Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1898-12-09

what we are united for. The argument of
destiny Is not arguments It is phrase. 1t is
the pro iect of profit that makes those
islands CLEAN before our eyes, an unconscious
desire to rival England in her wealth and
power, ruling colonies all over the world.
Let us weigh the arguments against this.
"FiIs st, It is against the Constitution OF the
United States, as interpreted by the supreme
court II has been decided by the final
authorities of that magnificent tribunal, in
which the Anglo-Saxon idea of this supremacy
of law is forever embodied more clearly and
powerfully than in any other human institu-
ton. That court has said "There Is GER
tainly no power given by the Constitution OF
the federal government to establish or main
tain colonies bordering on the United States
or Mt a distance to be ruled and governed at
its own pleasure. No power is given
to acquire territory to be held and governed
permanently in that character" While that
decision stands, the policy of colonial ex.
pansion lie for us illegal and un.AmeTican.
The first step along that glittering path must
be taken over the dishonored ruins OF
broken constitution. Every following step
in that career will bring us into conflict with
our own institutions or force us to reconstruct
them. Every republic that has undertaken
II has been transformed into q monarchy or
an empire. We cannot compete with mon
arches or empires in land grabbing and vas
sal holdings except by breaking up our In
situations and building up different fabric
out of the pieces. We must either abandon
our institutions or,be paralyzed by them"
"Let us beware of the flattering comparison
with England. The English people have n
peculiar genius for governing inferior races
n steady head, n rudei hand, and superb self
confidence. What proof have we shown of
any such administrative genius in our deal
ings with inferior races? Does the compari
son of the treatment of the Indians in Canada
nd in States n
able sense of pride? Is the condition of
drunken and disOrderly Alaska n just en-
enlargement to larger colonial enterprises?
Is our success in treating the Chinese and
negro problem so notorious that we must at
tempt to repeat 1t 10000 miles away? Are the
rife shots echoing in Illinois and the Caro-
linas the Joyous salutes that herald our adj
vance to rule 100000 more black and yellow
people in islands of the Pacific ocean?
"Expansion means bloody strife. 1t means
entanglements. The great nations of Europe
are encamped around the China sea in arms,
and if we go in among them-I say this rs an
American-we must fight when they fight
Expansion means that we shall water distant
lands and stain the seas with an ever increas
ing torrent of American blood. Is it for this
our philanthropists and Christian preachers
urge us to abandon our peaceful mission o T
enlightenment, ever.glorious isolation of
eminence, and thrust forward, sword in hand
into the arena of imperial conflict?
al will not speak now of our word CT honor.
But how can we pass by the solemn and ma
iestic claim of our declaration of independ.
ence that government derives its just power
from the consent of the governed? How can
we abandon the principle for which onr
fathers fought and died-no taxation without
representation? How can we face the world
as a nation of free states holding vassals "a
mougrel nation in which republic is tied to
an empire and democracy bears children not
to a a i'm ufsba off of al
soutism?
The cry of today is, Wherever the American
1ag has been raised, it must never be
hauled down! The man who VIII not join
that cry may be accused of disloyalty and
called IA Spaniard If the price of popularity
is sitting convictions l want none of it.
There is one thing that can happen to the
American flag worse than to be hauled down.
That is to have its meaning changed. Here
tofore it has meant freedom AMI equality and
self-government, and battle only for the sake
of peace. Pray God its message may never
be altered. May the lustre of its equal stars
never be dimmed by the shadow of the
crowned imperial eagle May its stripes of
pure red and while never be crossed by the
yellow bar sinister of warfare for conquest
May it never advance save 10 bring liberty
and equal citizenship to all beneath It's fold !
May it never retreat save from place where
its presence would mean disloyalty to the
American ideal! May it float untarnished
and unchanged save by the blossoming of new
stars in its celestial field of bluel May all
seas learn to welcome 1t and all lands to look
to it as the emblem of the great republic,
the mountain peak for nations, lonely, If
need be, until other peoples have been lifted
to share her lofty standard God keep
America from lowering her flag from that
proud solitude of splendor God save the
birthright of the one country on earth whose
ambition is not to subjugate the world, but
to inspire it with II new idea of liberty"
We see that the Boston Herald has sold
out to the eXpansionsts.