Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1899-08-04
Republic or Empire"

ners, customs, civilization and habits of
thought, which it is claimed by large
and respectable class of our fellow citi-
ze"s is now being solved by the resistless
march of events, may, perhaps, after all
not be yet beyond the true limits of
discussion. Principles and not facts
alone may yet play an important part in
its settlement. The people may yet be
heard as to the right and wrong of the
case irrespective of what is or is not
When the public conscience speaks, the
logic of circumstances" and those who
have created it may both alike be swept
away.
One thing is certain: we are now pas
sing through n critical period, period
in which our future policy aud. more
than that, our future national character
will be chrystalized. The historians OF
coming centuries will write of the
United States of America rs the next
ten years makes them. We are now
about to say that we will abide by our
ancient theories and practice or that we
will enter upon new paths leading to
unknown places. 1t may be that they
will lead us into regions of undreamed
glorics and happiness. and it may be
that they will lead us to the ocks and
deserts.
Whether he will or not, the citizen of
today must help solve this problem. Es-
cape from the responsibility is impo,-
siblc. Thinking or un thinking he must
capped. 1t has already come. Upon the
sound common sense aud spirit of JUS
tice of the common people of the coun-
try depends the salvation of our insti-
tutions. The two ways open before us
do no. lead to the same end. Both can
not be right 1t is conceded that there
are arguments in favor of each. The
ultra optimistic can see advantages in
the new which the old has never prom
ised. The conservative see possible dan
ger, compared to which the dangers of
the past so happily overcome were but
shadows. Under these circumstances,
every patriotic man will welcome every
particle of light which may como to
him.
Among all the publications on the sub
Ject there is none other which O chal-
lcnges notice or so fixes the attention,
as the book the title of which heads this
article. In it tie statesman, the bust
ness man, the churchman, the laboring
man, and the educator speak out plainly
on the danger symptoms of our new ten
dency. The stateman represents no
particu ar school, but comes from the
ranks of those who hold different views
on the domestic and economic questions
which have heretofore divided us
The chief interest of the book for
the masses of the people is found in the
fact that w j. Bryan, whom they dc .
light to call their tribune, - is its chief
writer. He speaks here, as always with
ont reservation, and with force and
frankness which have always more re-
spect. even when failing to convince,
and have aroused an enthusiastic adj
miration and devotion among his sup
portors unequaled in modern politics.
He says: imperialism rs it now pre-
scnts itself embraces four distinct prop.
ositions:
|. That the acquisition o. territory by
conquest is right.
.. That the acquisition of remote
territory is desirable.
3. That the doctrine that government
derive their just powers from the
consent of the governed is unsound
4. That people can be wisely govern
eddy aliens"
He then speaks of The att, mpt to make
Jeffei son an advocate of imperialism,
and claims that Jefferson was, beyond
dispute, unalterably opposed to each one
of tho above propositions. TO quote, in
pait; 1.-The alien may possess greater
intelligence and greater strength, but
he lacks the sympathy for, and the
Identification with, the people. We
have only to recall the grievances enum-
Grated in the Declaration of Indepen-
dence to learn how an ocean may dilute
justice and how the cry of the oppress-
ed can be silenced by distance. And
yet the inhabitants of the colonies were
the descendants OF Englishmen-blood
of their blood and bone Of their bone.
Shall we be more considerate of subjects
farther away from us, and differing
from us in color, race and tongue. than
the English were of their own offspring?
But why quote2 1t is difficult task
to condense what these masters of style
may say. The book must be read to be
appreciated. Any searchers after truth
no matter wnat his predisposition, will
find the book both interesting and
instructive. One Of the chief public
duties of the citizen of today is to have
firm and intelligent conviction on this
burning question. No opinion on it is
! worth having unless it is the result of
nf,L a IL.