New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-24
"ANTI-IMPERIALfSN

The spectre of imperialism is no new thlng
II was coniured up three generations ago ID!
no less a man than Josiah Quincy. The occa-
sion was the admission of Louisiana as a state
That act lie solcnnly declared. would speedily
destroy the American Union. The Constitution
would be rent asunder. II was mohs'rous
and aboIninablc thing to undertake the estaD-
lishmcnt here Of an empire. when Hlsh'
stretch even TO the Pacific Coast. or at least
so far to the westward that the mouth OF 'ne
Ohio River might become the geographical
centre of our domain. Yet Mr.. Quincy lIvcd
to see that empire an accomplished fac'' 'he
mouth of the Ohio far to the eastward
OF the geographical centre of the Nation ana
yet The Constitution preserved and vindicatcd
and made stronger than ever before-for the
failure Of the Secession movement was per
fcc,y obvious before his death Al intervals
since that first one various other anti-im-
pcrastc" movements have been organized.
with somewhat less net effect upon the prog
ress Of the Nation than the provcrbai COW on
the railroad track would have upon the prog
ress of an express train.
There is little ground for fear that the pres
ent movement of that kind will prove any more
successful-that is to say. any more mischiev-
ous-than It's predecessors. so far as the ACTON
of this Government is concerned. The duty OF
the Government is too clear 10 he Obscured the
will Of the people is too strongly expressed 10
he nullifCd. by any such device But there Is
one consideration concerning ii Of more than
ordinary gravity. That is its effect upon thc
reputation Of this country before the world.
In the case of Louisiana the dispute was
purely domestic one. We were engaged in no
foreign war nor diplomatic dispute But the
present case does deeply involve orr foreign
relations II involves the settlement OF the
issues of foreign war which is At the present
moment not ended but merely suspended. II
involves the conduct of diplomatic negotiations
of the most delicate and most momcntouS
nature And the purport of tn" movement is
nothing less than to emharrass the United
STATES Government in the pursuance OF lis
policy and if possible TO defeat that policy
and 10 give comfort and aid to the enemies of
this Nation That is the dctestablc feature of
the case.
We do not overratc the importance of the
movement and Of those engaged in II. It's
effect here will he nil as it should be. But
the trouble is that it is as much exploited by
press agents rs the average star actress. In
the very nature of the case reports Of II are
sent TO all the world. Other nations do not
realize the intrinsically insignificant character
Of IT, And so the Nation stands before the
world aprarently divided against itself in
contest with IN alien Power The spectacle
is presented of a Government engaged I'm ncgo-
tations abroad through diplomatic channels
and group Of its own constituents organizing
town-mcctings in opposition to il ana in sym
patty with the enemy. We have heard good
deal IN recent years about shirt sleeves diplo-
macy" largely in a cel.sorious spirit from these
very "anti-imperiallsts. But the most Oh
trnsivo shirt sleeves would be thousand times
better than an arm clad In broadcoih striving
10 stab the Government in the back.