The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-04-23
HOSTILITY TO AN
IMPERIALISTIC PROGRAMME.


turning to the study Of Jefferson. The
| imperialists have had the impudcnce f
quote Jefferson in support Of their poliet
of enslaving men who ought to be free
Il have sworn" said Jefferson, upon th'
man." and all his life he warred against
every form of tyranny over the mind ot
man. land all his life he warred agains
every form of government except that
based upon 1.-The consent OF the govern
ed"
Jefferson was nearer infallihlc upon
all public measures'than any man who
has lived because he always sought e.
learn what would he just TO all man
kind sweeping away MS cohwehs the
claims of class or the entrcnchmrn'S 81
privilege. His writings abound ii
warnings against the policy we are rnr'
suing in the Philippine islands, Ia sup.
port of this we append extracts from
letters and state papers,
LII HIS ITSt auNtfSNs h' ~
ferson declared himself in favor of;
Peace. commerce and honest friend
ship with all nations, .cntanglmg ALI
ances with none"
In his third annual message he said:
Separated by wide ocean from thr
nations of Europe and from the political
interests that entanglc them together. :,
it cannot be the interest of amy to rs,
sail us, nor ours to disturb them, We
should be most unwise, indeed, We're We
to cast away the singular blessings OF the
position in which nature has placed Ms,
the opportunity she has endowed us with
of pursuing, at a distance from foreign
contentious, the paths of industry, peace
and happiness. of cultivating general
friendship and Of bringing collisions Of
interest to the umpirage of reason rather
than of force
In letter written in 1901. he said
1--WE have a perfect horror mt every
thing like connecting ourselves with the
politics of Europe. !. To be cntanglei
with them would be a much greater evil
than q temporary acquiescence in the
false principles which have prevailed.
Peace is our most important interest
In a letter, written to Mr.. Correa i'll
1920 he gave this warning:
Nothing is so important as that Am
erica shall separate herself from the sys-
tens of Europe and establish one OF her
own. Our circumstances. our pursuits,
our interests are distinct the principles
of our policy should be also. All entai-
clements with that quarter of the globe
should be avoided. if we mean that
peace and justice shall be the polar star
of American society,"
In letter to Monroe in 1924 he sum-
med up arguments that today forbid the
policy that we are pursuing in the Phil
ippine islands:
Il have ever deemed it fundamental
for the United States never to take ac-
tive part in the quarrels of Europe their
political interests are entirely distinct
from ours. Their mutual jealousies, their
balance of power, their complicated al
liances, their forms and principles of
government are all foreign to u.s. They
are nations of eternal war. On our
part never had Il people SO favorable a
chance of trying the opposite system OF
peace and fraternity with mankind and
the direction Of all our means and facui.
ties to- the purposes of Improvement in.
stead of destruction. .... Peace and
neutrality seem to be our duty and inter
est"
Such quotations could be multiplied.
The imperialist who quotes Jeffersons
purchase of Louisiana as precedent for
making war on the unoffending Filipinos
exposes his ignorance. Jefferson was al
ways an expansionist and looked with
longing eyes to Cuba, but ne never con
templated any expansion outside the
Western hemisphere and as the real an
thor Of the Monroe doctrine he sought
to commit us TO the doctrine Of America
for Americans