Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1898-07-07
WE HEAR A GREAT DEAL OF
1T, BUT DO WE KNOW
ITS MEANING?
No Spirit of Empire Shown in the
Acquisition of Territory Wrest-
ed From Spain in the
Present War.

that island when captured" seems
to attract even more attention than
the war, which seems to be waged in
a manner to please even the most
bloodthirsty.
Leading statesmen of all parties do
not agree on the policy to be adopted.
Perhaps 1t would be better not to
make a party matter Of it. Too many
measures are advocated and some
adopted simply because they are
"party measures" We need to hear
more OF country and less OF party.
We hear great deal aIofimperialism. of
The correct definition of that term
misleads many. A policy that is
thoroughly American cannot be i'm
perialism, and along this line the New
York Journal, one of the nations
most prominent Democratic papers,
says:
"The national policy advocated by
the Journal is, like the Journal itself,
thoroughly American. The purpose of
the policy is defense, not aggression.
Therefore it Is entirely free from the
spirit of imperialism.
We want q mighty navy to protect
us from attack and to enforce respect
for the Monroe doctrine ON the part
of the land. stealing, colonizing mon
arches of Europe. There is no i'm
perialism in that.
We want the Hawaiian islands as an
outpost for defense of our western
coast and of our comm cree in the
Pacific, destined to grow to gigantic
roportions. There is no Imperialism
in that.
We want the Nicaragua canal to
double the efficiency of our navy, to
shorten the route of our merchant
ships, to develop the Pacific coast and
to open up new markets for our East
ern, Southern and Western producers
and manufacturers. There is no i'm
perialism in that.
We want strategic bases in the West
Indies to strengthen the defense of
our Gulf and Atlantic coasts and to
command the approach to the Mica
ragua canal. There is no imperialism
in that.
We want great national Universities
at West Point and Annapolis to sup
ply US with large reserve force of
army and navy officers when wars
call comes. There is no imperialism
in that.
We want such a disposition made of
the Philippines, the Ladrones and the
Carolines as shall free their people
from Spanish tyranny, augment our
navalpowers, advantage our commerce
and spread the blessings of liberty.
Nothing should be done as to these
islands for the sake OF mere military
glory or to crafty lust for conquest.
The good of the Republic, largely
increased, must be the paramount con-
sideration. There is no imperialism
in that.
The Journal is Democratic, and
Democracy stands for liberty progress
and every rational precaution to pre-
serve the rights, foster the interests
and maintain the dignity of the Amer
lean people now and hereafter.
The line between a broad and pro-
gressive and strictly national policy
and policy of imperialism, which
means greed, can be drawn by every
sensible man.
No imperialism, but all the An,eri-
canism possibiei"
Grand possibilities seem to be open
ing up for this nation and unless some
mistake is made the war will bring
about grand results for America and
the world.
Depew and other prominent Ameri-
cans who we're opposed to what is
called the stew policy" are changing
their minds. Depew said to- day when
asked If his opinion on imperial policy
had changed:
"There are difficulties In my posi-
tion which did not exist when / took
1t up. New conditions are arising
all the while with the progression of
war which make it difficult to keep out
or get out of this coIonizing business.
We must take into view the temper of
our people who certainly would never
give any colonies back to Spain.
Transferring them or any of them to
a European power would lead to .
European war in 60 days. 1t looks as
though we would have to paint our
white elephant brown and teach him
to work"
In the meantime the war must be
finished. We are all "countipg our
chickens before they are hatched. !"
We are also prone to spend our money
before We get 1t.
The impression prevails here. az it
does In the West, that the war will
be over by fall at least. Many think
that the Spanish government will ask
for peace, as nothing can be gained by
continuing such q one sided fight. The
sooner the Spaniards ask for peace
the better terms they will get. II the
American government has to take
Havana and send feet to Spain there
will be nothing left OF that nation ex-
cept "honor." We don't want that,
am sure. M, WHITE,
Tho GInhe- Dem nxr~rf,a Ch, obau,uuro