Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1899-09-15
wuAr rus rhorr.r SAY.
The Glamor of imperialism, Does NOT
oiIslrad the eve Headed
American.

American.
Secretary OF Agriculture Wilson
has returned from II prolonged tour
Of tile west, and cheers the heart OF
the i%mperialist by announcing that he
did not find au anti west OF Cliica.
60 Ihosc is no explanation given
OF how he managed to pass through
so many OF the western States with
out finding an anti west OF Chicago
because expressions ~ anti imperial.
ism have been heard clear To the At.
lantic. We do not for u moment
doubt that the Sscreiary's statement
is correct, and therefore 1t is the moro
wonderful. 1t was II remarkable
feat.
That his experience was unique
may be judged from an extensive ill.,
quiry by the Farm aud Home, an ag-
ricnltural paper published ut Spring
field, Mass, and Chicago. Tho pu-
per is circulated in the farming re.
gious OF the west and south. On the
tho LIST OF May that journal PROFOUND.
Ell to its readers n series OF ten qucs.
lions, MI of them bearing upon our
new national problems. except one
as TO whether the United States Sen.
ntors should he elected 10y the people,
asking them to put their replies on a
postal card. 1t recently published n
summary Of the 2l,GO0 replies receiv.
Ed. or this large number about ten
per cent were from New England, %
from the Middle States, nearly 40
from the central west. and the rest
almost equally from the south and
Pacific coast. The first question WIS
SHOULD the Philippines he held in
subsection to the United States, or
should they he allowed To form an in
dependent Eovcrument!7 The an
swers from each Of the five sections
We're largely in favor OF indepen-
dence, the totals footing up 1880 for
independence, tn S,ilG for subsection.
The majority was still greater for the
Cuban independence-l3,l9 9, rs
against 1892 for annexation. On tho
other hand a large proportion favor
the annexation Of Porto Rico Ia the
United States-li.S91, 5 against
6Coi for its Independence. and l,Ii9
for it annexation to Cuba.
The greatest unanimlty and cmpha-
sis was noted OH the comprehensive
question: In general, should tho
United States adhere to or depart
from its former policy Of nor.inter.
fenence with the nations beyond
either ocean, There were 1861 in
favor OF adherence rs against 3,sS7 in
favor of new departure.
That, bear in mind, was n vote taxi
en i'll May, when every dispatch from
the Philippines brought the cheering
news TINT the trouble would be over
in a few days. 1t was months before
it IA admitted chat the Philippine
war was really serious; before the
protest of the war correspondents
was made against the censorship,
showing that affairs i'll the Philip
pines was so bad they feared to let
the American people know the truth;
before the administration got rid Of
the incompetent Alger md drafted
the energetic Root into the cabinet;
before it confessed That 1901 troops
were needed tn cope withAguIualdo's
forces; before the organs Of imperial
ism began To admit that the course in
the Philippines WIS Il mistake from
the beginning. Then the majority
against imperialism WIS pretty large,
although the project had not lost its
original lustcr. What would the ma.
Iorlty be today, now that the bad
mess that affairs are in is becoming
apparent? What will it be next No.
vemberS What in November, 1900?
These are practical questions to those
who's only chart and compass is pop
ulnr approval. The people who re-
spond to these questions are the plain
people. whose opinions, utter ali
shape the course Of the government.
The glitter of imperialism had not
drawn them away from the national
ideals in May, when the brilliancy Of
the project WAS greatest. Now, when
the project is being stripped OF its
tawdry embellishments. and stands
in IFS repulsivc naRcdncss as a war OF
subjuga!isp, It is not likely /" make
the people abandon the constitution
and the Declaration Of Independence.