The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-10-13
NOT FOR EXP NS|||N
Mighty Good Argument for
a Mighty Poor Cause
MADE BY BISHOP POTTER
At the Episcopal Church Con-
gress in St. Paul.


in the following address 20 the congress
Imperialism is an unfortunate word il
this discussion. because. of course, in on,
sense. it has no appropriateness. The bes-
authorities define an imperiaIist as mean.
ing one who belongs TO. or supports ar
emperor, and Imperialism as a system
or state of imperial government Now,
Whatever else may happen, the hands on
Inc clock OF history do not usually go
backward, and nothing is, antecedently
| speaking, more improbable than that a
nation which has delivered itself from the
| rule Of kings, and the rights of the few
! as against the abilities of the many.
WILL being, moreover. a people that has
| adopted the principle Of universal suf-
rage, revert to a system which takes
away that privilege and RENTS the gov
| eminent to the will of an individual.
which is substantially the imperial idea.
But whatever may be improbable
nothing is more entirely possible than
that a nation which still preserves the
forms Of democratic government may in
time subordinate them to methods OF its
bring the substance of imperialism along
with them"
Setting aside what had happened or
would happen, he sought to show how
this might come about by assuming a sit
uation which he thought conceivable. A
foreign power had acquired a great group
OF islands Of which, practically, it knew
nothing. Some Of them, however, had
been maintaining long and heroic strug-
gle for freedom, and had fondly hoped
that their purchase by a republic would
be simply the prelude to the achievement
of that end. Continuing, ne said:
Now 1t would seem at least reasonable
that the conquering or purchasing repub-
lie should inaugurate its relations to its
new possessions by some conference with
its dominant peoples. But no. Its first
word IS subsection, it's first demand sur
render, its first, second and third condi-
tions are: We will recognize nobody, We
will treat with nobody, we alone will die
tate all the terms The policy does not
work happily. These pestiferous wards
Of the nation Will not lay down their
arms; and these alien communities, in
stead of hailing the stars and stripes with
a wild delight, are actually insolent
enough TO intimate that they would
rather salute a flag of their own. Let US
suppose. however that the time comes
when this foreign republic has crushed out
the last ember of rebellion, and stihed
every faintest note of protest. The old
revolutionary idea survives, the old pas
CT
new possessions must be vigorously gov
erned, there must be hosts of troops. and
scores of governors, and the organization
of armies and STATS and military courts
for nobody knows-just how many islands
"How are These Governments to be con-
How IS the chief ruler of the
distant republic, in whom. as 1t happens.
there is vested, at any rate for the time
being, really despotic power, to attend to
all these matters? He happens usually,
with us. to have a task on hand-that OF /
securing his own reelection which, nat /
urally, absorbs a large share Of his time;
how can he be expected to neglect it for I
the care Of some wretched islancs-main- (
ly peopled, as he is told Though, unfortu- .
nately for him, incorrectly with a lot of /
ignorant little 'niggers? Or rather. II he
must give those some sort of attention. /
how can he make their conquest and /
government a means OF strengthening /
himself with his party, and binding new /
aGherents to a great ana spontaneous (
for his reelection? There are 4
a good many people ne knows. whose /
fidelity 10 the party is purely a CONNER Z
cial question. There IS the sugar interest, (,
and the tobacco interest, and the kite-f7y-
ing interest-by which I mean every con-
adyenturer who stands ready
with his particular scheme in the Philip
pines, only waiting for the opportunity to
exploit them. And he and such as he,
Tor that is the most serious aspect OF our
whole situation. promulgstes the policies
II nation. Every now and then in our
political history there occurs a curious In
,ident which. at the first blush. IS most
oerplexing for weeks and months There
1as been deepening in 5ths public Tpiod
iome strong conviction which finls its ex-
,ression in so many ways and by 50 many
-oices that II seems 10 be IN its grave
ignifcance unmistakable. Just az this
,oint, however, there occurs in some
eading state a political convention. in
which, not unnaturalIy. we should expect
his profound and Widespread sentiment
0 find expression. But somehow or other.
does not. and. what IS stiH more
urious. the officer. the policy. the utter
nee. whatever K f. that has provoked
curses from which Platforms. candidates
nd policies emauate. are liable 20 BE- :
ONE more and more controlled by those
nth whom personal interests are the gu
rene motives. anl personal game ;he ST.
rene ends. Il is OF course ooacelTs bic
hat IN the persons OF those 10 whom
aese distant governments shah - csH-
lifted w shar find only the highest
,eaIs and only the most tncorruptF5ls "a
,grity But whs: are the p-o5a .4rIss
, the case2 What Is the likelihood that .
aers. any more than anywhere else. IRE :
.rean viii rise higher than the sourosg-' {
Bishop Potter rsfsTrs5 70 an article ~ a
rosess9- O. Z Howard TO show fss; . :
ok England - years after the begin a
Ing os her history as an imperial power ?
, get a decent cfvfI service.
Comparing TIE Philippines - Tnsss. he
I'd: There are tie same GfVevssrles q
Zee. condition. religion. tribal re-stoa
q che Ike. sui f. Ike case q these ia
;,ar commodities. there u % bin3ing
1s-est whatever. TO undertake . &C.
.rfuspOse upon them oar free Institutions
5uid seem % - A. utterly so9s,ess task.
u. in such sitaaSaa. what s. The sltsT-
,ifve aat = form y g9gsru-aans EeseA-
a'ls H7i nesniaaily, yst pr2ctlesl!y. = -
seEs1ial aesosusLsal. Is iEaperisiE ALREADY
have sssa soE easy < Is - air 1zfo