The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-11
THE IMPERIAL FOLLY.
Reasons Why the United States Can
Not Rule Subject Races.
To the Editor Of the INDIANAPOLIS Journal:

To the Editor OF the indianapolis Journal:
The people who are tickling their own
imagination by depicting a career of con-
quest and colonial dominion for the United
States either willfully or ignorantly lose
sight of some of the most obvious linita-
tons of our form of government. OF all ma
tons ours is the most democratic in theory
and practice. 1t is strong in the strength of
a governing public opinion, such as exists
nowhere else on earth; but all democracies
are VIGOROUSLY weak in the kind of admin
istrative functions required for military and
colonial rule. Is it not plain that a govern
ment that has to take a whole ration into
its confidence at every step must often be
seriously embarrassed in carrying out
policy of restriction and repression that
may be necessary to the government of
distant colony, especially when that policy
is utterly alien to the traditions of the home
government? England might be cited as an
exception to this rule; but 1t must be re-
membered that her colonial policy is much
older than her present democratic tenden-
cies For generations, her colonial admin
istration has been in the hands of trained
experts, who are wholly independent Of po-
lltical changes and are intrusted with large
administrative discretion IN the government
Of subject races. 1t is not difficult to mag
inc how different would be our proposed
imperial policy. Our colonial administra-
tors would be selected mainly with refer
ence to their services in the last campaign.
They would certainly have neither expert
ence nor precedentS to guide them in the
rather difficult task of comforting, by force,
the blessings of American institution" upon
refractory provinces. The experience in
formation they acquired would be S &c to
be largely neutraliZed by the constant inter-
meddllng of Congress, whose members
would conform their foreign policy to the
notions of their own constituents How
could a colonial policy administer by in
competent or inexperienced officials abroad
and muddled by lingo congressman at home.
be expected to prove a blessing to anybody?
But the administrative difficulty is per-
haps the least Of the problem. OF all the
propose to absorb, Cuba is clearly the most
desirable. Were 1t virgin soil, as all our
territories have practically been, the Ma
ton could take some satisfaction in seeing
what American enterprise could make out
of tropical conditions But SO far from be-
ing virgin SOIL Cuba has a badly mixed
be alien to our institutions. 1t is too nu1ner-
Gus to be disregarded as we diregarded the
Spanish landhoders of California. 1t is
certain to be the basis upon which any
future government of the island must rest.
Now it is generally conceded that this popu-
lation is unfit for self-governMent in con-
formity with our standards. Yet people
that have been fighting for independence for
a generation will be pretty sure to resent
strongly American Subjugation as we'll as
annexation. They are VIGOROUSLY opposed
to either, and it could only be by virtue of
conquest that our government could eStab-
lish a safe and stable authority in Cuba.
The Gear of Russia might find very little
difficulty in diSpOSing of such objections to
his rule, for with him it would only be
question of Quartering few regiments or
Cossacks where the could do the most good.
But Thomas jefferson and the other anti
uuated worthless who framed the Declara-
ton of Independence have educated our
people with different notions of the rights
even Of subject races Think of an admin
istration appealing to the country to in
dorse q policy that had first taken from
people the government they had been fight
troll over it's administration. This would APP
ply to all the Spanish colonies we could APP
propriate but in the case or Cuba we should
have to begin with most fragrant and dis
graceful breach of national good faith We
began this war with a congressional pledge
not to interfere in any way with CUBAN
independence and self-government. To talk
about comforting the boon of American IN
situations upon CubanS without their con-
sent under such circumstances SHOWS very
low sense of national honor, to say the
least.
What are we to do with the Cubans, then?
Congress settled that question three months
ago We are to leave them absolutely free
to organize for themselves the best govern
ment they can. This is all we can do con-
sistently with our own honor and no less
consistently with our own best interests;
for there is every indication that we should
find the task of governing this turbulent
population without their own consent no
light matter either from a political or mill
tary point of view. j. @. DONNELL.
Kingston, Ind, July g.