Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1899-01-20

sSNN S~Ns s$ 49, - ssst x ~'ss~ - = ~
inhabitants, and Havana is only half as
far from Cadiz as Manila is from San
Francisco.
If this question is to be settled upon
the basis Of dollars and cents, who
will insure the nation that the
receits will equal the expenditures?
Who Will guarantee that the income
from the Philippines, be it great or
small, will find its way back to the
pockets of the people who, through tax
alton. will furnish the money.
And even if the amount invested in
ships, armament and in the equipment
of soldiers is returned dollar for dollar,
who will place price upon the blood
that will be shed? If war is to be
waged for trade, how much trade ought
to be demanded in exchange for human
life? And will the man who expects
to secure the trade risk his own life or
the life of some one else7
The demand for standing army of
one hundred thousand men is the be-
ginning of policy which will increase
the hours of toll and fill the homes of
the land with vacant chairs
Let rs consider for q moment the
indirect cost of annexation. Grave do
mestic problems press for solution; can
we afford to neglect them in order to
engage unnecessarily in controversies
abroad?
Must the people at large busy them
selves with the contemplation Of "des-
tiny" while the special interests hedge
themselves about with legal bulwarks
and exact an increasing toll from pro-
ductive industry?
While the American people are en-
deavoring to extend an unsolicited SOW
ereignty over remote peoples. foreign
inanciers will be able to complete the
conquest Of our own country. Labor's
protest against the black list and gov
ernment by injunction and its plea for
arbitration. shorter hours, and fair
share of the wealth it creates, will be
drowned in noisy disputes over new
boundary lines and in the clash Of con-
flicting authority. Il
Monopoly can thrive in security 90
long as the inquiry, "Who will haal
down the flag" on distant islands turns
public attention away from the ques-
tion. Who will uproot the trusts at
home?"
What will it cost the people to sub
stitute contests over treaties for eco
nomic issues? What will it cost the
people to postpone consideration Of
remedial legislation while the Ship Of
State tosses about in the whirlpool Of
International politics?
In considering the question of imper.
ialism we have right to weigh posi-.
bilties as we'll as certainties; and among
the possibilities may be mentioned an
offensive and defensive union between
the United States aud one or more Eur.
oPean nations. Already one may hear
an Anglo-American alliance suggested
Ia suggestion which would have been
discarded a. dream year ago. When
this nation abandons its tradition and
enters upon colonial policy, long
sep will have been taken toward those
sntan9lements against which Washing
ton and jefferson with equal emphasis
warned their countrymen.
What = change the imperialistie idea
has already wrought in the minds Of
its advoeatesl During the nations
infancy and development the American
people spuened the thought of foreign
alliance and its attendant obligations;
they refused to yoke the young Repub-
lie with monarch. The wisest among
us will not be able to measure the cost
of policy which would surrender the
nations Independence Of action and
drag it into the broils of Europe and
Asia.
The Monroe Doctrine, too, what will
become of it? How can we expect
European nations to respect our supre-
macy in the western hemisphere If we
insist upon entering Asia? So long as
we confine ourselves to our own conti-
nent. we are strong enough to repel the
world, bnt are we prepared Tor is it
worth while to prepare) to wage an
offensive warfare in other parts Of tho
globe?
On the other hand, what advantages
are suggested by imperialists to Offset
the cost and danger mentioned?
They tell us that trade follows the
flag and that wider markets will be the
result of annexation. Without admit
ing that any argument based upon
trade advantages can justify an attempt
to adopt double standard in govern
ment-a government by consent in
America and a government by force in
Asia-it may be answered that COM
merce is a matter of cost and not mat
ter of bunting. The protectionist under
stand this and demands, not a flag
barrier. between the homo manufacturer