Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-02
CLEARLY DEFINED.

The Republican party has at last shown
it's hand Enthusiastically on the expansion
issue. Mr.. Mckinley, its head and
front, has, through our peace commits
sioners at Paris, formally declared for
imperialism, by demanding that Spain
surrender to us the whole of the Philip
pine group. He has set at naught the
pledge we made when we took up arms
"for the deliverance of Cuba" and prac-
tically admitted that that pledge was, as
far as his party was concerned. mere
subterfuge, by which was undertaken a
war of conquest.
Mr.. Mckinley himself and his advisers
claim that in instructing the commits
sioners to demand that Spain give up to
US the Philippines, he acted in harmony
with deep-seated and widespread public
sentiment as to the matter, as developed
on his recent western tour. He acted in
harmony with nothing of the kind. What
ever of sentiment in favor Of Imperialism
was manifested during Mr. McKinley's
junket was largely in partisan quarters,
and for the rest was worked up by Mr..
Mckinley and those who accompanied
him on his swing around. Taking the
junket by and through, II stands out
simply as a stumping tour, in which Mr..
Mckinley was used in his capacity as
war President to- popularize Imperialism
and consolidate his party on the question.
Again, the tour was also resorted to in
order that the President might find an
easy way of backing down from the posi-
ton of antagonism to the Hannas, the
Forakers, the Grosvenors, ct i'd omne
genus, which he assumed when. shortly
after the signing of the protocol. he ex-
pressed himself as opposed to the annexa-
ton of the Philippines.
And nov that the Republican policy is
defined, what we ask, would its consunl-
nation mean! Aside from the broad mi
general view that it would be obnoxious
to the cardinal doctrines laid down by the
founders of the republic and which have
stood trimphantly the test of time, it
holds out most dsheartening prospect.
1t would mean the necessity of maintain
ing a large standing army and the conse-
quent fostering of militarism among our
people. 1t would mean the experimenting
of our present difficult race problem
with others still more difficult to solve.
1t would mean the creation of hundreds
of new offices, whose incumbents would
squeeze with one hand the national Trea-
sury, and through it, the people of this
country, and with the other rob our
new wards as the people of the South
were robbed in Reconstruction days. 1t
would mean the augmentation OF our
present enormous debt, and the further
extension of the already indefinite period
during which the masses will be burdened
with the war taxes. Considering the mat
ter from these view points alone, the
picture is appalling.
From Paris and Madrid comes the
statement that Spain will probably reject
the demand, but We attach very little
Importance TO that statement. Spain
cannot afford to remain firm when crowd
ed to a final decision, and as it is evident
that the administration is joined to its
idol there is no hope of its receding. AS
we see it, the only thing that stands
between us and Imperialism is the United
states SENATE. Inc ULTIMATE AGREEMENT VI
the commissioners--the treaty proper
in order to its acquiring force and effect,
will have TO be ratified by the Senate,
through the concurrence of two-thirds Of
the senators present when Che question
is submitted TO vote. Senator Mitchell,
of Wisconsin, is quoted as saying that
there will be a prolonged debate in the
Senate over the policy of expansion,
and that manX other senators feel as he
does, that the United States have already
as much territory as they can properly
care for.
This gives us hope, and that hope will
be strengthened If the election Of next
Tuesday shall so result as TO afford the
Senate moral support in killing imperial
ism. Just in proportion to the Demo-
cratic successes in the congressional
elections will be the moral support The
Senate will feel has been given 1t in this
matter. Hence, the contest of next week
will have a vital bearing upon the impe-
riallstic issue, and the responsibility of
the Democrats in that contest cannot be
overestimated.