The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-28
The Talk About Imperialism.

To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:
TIE countries which cultivate methods of
ignorance and repress education and intel
Hgence among the masses are always pre-
pairing the way toward Imperialism. But
spending hundreds of millions annually for
the best known methods for public educa-
ton and the highest possible condition of
intelligence among the masses, as this
country is doing, is death to Imperialism,
and the very life and power of self-govern-
ment among the people. Practical proof OF
the rapid trend away from imperial govern
ment is found in the numerous enactments
by Congress and the state legislatures of
law demanded by and in behalf of the
masses of the American people. More acts
of this character have gone into the statute
books in the last thirty years than in all the
previous history of the country. In the
course of a single century the influence OF
our free institutions has been so vitality felt
by other nations as to thoroughly impress
them that the spirit, if not the form. of i'm
perialism has been melting away to con-
Torrance with these better things. For
hundred years these facts took the form of
tremendous immigration hither from
score of other nations. This but accelerated
the changes which have taken place both in
half a century past. That which is now
transpiring is but the rebellion of a higher
humanity at the spirit and policies of a
nation which has stood still hundreds of
years, clearly traceable to the cumulative
spirit and impetus given by the free institu-
tons which we boast. Great duties and re-
sponsibilities seem thrust upon us as a re-
suit of what we hold to and teach in behalf
of the brotherhood of the race. Nations can
no more escape the responsibilities which
come to them as the result of their organic
and civic lite than can the individual from
the influence OF contact who has lived
splendid life and which has lifted up those
coWardly run away from and destroy what
they have builded, but they cannot escape
responsibility. This nation is now expert
enclng responsibilities begotten of her teach
lngs, her free institutions, her Well-nigh
universal intelligence, and her aVoWal ard
exemplitication of a government by the peo-
pie and for the people The destruction of
the institution of slavery by the war of
thirty years ago removed the last obstacle
to the influence of our power upon the
world. The march to the present condition
since that date has been most pid. Nearly
all the statutes, state and national, in be-
half of the betterment of the masses have
been enacted since that date. They give the
lie to the demagogue who cries imperial
ism. Whomsoever really fears such con-
summation las no adequate idea of the
logic of events, because they do not realize
the inevitable sequences nor the chain
Ol events WHICH l6du IdTlHGI lTOH uSSpOllC
power
The gospel of American institutions in
scope of influence and power in shaping
the destiny in material things for the
worlds good is not unlike the other gospel
which takes hold of the spiritual side of
life. The latter is well-nigh universally rec
ognized applicable throughout the world,
and in the ratio of the scope where it has
touched the former Is seen to be also. In
some sense the permanent movement Is con-
quest, but 1t is the conquest of a hidden
power which impelS what is seen, and
which, moreover, is commended by the best
civilization of all continents. Spain carried
her civilization to the point of recoil. Some
active power had to make available the
resistance that had for centuries accumu
lated. Closer in contact it naturally fell to
this country TO end the horrors and barbar-
ism. The movement is the farthest removed
from deSpotic power, or imperialism as ii
is called by the demagogue who would seek
party issue, in lieu of one that is rapidly
disappearing.
Hon. Maurice Thompson has lately dis
cussed in most admirable spirit and in
sight, in the columns of the Journal the
practical ends to which this movement
must speedily come JOHN b. CONNER.
indianapolis. June o.