Omaha daily bee., 1898-06-19
NOT A VAR E0R EApIRE.

NOT A WAR - EMPIRE |
Every voice that is raised in opposl-
ton to the spirit of imperialism that is
being fostered in this country should
receive the careful attention Of the rco-
| pie. The advocates of territorial aG-
graudlzcment have scored a victory In
the house Of representatives and are
expecting to triumph in the senate. IL
they succeed, as seems dangerously
| probable, in annexing Hawaii, 1t will
stimulate effort In favor of the per
manent retention of conquered territory.
We confidently believe that at this time
n large majority of our people are OPP
posed to this policy. In order that this
opposition shall not decline those who
would renounce the traditional policy of
| the nation and embark it upon a course
| pregnant with difficulties II dangers
must be met and cOmbated at every
point.
There was held in Boston n few days
ago a public meeting to protest against
! the policy of territorial acquisition. Kts-
| olutions were adopted declaring that Il
war begun as an unseltish cndeavor 10
fulfill Il duty to humanity by ending the
unhappy situation in Cuba must not be
perverted into a wal of conquest; thai
any annexation of territory as a result
of the war would be n violation of the
national faith pledged in the joint rcso-
luton Of congress which declared that
the United States disclaimed ANY dis
position or intention to exercise sovcr.
eighty, jurisdiction or control over
Cuba except for the qualification
thereof" Il disclaimer which was in
tended to mean that this country had
no selfish purpose in making war; that
the mission of the United states is to
help the world by an example of sue
cessful self-governmcnt and that TO
abandon the principles and the policy
under which we have prospcred and
embrace the doctrines and practices
now called imperial Is to enter the path
which with other great republics has
ended in the downfall of free institu-
lions. There was no opposition to the
war. On the contrary, the chairman of
the meeting said, 'The wal exists and it
10 NbN u''S VI S'N'' ''rN
the government and one of the speak
ers declared: I'VE are not here to OPP
pose the wal or to throw any obstacle
in the way of its speedy and successful
termination. The question upon which
men differed before war was declared
is decided and it is idle to discuss that
question now. We are here to deal with
-. Ga, ,,.u ;.,,,. - ;.,;-t tl,,t =, ava,
begun in the cause of humanity shall
not be turned into Il war for empire,
that an attempt to win for Cubans the
right to govern themselves shall not be
made an excuse for extending our sway
over alien peoples without their con-
sent" 1t wills further declared that to
| seize any colony of Spain and hold it as
, our own, without the free consent of
its people, Is n violation of the principles
upon which the government rests, which
. we nave preached to the world for a
. century and which we pledged ourselves
= to respect when the wal was declared,
This voice of protest from New Eng.
land against Il policy of imperialism
against Il proposed course on the part
of the United States distinctly hostile tc
r., our republican system and which would
inevitably lead us into militariSm, will
all that implies, should find an echo il
every quarter of the nation. Thoughtful
S men, conservative men, patriotic men
should everywhere within the boundarie!
of the union make themselves heard il
explicit and unqualified terms in opposi
ton to the demand that this war be
o made Il war for empire, that it shall bt
perverted from the humanitarian pur
$ pose for which it was declared into {
war of conquest and territorial aggran
diZement. Let those who realize til,
dangerous character of the spirit of i'm
pcrialism not delude themselves with til
idea that left to itself it will not grow
There are powerful influences fosterin,
lt-lnfuenceS prompted by avarice ant
by ambition for power-commercial an,
military infiuences-and the force O
these upo public sentiment must no
be moderated. Against such influence
all who believe that the republic shout,
adhere to its traditional policy shout
is array themselves ut once. That /
dictated by II wise and true patriotism
LOOKING AFTER CHINESE TRADE,
The recommendation of Secretary O
- A- M. .1I