The San Francisco call., 1899-10-05
INVOKING BLAINE.

! \ SenDle IN chicago, the 1nleI-Okcdll VI 'iiot
city says: 'Why should Chicago tolerate a
conference OF antiimperalist traitors any more than
/, would tolerate convention OF acknowledged in
endares or anarchists? They should be handed over
to the United States officers and tried for treason.
Every loyal Republican feels keeny the impoicy OF
such language used professedly in the interests OF
Republican administration The imperlal1st press
which approves of it is engaged in conurng with the
name OF Blaine and the memory OF that states
man to back up an imperial policy in the Philippines
and the West Indies. They are in the habit OF con
temptuously asking anti-imperalist Republicans what
they think Blaine would think of them if he were
alive
To this we reply that if he alive and consistent
with his policy he would agree with President Nc
Kiney that "forcibe annexation is criminal aggres-
sion, opposed to our ideas OF national morality.
About this there need be mistake, for Blaine went
upon record in the highest official sense upon this
subject and in terms that read like prophecy OF the
present situation.
In his instructions as Secretary Of State June IS
1851, issued to General Fitzpatrick who was about to
sail as Minister to Chile Mr. Blaine discussed the
between Chile and Peru and the taking of territory
by force and conquest as follows: But at the con-
clusion of war avowedy of conquest, but for the
solution Of differences which diplomacy had failed to
non OF peace is calculated cast suspicious on the
professions with which war originally declared
Il may we'll be that at the termination OF such con-
test the changed condition and relation OF all the par
ties to it may make readjustment OF boundaries or
territorial changes wise well necessary. But
this where the war was not OF conquest should be
the result OF negotiation and not the absolute prem
mary condition upon which alone the victor consents
to negotiate. At this day. when the right OF people
to govern themselves the fundamental basis Of repub
lican institutions, is so widely recognized, nothing IS
more difficult or more dangerous than the forced
transfer OF territory carrying with it indignant and
hostile population and nothing but necessity proven
before the world can Justify it. 1t is not case in
which the power desiring the territory can be &C
cepted as safe impartial Judge. The
Government of the United States believes that il is in
consonance with those principles which professed
by all the republics OF America, that such territorial
changes should be avoided far as possible and that
they should never be the result OF mere force"
1t is evident that il Blaine were alive and should
repeat that exact language he would under the
Inter Oceans classification OF traitors and be liable
TO arrest and trial for treason Had he oeseen what
is now going on he could have described it no more
accurately war avowedy not for conquest has
been perverted in the interest OF forcibe annexation
of territory carrying with indignant and hostile
people, against the principles upon which this and all
other American republics founded. 1t is plain
that Blaine Republican cannot be i1nperialist
and that when imperalists his in support
OF their schemes they do in dense ignorance OF al
that he taught on the subject of territorial acquisi
ton
He stood in everlasting denial OF the right OF re-
public to receive sovereignty OF territory regardless
OF the protest of the people nhabiting it He believed
in the right Of self-government and would have
abhorred any man pretending to be a Republican
who would deny it.
What are to be the consequences of going astray
from the principles OF Blaine may be seen in recent
statement by that Republican leader, xSenator Hen
derson of Missouri, who says The Republican
party is not strong enough change the constitution
OF the United States 1t will not be permitted to con-
vert our Government into a military machine
to. wage wars OF aggression abroad and silence the
voice of freedom at home The Republican party
cannot lend itself to the schemes OF adventures who
seek new lands at public expense to exploit their
schemes for punder In my judgment millions Of
Republicans in the United States entertain these
views and we must all come to them sooner or later
or else accept the alternative of eternal war stand
ing army, an enormous public debt, pensions beyond
endurance renewed taxes upon consumption, carry
ing their exactons to every hearthstone in the land
and worse than all, final surrender OF our repub-
lican simplicity for a government Of imperialism"
Surely it is better for Republicans leave imperial
ism to Morgan, Vest and its other Democratic advo-
Gates and promoters and stay with the straight and
patriotic Republicansm OF James c. Blaine.
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