Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-12-23

tiOnal law, all nations have equal rank.
There is, therefore, no reason for con-
ferring higher title upon the represen-
tative of one In preference to any of
the others. All should be on an equal
footing. Our country would have done
honor to itself by proposing such equal
ity as a permanent, condition of the
diplomatic body. and would thus have
stood by It's own democratic princi-
pies. The whole matter is striking
illustration of the insidious nature of
the imperialistic poison, and also a
proof of the assertion heretofore made
in this correspondence that imperial
ism has been gaining ground among us
for twenty years past, recent events be-
ing but the natural sequel to the crea-
ton of the new navy and the advocacy
by Mr. Blaine of a Spirited foreign
policy" The act creating the rank of
ambassador was passed six years ago,
and apparently without word of pro-
test. And there are now powerful adj
vocates of the increase of
Diplomatic Salaries Abroad
so that our ambassadors and minis
tiers may uphold the dignity of this
great republic. But may not our dig
nifty be as well upheld by men of mod
crate means and of democratic man
ners, who are also men of ability and
worth, as by imitation aristocrats with
little but wealth to recommend them,
full of toadyism and sycophancy? Our
greatest diplomatic triumphs, and they
have not been few, have been gained
by men of merit and not by men of
means. AS Mr.. Foster says, our dip
lomatic service has won deserved honor
and distinction, and sit did not re-
quire the bauble of title to give our
ENJOYS greater standing or efficiency"
Then why did we give them the title, of
not needed? 1t was mere piece of
Snobbery.
Amid the other wrecks of the past in
this rapidly moving era is the Repub-
lican doctrine of protection. Mr.. Nc
Kinley. once its chief apostle, has now
dealt it blow by declaring for free
trade with Porto Rico. Our expansion
lists have given it another by laying
low the fear of foreign competition and
by asserting that competition with for
eigners for Oriental trade is the only
salvation of American manufacturers.
Lastly comes the faithful Grosvenor to
point out that the home market theory
is exploded, and that hereafter we must
seek markets abroad by educating the
wants of dependent races and so in
creasing the demand for our products.
1t would not be surprising to find
The Home Market Theory,
in at least some of it's aspects, taken
up by those who believe that the first
duty of every government is to its own
people, and that our destiny cannot be
worked out until every man. woman
and child among us is supplied with
the necessaries of life. There is still
much to be done, all must admit. in
ministering to the wants of the folks
at home. If our distributive system
were not so imperfect there would be
plenty of room for the expansion of
manufactures within the present do
main Of the United States. To Guilt
vate this home market by amending
our industrial regime would not be i'm
perialism, but it would be something
infinitely better.
Senator Hoar calls attention to this
duty of our people and government
when he says in his new declaration of
American principles, that we should
secure for every workman and every
working woman wages enough to sup
port life Of comfort and an old age
of leisure and quiet, as BELTS those who
have an equal share in self-governing
State" 1t ought to be obvious enough
that this ideal
Cannot Be Realized
by increasing the opportunities OF
wealth and privilege, but this is pre-
cisely the way in which the imperial
lists pretend they can bring it about.
"Give into our hands the distribution
of the treasure of the Orient" they say,
land we will see that it's blessings flow
out upon the land" But that is hardly
the democratic way, nor is it the true
way of promoting the public welfare.
1t is, in fact, the correct method of
breeding race of paupers, dependents
and fawning sycophants. 1t is not the
way of raising up race Of patriots and
sturdy, self-reliant men. No better
way could be devised, indeed, of
knocking the strenuous life" clean out
Of us. M.
tn CURE a COIN IN ONE nav