The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-03-26
MIR RANDOLPH AND EXPANSION

| The New York sun has seen 1T TO can
into question the position taken by Johh
Randolph Of Roanoke on the war OF lsl<
] and has tried TO show that because the
American people refused TO follow MS
| counsrls then they would not follow MIN
now. were he alive and opposed TO ex-
mansion. for The Sun admits that such
would be Mr.. Randolph's attitude. But
| the cases are not parallel-and the con-
| clusion is faulty. In the war OF 1872 the
| whole American people were deeply an
gered by the overbearing behavior Oh
| England In Selling so-caled desertets
and in exercising the right of search'
| Added TO this was the outrageous incl
| dent Of the British attack on our frigate
the Chesapeake Above all was the
widespread suffering caused by mat
"dgnined policy" Of the Embargo
which detained American vessels In
/ American ports by orders OF the Ameri-
| can government. Under this policy smug-
| Cling was rampant-and the infant IN
dustries Of New England hourished and
| waxed fat-while the shipping industry
was annihilated and the agriculturaiists
who depended largely on foreign market
for their profits were greatly depressed
in place Of this "digniied policy Mr..
Randolph urged that We arm our mer-
chant marine and send them out to pro-
tect themselves. His arguments did not
/ prevail and rather than remain longer
under the intOlerable burden Of stagna-
ton the American people forced the issue
| and went to war II was then that Mr..
Randolph sought with all his eloQuence
to restrain Congress from this step. be
| Heving that we could obtain by diplomacy
every right 90 which we were entitled.
War he did not fear. but ne abhorred war
made in behalf Of "avaricious traffic; ne
| feared the corrupting influence Of the
"vermin OF contracts and commls-
sariats" and the robbery of the people
| by the party favorites who rise from
! nothing by the stills Of fat contracts
| into sumptuous palaces" And VINO can
| say that his gravest apprehenslons have
| not been realized? When II was pro-
| posed to invade Canada he said: ~ am
/ ready FOR battle. but not for dominion.
This war Of conquest a war for
the acquisition Of territory is to be a
! new commentary on the doctrine that
republics are destitute of ambition they
are addicted to peace welded TO the hap
piuess and safety Of the great body of
/ the people" And that is The Times posi-
| ton to-day. But the question raised by
| The Sun is simply this: Would Mr.
| Randolph be a safe guide in our present
conditions. and would he be followed by
the people, To both The Times says
"Yes: unhesitatingly yes'' Mr.. Ran
! dolphs great aim IN life was to protect
the masses from the aGgressions Of the
party in power. In his fight against cor
ruption i'm high places he probably under
estimated the amount of compromise
which would be required of each party
he may have misconceived the purity and
Ngllence Of the average voter, he may
have imagined that there were enough
mon i'm Congress actuated by pure pa
triotism 70 guide this country without
fear or favor. if only they could be
aroused. and feeling thus ne cried with
ont ceasing or mercy against the selfish
the mean. and the corrupt whether they
were of his own party or not. This love
of principle this purity of motive may
not have been practical politics. II may
even have been mugwumpery. and 1t
certainly was not always in accord with
the great waves Of popular enthusiasm
which come from "vaporing in the news
papers" but II was not clap-trap, as The
| sun says. and not always spoken 70 I'M
needing ears When Webster and clay
were using all Of their great powers on
behalf of the Greeks and the revolted
South American colonies that 'hnest
and prettiest theme for defamation ever
presented to "a deliberative assembly
John Randolph stood out for the origi-
nal aims of this country and said: 1T Is
a difficult and an invidious task to stem
| the torrent Of public sentiment when all
| the generous sentiments Of the human
heart are appealed TO. But ! was dele
gated to this House to guard the interests
of the people Of the United States. not
10 guard the rights Of other people
And he prevailed The resolutions or
Webster and Clay were laid upon the
table and never called up again.
That is "a parallel case TO the problems
of to-day There was an occasion when
| the sober sense OF the people was al
lowed to prevail. and If John Randolph
could sneak to-day he would gather 90
himself all that great body of Americans
who earnestly desire to bear their bur
dens and their responsibilities, but VINO
| can not see why the nation should be
| cruelty taxed. the young men slaughtered
bv fever and tropical heat in order that
we may force upon ten million people
or SO many as shah be left alive. az the
point of a bayont a religion OF love ana
peace and a government they do not
! desire. We began this war upon the
! Quixotic theory Of humanity. Let us not
| turn aside from the original scheme OF
our constitution Of furnishing a home
within our borders where all men might
have an equal standing before the law
| where the powers of government are
lodged In the representatives chosen by
the people and not in a foreign army
where taxation is TO be equally levied
| and the benefits Of it are 10 be equally
received
If we are lured from this path by the
vain hope OF profitable trade we VIII turn
a crusade for the oppressed into a pillag-