The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1898-08-13
Expansion and Imperialism.


conference in Saratoga next month to consider
the future foreign policy of the United States" has
attracted general interest. Many distinguished
names have been signed to the call, and the con-
ference promises to he Il notable gathering. The
originators of the movement say that the question
whether the foreign policy of our fathers should be
adhered to or departed from is 'enough 10 chal-
enge the most serious consideration OF our ableSt
and most thoughtful men" They, therefore, urge
that the conference he composed of men from all
parts of the country whether they are for or
against IL policy of territorial expansion.
In commenting on this call our esteemed con-
temporary the Press a champion of 1.-The new ma
tionaI policy" says it is premature" and "inop-
perfume to hold such Il conference in this time OF
war 1t is besides not ''wiSe" nor patriotic" to
raise public discussion to the future foreign pol
icy of the United States. Not only this but the
conference is certain to embarrasS the President
and to interfere with the conduct of the war
Yet in the very same editorial column from which
these comments are taken appears an article dis
cussing at length the foreign policy of the country,
and applauding two distinguished citizens who
have expressed themselves in favor of territorial
expansion"
So itappears that it is not premature" and ''in-
opportune' nor "unwiSe'' and wanting in patri-
otism, for the champions of colonial conquest to
agitate their policy i'll the midst of the war. They
are not embarrassing the President nor giving
aid and comfort to the enemy" by demanding that
the territories to be conquered from Spain shall
become colonial appendageS of the United States.
From the day when Admiral Dewey destroyed the
Spanish fleet at Manila, and before foot of Span
ish soil had been taken, the champions of "the
new national policy" began their crusade. and they
have sought i'll every way to tutor and school tine
country into an acceptance of their schemes. The
most adroit appeals are made to greed and covet-
ousneSs Statistics of commerce are manipulated
to show the great value of the Philippine Islands
an American colony Political history is per-
verted to fit the annexation of Louisiana, Texas,
and California to the acquisition of this remote
archipelago and accounts of more or less imagina-
tive travellers ransacked for descriptions of the
wonderful healthfuldess of these equatorial islands
and of their peculiar adaptation for settlement by
New England and Pennsylvania farmers
But when it is proposed to sobcrly discuss in Il
national conference what is passionaely presented
in all forms of eXaggeration for the purpose of
forestalling public opinion, told that the
movement is premature" and "inOpportune" in
view of the fact that territory has yet been taken
from Spain. 1t is "unwiSe" and not patriotic to
thus 'embarrass the President" interfere with the
conduct of the war and give aid and comfort to
the enemy If all this be true then some Of the
organs and politicians holding intimate relations
with the Administration should long since have
recognized the unwisdom and the want Of patriot
ism in prematurely urging upon the Government
and people policy of territorial acquisition before
our armies had occupied foot of Spanish ground.
This question of what shall be done with the
colonial possessions of Spain, when taken is one
wholly apart from the war and its object as SOL
emnly declared by Congress and the President. 1t
iS far -fatp tba
discussion of the future of the Philippine Islands
can in any way embarrass the Administration or
influence the conduct of the campaign. The Sara
toga conference far from being premature and
wanting in patriotism will be most timely in serv-
ing to counteract the miSchievous teachings in ia
of a revised system of Roman imperialism
When concerted movement is made to convert a
war of humanity into war of territorial conquest
and thus to change the policy of this Government,
it would be neither patriotic manly in the citi-
to timidly withhold his opinion.
Instead of denouncing this Saratoga conference
and its purpose, let the champions of a new impe-
rialism accept the invitation to attend and frankly
define their program. They need not have any
fear of interfering with the conduct of the war.
Let them tell how it is proposed to govern the mil
lions of the equatorial archipelago BY mission
aries? BY armed garrison, occupying every
tors? Since the warlike natives will not work and
since the climate of the Philippines is fatal to
northern races, these fertile islands to be ex-
plotted like Hawaii, under the flag of the United
States by the labor of China and Japan?
Now is the time to discuss this question in all its
aspects, lest the country be taken unawares and
forced into policy from which it weuld be diff
cult to retreat. The attempt to deprecate discus
sion is repetition of the same tactics that were
employed with little success at the origin of the
war. While the opponents of hasty action were
denounced for want of spirit and patriotism the
Jingoes in the Senate and the newspaper press sc
wrought upon public opinion by every species OF
exaggeration that they well-nigh succeeded in
forcing recognition of the Republic of Cuba and
in Subordinatng the army of occupation to the in
surgent government and its Junta i'll New York
The true sentiment of the country was almost
sti1ed by the camors of a false enthusiasm and by
studied and systematic misrepresentation of the
real condition of things in Cuba. The Imperalists
have raised this question of the acquisition of the
Philippine Islands, and in order to silence opposi-
tion to their wild policy they denounce discussion
(on one side only as embarrassing to the President
and as interfering with the conduct of tho war