The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-28
OUR COLONIAL POLICY.
Can Americans Give the Spaniards an
Improved Governments.

Improved Government.
Hon. John G. Carlisle, in Harper's Maya
zine
Not only their political system, but their
civilization, their social customs and their
conceptions of right and wrong are wholly
different from those we hold The sense of
individual independence in the conduct of
their own private affairs and of responsible
ity to the community and the state in the
conduct of public affairs has never existed
in the minds of these people, and it cannot
be impaired to them by mere change of
sovereignty. What they are now they must
continue to be for many generations and
the popular character of our institutions will
ultimately entitle them to exercise will have
a strong tendency to debaSe our legislation,
and may even control the choice of the chief
executive and the whole domestic and
foreign policy of the government. The
eight or ten millions, must, unless we are
TO violate the organic law of the land and
hold and govern them perpetually as con-
quered provinces, be erected within a rea-
Sonable time into several states each with
two senators, and all together having thir-
ty or forty representatives, while Cuba, with
population of a million and a half must
also become state, with two senator's and
at least five representatives, according TO
the present ratio. But this is not all we
have to apprehend, for if we once inaugurate
the policy of conquest and annexation be-
yond the boundaries of our own continent
at what point we to stop? The possess
sion of the Philippine islands. Cuba, Hawaii.
the Caroline islands, the Ladrone islands
gressive spirit of imperialism; in fact it
WILL according to the uniform experience
of other nations. stimulate the desire for
new acquisitions, and we will almost GER
tainly go on, unless checked by the armed
opposition of other powers. until we have
fastened upon the United States a black and
yellow horde of conscript citizens to de-
bauch the suffrage and sap the foundations
of our free institutions. 1t is a permanent
national policy that we are asked to in
augurate, not merely a temporary departure
from the course marked out by the states
men of the past. Visions of great en-
pre- extending into every part of the habit
able globe, limited only by the measures of
our own military power and the bounds of
our own ambition, are already beginning to
obscure the popular judgment and silence
the voice of sober reason and genuine pa
triotism Domestic problems of the gray
est character, pressing for settlement, are
treated with Indifference, while dreams of
wealth, of commercial supremacy abroad,
martial glory and autocratic dictaton in the
great international councils or the world
are infiaming the imagnations of the people
and rapidly driving them without due con-
sideration into the Endorsement of policy
which, when once adopted. can never be
abandoned without a confession of weak
ness which no administration will ever be
willing TO make. Every disappointed poll
tician, every adventurous Spectator, every
ambitious soldier Of fortune and every reck-
less enthusiast, whatever may be his call
ing or station in life, Will clam0r Tor new
acquisitions, and the additional patronage
which a compliance with his demands would
secure will always constitute a persuasive
argument in support of his policy. Every
extension of our jurisdiction over inhabited
territory acquired from other countries, es-
pecially If the inhabitants are ignorant and
inexperienced in public affairs. will open a
fruitful field for the operations of the I'M
scrupulous politician, which. we may be
sure. he will promptly occupy and diligently
cultivate. II is said that the Spanish car
pet Dagger is now the curse of the Philip
pine islands. plundering the rich and the
poor. the church and the state with perfect
impartiality, and Ii is probable that his ca
pacity for extortion and peculation has not
been exaggerated; but if we appropriate the