The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-12-25
SUNDAY. DECEMBER %, 1875.
ANOTnER RROADstDE.


A few days ago The Times repuhlish-
cd. from the Greenviile IS. e. Noun
taineer the substance Of a most Vigor-
Gus editorial against Expansion Col
onel Hoyt. the editor. evidently knew
what he was about when he entitled his
article. Have we a Monarchy or q Re
publc?" Every enlightened statesman
IS obliged to see that while colonial
policy may, perhaps. under exceptionally
favorable conditions. be safely adopted
and wisely administered under a mon
archv stiH. under republican form OF
government. the obstacles against such
a policy are well-nigh insuperable.
The British statesmen have had long
generations OF experience in administer
Ing a colonial policy. and yet no man
of sense and candor can read the speeches
or the writings of Edmund Burke with
out having his faith in such policy
even under monarchy very seriously
shaken. and II is a fact perfectly well
known 10 all competent students Of
British political history, that not few
Of the ahlest British Statesmen since
Burkes day have seriously questioned
the wisdom Of that policy, while some Of
the most enlightened of them have eX-
pended an the powers Of their eioQuence
OF tongue and pen in denouncins it as
unwise and injurious 70 the best in
terests Of their country.
But at the present period in the his
tory Of America, there are some very
peculiar reasons why common modesty,
and "a decent respect for the opinions Of
mankind" should make us slow to accept
Imperialism" During the whole Of our
history we have been "home bodies
and. so far as we know. it was The
unanimous opinion Of the fathers Of the
republic that we should always remain
''home bodies" The warning against
"entangling alliances" sounded more
than century ago. IN the very infancy
Of the republic. came from one of n,
wsest purest. most unselfsh and most
far-seeing statesmen that ever admins
tered any government since Moses led
Gods people out OF Egyptian bondage.
That warning has become n household
word In our politics. and the very horn
book OF American statesmen of all par
ties
We have. for more than century. been
almost worried out OF our lives in our
struggles with the mighty problem, how
to govern alien raccs.No man who has
really studied the political history Of this
country in the Debates OF the Federal
Convention. Bentons Thirty Years View
Blaines Twenty Years in Congress John
Quincy Adams Diary. or any other
"authority." can help seeing that nearly
everything which we call american
politics" has. during the whole course
Of our history. grown out Of. or been
closely connected with the questions,
what shall we do with the negroes
and "How shall we manage the Indians?"
And on neither OF these questions does
any thoughtful man believe that any APP
proach TO a settlement is anywhere in
sight.
Now With such history behind us, and
such problems before MS. right here at
home. II should seem a proper answer
20 the 'imperialist' 10 say. This is the
airy coinage OF your brain"
An old Virginia statesman OF the Pied
mont region used TO tell gleefOlly the fol
lowing anecdotc which is here In point:
A sturdy old farmer. who was noted for
staying al home and minding his own
concerns. lived upon the public road
which Ted 90 the ourt-house. On every
fourth Monday-Couniy Court day OF
Orange-he would see hundreds CT men
riding by hts gate, on their way to the |
courthouse Not few Of them were |
his neighbors. and he would ask them, |
where are you going?" ''Going to !
court" what for?" Business" Now,
the quiet old soul had never been 70 |
court In his lie, and naturally enough, |
was puzzled with the question, what |
sort OF business can ,ake so many people |
TO court?" 80, one fourth Monday. ne /
said 10 the good wife, Nancy. as the |
crap Is laid by. bleeye III saddle the !
old gray mar. and ride down 10 the cote
aouse, Jest 10 sec what sort o business |
al them folks Is got thar" SO away he /
rode 10 the courthouse. There he met |