Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1899-12-01
A Virginia Republican Sounds a
Note Of Warning.
Is AGAINST IMPERIALISM
And Declares the Democratic Par
ty Will Take a Like Stand in
l900--Reasons for the Purchase
of Territory by Jefferson.

| Mr.. George Cammack, prominent
Republican of Louisa county, writes
as follows to the Baltimore Sun:
Governor Roosevelt and other Nc
Kinley Republicans, who defend ex-
pansion abroad, appear to think that
the odlum of imperialism may be ST.
fenced by cry of Copperhead Trai-
tor and by the assertion that Thomas
Jefferson was the first advocate of that
un-American policy. Driven to the
necessity of finding precedent for
territorial aggrandizement abroad,
they cite the purchase of Louisiana,
but withhold facts.
Louisiana bordered our Union on
the West. American pioneers had al
ready invaded the northern part OF
that territory; the mouth of the Mis-
sissippi river was wholly under con-
troll of France. Mr.. Jefferson saw
that the growth of our western COM
merce, all confined at that time to riv-
ers, depended on the possession of the
great Mississippi from its source to
the Gulf. A divided ownership of that
great stream would have resulted in
endless confusion and strife. Mr.. JEFF
ferson purchased adjacent territory,
and although at that hour the Missis-
sippi may not have been indispensable
to the Union. nevertheless, be saw
that in the near future it would be.
In 1861, while Horace Greely was
urging the North to let the wayward
sisters (Southern States) depart in
peace, the retention of the Mississippi
river as an outlet for Western produce
became powerful factor in the ar
gument for an undivided country.
Unless we had purchased Florida our
Atlantic and Gulf Coast line would
have failed of connection by thou
sand miles and the mouth Of the Chat
tahoochie river. the Gulf outlet for
Georgia pine and cotton, have remain.
ed under Spanish control. Look at the
map of the Union and you will see at a
glace this is so.
The purchase of Alaska was ca
price of Mr.. Seward. He acquired for
Uncle Sam a far-away, bleak, almost
uninhabitable ice plant-a big thing
IN an atlas, but without trade or COM
merce; almost destitute of population.
Even it should not be cited as a prece-
dent for grabbing islands of 100000
people, who for 800 years have been
under the guidance Of Christian
priests. The purchase of Alaska was
ratified, too, while the carpetbaggers
misrepresented the South in Congress.
No doubt the expenses of Alaska
special customs officers, transporta-
tion of supplies, agents and troops,
army posts, naval protection of coast,
patrolling against seal poachers, ETC.,
far exceed the revenue.
England, mere speck on the map
of the world, not near SO large as
Texas, has been compelled to colonize
islands and continents. Had she not
secured by conquest of primitive or
heather people territory for occupa-
tion by her overflow of population,
that overflow would have sought
homes in alien lands and ceased to be
defenders of England's crown and con-
sumers of her manufactures.
The Democratic party in 1900 will
present united front against imperi-
alism. It would not be true to it's ira
ditions or faithful to its principles
unless it did SO. Democracy means the
rule of the people and the consent of
the governed, the strict limitation of
the executive power. Imperialism
means the rule of officials, the unlim-
tied power of the executive, 1t is the
difference between republic and en-
pire.
Perhaps some of your people have
not read the patriotic poem of DR.. H.
s. Taylor, of Chicago. I commend it
to them, with the fervent hope that it
will influence thousands Of Republic
cans, who. like myself, voted for Nc
Kinley, but now uphold Senator Hoar,
Thos. B. Reed, John Sherman and
Geo. F. Edmunds in resisting imperi-
alism, to vote the Democratic ticket.