Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-14
Impcrialisn.

To the Editor or the DlSpatch'
| Somehow in my loneliness and isola'ioh
out here, in the mountains, ma myseii
! utterly unable TO keep up with the iapiu
march of events, and get, Ike Otheio,
] "perplexed in the extreme IN my
! troubles. i come 10 you-my unfailing re-
source-and like Ajax, call for light.
| Twenty-six thousand soldiers were sur
] ncient for our 70,00O,0O0 people. We nave
recently obtained by conquest or pur-
chase or both, territory with lO'WOVo
new subjects and demand Is made by
/ the government for a regular army OF
( 10000 soldiers, an increase OF H'WJ Inc
] regular army, If increased proportion
ately, should contain 29,7ll men, an IN
crease of 3.7l4. But, instead OF an in
crease of 3,7l4 soldiers, how Is II that the
government asks for 1900? This is what
l want you to explain 10 me and other
benighted citizens Please do 1t.
Does the government expect our new
subjects TO be so unrully and obstreperOus
that very nearly three times as many
soldiers will be required 10 hold these
lO,O00000 of new subjects under control
as was necessary for our former 100000?
II so, we had better pause, and fatty re-
fuse TO sustain the action Of Mckinley
Paris commission. The navy expenses
and other expenses will be increased Ike
the army expenses, and, in short order,
taxation to the point OF absolute conhsca-
ton, or national bankruptcy, IL i'm
mediately before us Such is the happy
prologue to the swelling act of this i'm
perial theme!
Mr. Editor, many things are good to
those that want them, but horrible If
they don't want them. We are forcing
good government upon the islands Of
the sea, which, wiser than we, don't want
1t. because they know they are not fit
for il. We put ourselves before the ma
lions Of the world. I'm the ridiculous atti-
tude Of forcing upon others, whenever
we can. our nostrum for good govern
ment; our panacea for all political evils.
and yet we have at home an irremediable
sore. self-in1cted. which is our shame
and disgrace. We have forced two races
c0ngenitally different and unequal. into
an unnatural and abhorent union, and.
by the organic law of the land, we hold
them together in the bonds of a political
partnership. Left alone i'm their natural
relations, the races would be reciprocally
helpful and beneficial; but in this cOmpul-
sorry union each initiates the other. with
the result Of a hideOus carnival of crime.
Our attempted government Of two dis
similar races is an awful failure. 1t is
more than a failure; it is a crime-the
crime of the world and of the ages-a
crime so monstrOus that I'm the COMPARE
son all other crimes glow with the
radiance Of virtue. How can we have the
effrontery, then, TO seek 10 extend our
sway over the polygot tribes Of che
southern seas?
We have entered upon n career, which
leads. by the shortest route, to our ruin.
We have spurned the advice Of Washing
ton and the traditions of the republic.
But a little while ago we were ready TO
fight the most powerful nation Of the
globe i'm the defence Of the Monroe doc
trine but now we have violated 1t most
sweepingly ourselves, and ave never
breathe its name.
The people Of this country, upon whom
chiefly falls the burden of government,
are opposed TO the new programme. II
they would preserve their inherited in
situations. let them rise now in their in
dignant might and turn back this fatal
tide. We have Inundated and despoiled
Spain. but have suffered n greater loss
ourselves. The Constitution IS subverted
and the republic Is gone.
b. PURYEAR,
Madison Mills, Va.