Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-12-09
Special washington Correspondents.

SPECIAL COMMITTEE
Special WASHINGTON Correspondents.
WASHINGTON, December S--Four
documents issued during the past week
deserve the thoughtful attention Of
every patriotic American Reference
is made TO the Presidents message, and
the reports of the Secretaries OF War.
of the Treasury and OF the Navy. In
these papers may be found the out
lines of our new imperialistic policy
and the estimates Of its cost.
Nothing is more remarkable than the
extraordinary changes which have
come over American federal policy dur
ing the past twenty years, or since
Cleveland's first administration. Nc
Kinleys saying that no thought OF
imperialism exists in the American
breast exposes his own Ignorance OF
recent history, in the making OF which
he has himself had so considerable
part. In point of fact the most re-
markable features Of recent growth OF
federal power have been adopted from
the policies OF European countries, and
are those which characterize the MILL
tary despotisms OF the old world.
That a republican government like tho
United States should have taken over
in less than two decades all OF the poll
icies of the old world which were most
obnoxious to the fathers Of the eonsti-
tuition Is an astonishing development
of our political history. Those who de-
cry the anti-imperialistic agitation as
foolish and pessimistic would do wen
TO recount the events Of the past few
years, and try to understand whittier
we are drifting. The United States
of to-day seems to have undergone 4
complete revulsion Of political sentI-
ment, an entire change in political
ideals. Militarism and imperialism, tho
upbuilding OF what the imperialists call
a "world-power." are the
DOMINANT IDEAS OF TO-DAY.
1t needs but brief study OF the pur-
poses toward which federal expenditure
is directed to obtain convincing proof
Of the truth OF the foregoing assertions.
Practically all Of the enormous addi-
tons to the federal budgets OF recent
years have gone toward the develops
ment of our military and naval power
The cost OF the Spanish war and OF tha
Philippine hostilities is, OF course. the
price we have paid and are paying for
the imperialistic fad, adapted from
England, Germany and France, OF hav-
ing a colonial policy. In Cleyeland's
time the total net revenues OF the gov
eminent were not more than the total
expenditures OF to-day for war, naval
and colonial purposes In other words.
the federal tax which a few years ago
sufficied to support the entire federal
government now sHfEices for the MILF
tary and imperiaIistic regime alone.
The Secretary OF War asks for $685.
900, 900, the navy department for $751;
100000. We are expanding S95 900 900
for coast defenses, $500, 900 on new
war vessels. The estimates Of the Sec
rotary OF the Treasury for the fiscal
year 1901, time OF peace. ask for over
$3.50. 100000 for war purposes. including
pensions. No European war budget
can come anywhere near this budget
Of a nation by traditional policy de-
voted TO the arts Of peace. But we are
just at the beginning Of colonial inn
perialism. The Nicaragua canal is part
Of the imperial scheme; so Il the Pa
cifc cable; so is the steamship subsidy
bill. Military reasons are given as
justifying each ons OF these projects.
When Cleveland, in 1887, sent to
Congress his tariff message, no point
ed TO
THE EVIL OF A SURPLUS
Of s140. 600 900 In the treasury. There
is surplus OF that amount In the
bf@aS1f bp-hoys ypk ~ Duc AttthB VI re-
ducing 1t except by spending 1t. No
one is hardy enough in the face Of the
rampant Imperialism Of the times to
suggest a reduction Of taxation. On
the contrary, the growth Of the eoun-
try Is relied on to increase the volume
Of federal revenue. and every possible
construction capable Of yielding more
revenue is put upon the provisions Of
the war tax law. Comparison Of
Cleyeland's FIRST message with the I'M
periaHstic output Of the present admin
istratIon is. indeed, one Of the most
convincing evidences Of our national
change OF front. Those messages OK
the eighties read like the stateaman-
ship OF some bygone age; like the POI
IItical theories OF an extinct breed %,
thinkers, so far do they seem irons
the Issues and the facts Of to-day
CleYeIand's admonEtions of frugalityl
In the public expenditure would be-.
laughed at By the boosters Of this gan-s
Grafton. who point with pride 70 e
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