The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1898-08-19
COLUMN
EDITORIAL MISCELLANY.

EDITORIAL MISCELLANY.
The democrats of the north have been
very unwise; they have had the audac-
lty to venture opinions without waiting
to hear from the solid south. The tail
has wagged without the aid or consent
OF the dog and trouble is to follow.
Mr.. Bryan announced himself as op-
posed to the annexation of Hawaii or
the occupation of any conquered terri
tory, and in doing this he made the
mistake of thinking that he was some
body in the ranks of democracy. The
fact is. however, that the South is the
democratic party. 1t may coquette
with northern allies, it may give them
the shadow of power, but the substance
is with the south and always has been.
The south is now speaking and the
south is in favor of imperialism. %
The Southern planters are essentially
governing people. With them the
doctrine that all men were created free
and equal applies only to the whites.
They are willing to accept the govern
ment OF the conquered colonies either
with or without the consent of the gov
erned.
1t is absurd to believe that the free
ing of lot of half breed Cuban negroes
was what made the south anxious for
war. 1t is absurd to think that they
were willing to sacrifice their lives for
negro supremacy in Cuba, when it is
sudden death for negro to vote ac-
cording to his own convictions in the
southern states.
The people of the south, more than
any other class of our people, went into
the war with dreams of conquest. The
annexation, not the conquest of Cuba,
was what they: desired, and they are
not to be cheated out of their pound of
flesh by any scatterbraiued mouthpiece
from Nebraska. Missouri has already
spoken in spite of the remonstrance of
Congressman Bland.
The remainder of the south will speak
and the democrats of the north will
acqulesce in stronger policy of imper-
lallsm than was ever dreamed of by the
republicans. We venture the predic-
ton that the same northern democratic
papers which are now talking of the
'sleprous isles of the Paciic' will soon
be calling Mckinley traitor because
he did not demand immediate possess
sion of all the Caroline, Ladrone and
Philippine islands.
The republican party has approached
the question of an extended colonial
policy with diffidence. 1t has not been
anxious to assume new responsibilities
and new governmental complications.
| The course of the war has presented
many new questions and it has been the
policy of the administration to await
the course of events rather than to form
a hasty and perhaps erroneous policy.
Thus it is that those who are actively
opposing or favoring the acquisition of
new territory do not know of certain
| ty whether they are with the admins
tration or against it.
| That the republicans have not been
In undue haste is shown by the fact
that the annexation OF Hawaii was de-
layed until the pressure of war made it
a military necessity. What is to be the
ultimate fate of Cuba, Porto Rico or the
Philippines has not as yet been decid-
ed, and it would be much more econ
omcal, to say the least, if our democrat
tic friends would reserve their fire UNI
til theys know at which party they are
aiming.
Ii the United States is to become a
great governing country like England
there are many lessons which we must
learn. We must first learn to govern
ourselves. We must learn self control.
we must learn respect for the rights of
others, we must learn to avoid danger
GUS extremes, and to distrnst the glitter
ing schemes of theorists.
/ No country can govern wisely and
we'll if its own public policy is to be dis
turbed, and its very existence threaten
ed every four wears by the revolution
aly rawlings of prejudice and ignorance.
We must have strong. staple institu-
tions, we must have such sound bust
ness, governmental and financial insti-
buttons as will challenge the respectand
confidence not only OF our dependencies
but OF the world.