The times., 1899-02-19

quests are destined TO gild policy of i'm
perialism with the dollars of colonization
and commerce. But in the heart of the
Union,' to use NaDoleons phrase. there is
a strong difference of opinion on the sub
ject
The anti-imperialsts ask for defini-
tion of the current expressions the re
sponsible" for the shortcomings OF az the
public. They contend. with Mr.. Schurz
that If the Republic is TO be re
ponsible" for the shortcomings OF all the
world, and If her mission is to redress
all its wrongs. the task is too great for
even the wealthiest and strongest people
They point 10 the dangers of Imperialism
, the chief of which are the possibility of
foreign wars and the certainty that the di-
version of public opinion TO stirring events
abroad will diminish the vigilance which is
the price of liberty al home. They point
10 the fear already arisen in the south
ern republics that the new ideas OF duty
and expansion may bring the Stars and
Stripes among them with commanding If
not conquering. influence. They insist that
the Republic is bound to its promise that
the war should be a war OF liberation and
humanity, not war OF conquest. They
maintain that Lincoln's famous dictum that
Ill is for us to be ever dedicated 10 The
great task Inherited from our
hOnored dead that government
of the people by the people for the people
shall not perish on earth" applies to the
continent alone. If il sanction outside in
reference. they contend that II limits its
operation TO methods dangerous to
American freedom. On the other side, the
expansionists ridicule these dangers and
| limitations.
Mr.. Whitelaw Reid, at their head. takes
| the ground of the fat accompli" The
Republic had the right. as the only Ameri-
| can power that knows how to govern, TO in
| tervene between Spain and the peoples she
| could not keep in order. Intervention haV-
| ing thrown these peoples on the Republic S
hands. the Republic finds that they are in
| capable OF governing themselves. 1t be-
| comes, therefore. the duty of the Republic
| to govern them. The Republic would pre-
| fer TO let them govern themselves accord
| ing TO the promise made before the war:
| but. finding that facts make the perform
| ance impossible tas in the Egyptian case
| of Great Britain. the Republic ought to
accept the conclusion that in honor she is
| bound to supply the deficiency. Emile Oh
| livier (the ex-minster of Napoleon lID
writing on this subject, surmises that the
| transition from the darkness of despotism
| TO the light of liberty is too great for inde-
| pendence: but that eventually the con
| quered islands will be absorbed as new
| states into the Union. Nothing is farther
| from the thought OF Whitelaw Reid and the
eXpansionists. who. by the way, scout the
name OF Imperialism. Prociaiming the
constitutional danger of admitting mixed
| and inferior races into the Union on the
equal footing OF State government he very
| strongly insists that they can be well gov
| erned territories with fullest measure
| of local government, somewhat after the
| precedent of Alaska. This course he an(
his school declare will meet the only rea
| and cogent objection the other side
has to expansion. So saying, he has proba
| bly, sketched the history of the future
| How that history will work out time alone
can tell. Waiting for that verdict, tn,
world will remember the proved practica
sagacity OF the American people.