The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-10-17

- HEI h INV OLN ES.
The Republican party is not strong
enough % change the constitution of the
United States: it will not be permitted to
convert cur government into mere mill
taTT machine, TO wage wars of aggres-
sion abroad and to silence the voice of
freedom al home"
These words were recently spoken by
Gen. John &. Henderson. of Missouri.
Gen. Henderson is one of the best
known. ~ we'll as one of the ablest, Re
pubicans in the entire country. Like
many more of the men of his party ha
refuses to accept the theory, which is at
the basis of all imperialist belief, tina.
mere abstract principles of government
must be cast aside when they lie in the
path of the possible ACQUISITION of ma
tertal wealth.
The subject of the, gain which win
come to this people in material wealth
from the acquisition of the Philippines
remains vet to be fought out If there
is no higher or better justification than
viii be afforded through the estimated,
gain in this direction the case which
the imperialists will have to present to
the people Of this country in support of
their policy will, we think, prove to be-
an exceedingly weak one. Cen Hender-
son is a man of wide experience in ma
tional affairs. He understands, as we'll
as any man Of wide experience can ba
expected to understand, the motives and
purposes which influence politicians in
the maintenance of a given policy He
foresees the abnormal development of
the power Of this government in the mir
itary direction, and believes that the at
tempted subjusation of the Filipinos is
the mere forerunner of national policy
of military aggression and conquest.
Events in the immediate future may
develop 50 as to sustain the contentious
Of Gen. Henderson; but, whether or not
we are destined to advance along the
line of military conquest it is quite
plain that the imperialist policy is one
which cannot permanently be adopted
without etfecting a complete revolution
in our standards of political conduct
Not only the constitution, but the entira
spirit and genius of American institu-
tons must undergo radical and perma-
nent change if imperialism is to triumph
among us.
The American people readily adapt
themselves to conditions made necessary
by accomplished fact Our future course
in the East lis yet to be determined upon.
Some one has said that congress will
turn over absolutely to President Nc
Ilinley The power to determine that pol
icy Whether this is done, or whether
IL can be done under our laws, matters
little for present purposes. The prac-
teal feature Of the situation to thought
ful Americans lies in the fact that
through the forthcoming presidential
election will be settled, no doubt, finally
and forever the great question as tC
whether it IS consistent with the mission
Of American democracy that we shall
hold poiticaf dominion over any other
people whatever, or that we may be al
liberty to take possession practically by
the strong hand of military force of the
territory OF any alien race whatever.
That is the issue of all others 1t in.
wolves not only the financial policy OF
this government; 1t concerns not alone
our commercial and trade interests. bu
it goes to the very heart of our politica
existence. Interests of locality may lea(
certain class of the people of certain
states to favor such "a course who, asid,
from consideration of pecuniary gain
could never be induced to sustain it; bu
with the vast mass Of the common PEG
pie of the United States the considera
tons which Gen. Henderson puts fortl
Will be conclusive, and they will recog
nize in this great issue question which
gees to the very life of the free institu
tons under which we live.