The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1899-10-11


bf the Amencan ehurch, presided. f3Ishs
op whihle briefly weicomkd the consfe-
saton 90 this city and state The topic
for the hour was Does national stpan.
sion Involve Imperialism"
Bishop Henry c. Potter OF New York,
opened the formal discussion.
Does national expansion imply I'm
neraiism7' was the subject OF the address
Of Right Rev. Henry c. Potter. bishop
OF New York. Among other things ne
said
imperialism IL an unfortunate word in
this discussion. because, of course. In one
sense. Il has no Appropriateness. The
best authorities define an fmperial'st as
meaning one who belongs to, or supports
an emperor and imperialism as a 'sys-
TEN OF state on imperial government Now
whatever else may happen, the hands on
the clock OF history do not usually 60
backward, and nothing Is. antecedeutiy
speaking. more improbable than that
nation which has delivered itself from
the rule OF kings. and the rights OF the
few as against the disabilities of the
many Will. being, moreover a people that
has adopted the principle Of universal SUI
away that privilege and RENTS the gov
ernment To the will OF an Individual
which Is substantially the imperial idea
But whatever may be improbable
nothing Is more entirely impossible than
that nation which still preserves the
forms Of democratic government may In
time subordinate them to methods OF It's
administration, which, sooner or later
will bring the substance OF imperialism
along with them.
Setting aside what had happened or
would happen he sought to show how this
might come about by assuming a situa-
tion which he thought conceivable. A for
eigh power had acquired a great group OF
island which, practically. it knew nothing
Some OF them, however. had been main.
taining a long ard heroic struggle for
freedom. and had fondly hoped that their
purchase by a republic would be simply
the prelude to the achievement OF that
and continuing ne said
Now. 81 would seem at least reasona BILE
that the conquering or purchasing re.
public should inaugurate its relations 10
its new possessions by some conference
with its dominant peoples. But no Its
first word Is subsection. its first demand
surrender, Its first, and third eondi
tions are: We will recognize nobody, We
will treat with nobody, we alone will
not work happily. These pestiferous wards
dictate all the terms. The policy does
OF the nation will not lay down Their
arms; and these alien communities instead
Of hailing the stars and stripes with
wild delight are actually dnsolent enough
to intimate that they would rather sa-
lutte flag of their own. Let US suppose
however, that the time comes when this
foreign republic has crushed out the last
ember OF rebellion. and stifed every faint
est hope Of protest. The ord revolution
airy idea survives, the old passion for
freedom wakes anew and so t.e new pos
sions must be vigorously goverened. there
must be hosts Of troops. and scores of
governors. and the organization of armies
and stats and military courts for nobody
knows just how many Stands.
How are these governments to be con-
stituted? How Is the chief ruler Of the
distant republic to whom as II happens.
there Is vested at any rate for the time
being really despotic power. to attend TO
all these matters? He happens usually.
with us 10 have task on hand-that OF
StfuIliiI illN OMl NtiFtllOns WHICH. nItNT-
ally, absorbed large share OF his time;
how can he be expected to neglect 4 for
the care OF some wretched islands-mainly
peopled, az he is told Cthough unfortunate
ly for him incorrecO with a lot Of ignorant
little 'niggers2 Or rather II he must
give them some sort OF attention. how can
ne make their conquest and government a
means OF strengthening himself with his
aasfxa a IA .Haslf. a.
great and spontaneous movement for his
reelection There are a good many peo.
pie. he knows. whose fidelity to the party
Is purely a commercial question. There
IS the sugar interest. and the tobacco in
terest. and the kite-hylng interest. by
which I mean every conceivable advent
urer who stands ready with his particular
scheme in the Philippines only waiting for
the opportunity 20 exploit them And he,
and such as he, for that Is the most ser
ious aspect Of oTr whole situation promul-
gates the policies OF nation? Every
now and then In our political histo~1' there
occurs a curious incident. which. at the
first blush, IS the most Dsrpi king FOR
weeks and months There has deepened
In the public mind some strong convlc-
tion which find its expression In so many
ways and by so many voices that it seems
to be IN its grave significance uamistak-
able. Just at this point however. there
occurs In some leading state a political
oonventlo-' which not unnatarally. we
sHcLh exlst this profound and wide
spread sentiment 10 find expressions. But
somehow or other, It does not. and what
Is still more curious, the officer. the poll.
cy, the utterance whatever It Is that has
provoked courage from which platforms,
candidates and policies emlnate, are liable
to become more and more controlled by