The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-06-19
THE PROGRAM or IMPERIALISM.

4
was expressly declared that it was tc
be followed by silver legislation. And
yet the men who secured the passage OF
that act at the very time knew that il
was their purpose in passing it to sound
the death knell of silver.
History repeats itself. In the reso.
luton declaring Cuba free that resulted
in declaration Of war, it was express,
ly declared that this government had no
intention of annexing Cuba, and the
war would not be prosecuted for terri
torial acquisition. And yet before a
serious attempt has been made to win
victory in Cuba, some of the very men
who voted for the solemn declaration
against territorial acquisitions are now
| plotting and planning for Il gigantic
scheme of colonial government, in which
| there will be fat pickings for spectators
and big offices for dependent relatives of
those in power. The dishonesty of such
Il course is too apparent for discussion.
That it is seriously considered by any
man who supported the resolution in
Congress is evidence of moral degrade
ton.
The New York Journal has espoused
the cause of Il new national policy, pat
termed after the English idea of colon
les in all parts of the world, and with
it is making a great fight to have this
country cut loose from the ancient land
marks and embark upon what it calls a
magnificent and enlarged national duty.
The idea is dazzling one at first blush.
To annex Hawaii, Cuba, Porto Rico, the
Philippines, the Canaries and other is
lands in all portions of the globe appeals
strongly to three classes: !. Those
who can be influenced by big names and
prospects Of worldwide national glory;
>. Those who see that if this govern
ment undertakes such policy it
will relegate the economic questions to
the rear, and the gold standard and the
war tariff will be permanently saddled
on the people, greatly to the interest of
the syndicates and trusts; 3. Those
who feel that they would have II pull
so that they could skim the cream off the
new colonies, much as the Spanish of
tice-holders have enriched themselves to
the ruin Of the Cubans and Spanish sub
iects in other colonies.
Mr.. Jefferson, who added the Louisi-
ana purchase to the United States,
stated the true policy Of this country
when he said we wanted no territory
that required strong navy to protect
it. At recent meeting in Faneuil
hall to protest against the policy of inn
peralism, Hon. Moorfield Story utter
cd wcighty truths when he said:
We not only abandon the
boosted Monroe doctrine upon
which. with it's recent extensions,
we were insisting few years
ago: we not only diregard that wise poi
lev of our non-interyention in European
troubles which Washington preached,
and which until now we have followed
we become a military power, burdened
with a standing army and an enormous
navy. threatened with complications
thousands of miles away and exposed 10
constant apprehension. We take up the
burden which is crushing Europe.
Let me describe the situation in the
words of Lord Dufferin, than whom
there is no more distinguished or eX
perienced Englishman:
''.To-day it would suffice for any one
than standing camp, numbering mi
lions Of armed men, while a double row
of frowning and opposing fortresses bris-
tie along every frontier. The globe itself
has become Il mere bundle of nerves,
and the slightest disturbance mt any one
point of the system sends portentous
tremor through its morbidly sensitive
surface.
''"The whole of Europe is little better
half Il dozen august personages to speak
above his breath or unwittingly to raise
his little finger. and, like Il heaven over
charged with electricity. the existing con
dition of unstable equilibrium which sils-
tains the European political system
would be upset, and war, waged in cir
cumstances Of greater horror than has
been hitherto known to the experience
Of mankind, might eventually envel0p.
not Europe alone, but two, nay, all four
continents ut once.
ut in for this we are asked to change
our peaceful independence. Our domestic
difficulties will be neglected, for our at
tention will be divided. Our taxation
must increase, our currency become more
disordered, and worse than all, the
corruption which threatens us cannot
fail to spread.
when we undertake to govern subject
peoples separated from us by half the
world, let us remember how we despoiled
the Indians ut our doors and how impos-
sible it has been to keep that service
pure. Let us not forget the carpet-bag
government of our own Southern broth
ers whose complaints fell on deaf ears,
though they spoke our language and we
heard them every day.
what think You shall we hear of
wrong in Manila or the Ladrones, and
how can we reform abuses there? Such
Il system means great increase of wealth
and fresh fields for corruption.
1T means the growth of a class little
accustomed to respect the rights of their
interiors 1t means the spoils system O
Enormously extended. 1t means not only
imDeriaIism abroad, but imperialism Mt