Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-06-01
THE GREAT AP0S1ASY.



Judging by their outcries, the i'm.
perialists seem to jump from torture
every 10 seconds. Their organs de.
nounce the ''unpatriotic" course Of
interpretation, and call Edward Atkin-
son a "traitor" because be sent his
pamphlets on 1.-THE hell Of war and
terminal aggression" 10 Admiral
Dewey and Gen. Otis. In. England
about 4 century ago the government
sent three men to Botany Bay for IA
years Imprisonment OIL the charge Of
sedition because they belonged to a
society that favored annual, Parlia-
ments and an extension of the fran
chise. No one can be quite sure, there
fore, what the imperialits may in the
end do to Edward Atkinson for
treason. y
What is the cause for the imperialists'
rage? But short time ago they
serenely claimed that the whole Ameri-
| can people, with few insignificant
exceptions, supported gladly and en-
Enthusiastically their policy. II the
opposition to this grand new American
| policy he so feeble and insignificant,
why do they notice it? Why do they
fulne and become uproarious over the
| protest of an opposition without num-
| bers of influence? The truth is that
| the torture the imperialists seem to be
under is the best possible evidence that
| the opposition is neither weak in num-
beers nor Insignificant in influence. Tho
opposition is growing to DO mighty
host, despite the frantic cries Of
treason" and the encouragement. to
| imperialism and militarism given by
vast number of newspapers, religious
Il 4 ali IN Chs.
cage great massmeeting of anti
imperialists is possible, and in Chicago
anti-imperialism has not single out
spoken, unflinching champion in the
press.
i Another question: Why this feeling
Of terrible earnestness among those
who oppose the policy Of oriental ex-
papsion based on force? The answer is
simple. 1t is because that policy, as
carried out, represents one of the great
apostasiss of history. Secretary Long
may not understand it, DESPITE his New
England training, but the apostasy is
there, and it consists in this, that the
first feeble growth of independent
republican institutions in the oriental
world was doomed apparently to be
crushed cut OF existence by that great
exempar of democracy and foremost
exponent of republican government,
the United States of America. What
hideous fate it is that when upon
the island Of Luzon, off the coast Of
Asia, a feeble yet ambitious republican
, government should have been organized
: and boldly, aye manfully. have claimed
. the recognition of the world, not a
, despotism like Russia or Germany or
q monarchy like England. but the
great model republic Of the western
continent should proceed to do it unto
' death.
Had Russia denied the right of this
first oriental republic to live, no one
could have evinced surprise. Had Eng.
: land refused to recognize its existence
, she would have been consistent with
|, her political principles, because a
i benevolent despotism is the government
,, she applies to all peoples not of her
: own race. But it was not dospotic
!, Russia or monarchical England, IL was
the giant republic that proceeded tC
,, stamp upon the tender plant, and fol
thei United States that was the height
of apostasy because the act betrayed
:, the principles upon which its own life
: rests.
!, Those principles cannot be ciawed VI
:. in q day without arousing protest
I from the American people. The prin
a ciples may be based on error, yet they
: have too long iioprished.amongu us moi
! to have taken deep root. No admins
: tration cat be false 10 them withou
n melting opposition to it's course, ant
I no administration csa allay tina
= opposition by ostentatiously pleadini
4 its loyalty to them, whla ut ever.
. point acting as if it were tho govcfn
i ment of some czaf, emperor or queer
i bOnt ON eifecting conquest.