The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-08-19
The Policy Of Grab.


One of the most striking features
Of the present expansionist movement
is it's sectional characters sectional
in the sense that its advocates are
for the most part Northern and West
ern men. Southern men, no doubt,
contributed to the movement favor.
ing war with Spain for the release OF
Cuba, and volunteers were forthcom
ing in great numbers for that war
from the South. But they we're not
given opportunity to distinguish
themselves and were soon mustered
out. The important offices, military
and civil, were filled almost exclusive
lv with political fsvorites from the
North. General Wheeler, it is true,
was at Santiago, but he is the excep
ton that proves the rule. General
Lee was kept from the scene of &C
ton till the war was over and was
then given q subordinate position in
Cuba. Southern officers and soldiers
have not throughout been given an
opportunity to acquire military ex'
perience, or to show that they possess
the martial qualities they exhibited
in 1876. In the navy they had, as
officers, better chance and improv-
ed it. Sehley and Hobson won the
chief honors of the naval operations
in the Atlantic. There has not been
wanting, however, q disposition at
Washington and elsewhere to deprive
these men Of their well-merited dis
tinction by perversion of indisputable
facts or envious ridieule.
There has been no complaint on
accout of this unequal treatment,
though it is but fair that the dis
tribution of the benefits Of the Gov
eminent should be eoextensive with
the imposition OF taxes. Employ
ment and salaries might well have
been given to Southern men in
larger way, in order that wealth and
culture-so far as these results from
Government employments - may
bless every section of the land alike.
In view of the monopoly of commits
sions, eommissionerships and Offices
of oil sorts held by Northern and
Western men under the present Ad-
ministration, it is no wonder that the
affairs they have in charge tend to
become to the Southern people far
matters, in which they take no in
terest. 1t may be that Republican
Administration considers the Demo
cratic South rightly excluded from
participation in Federal enterprises.
No doubt clamorous oficeseekers
from Ohio hold this opinion. But it
is Q narrow view, unbecomipg in the
occupant of the White House, who
should try to be President for the
whole Union. 1t has been suggested
in some quarters that the imperial
policy begins at Mason and Dixon's
line, and that the South is to be con-
sidered the first of the lingo &C.
QUESTIONS. But this can hardly be
true, in view of the unwavering
loyalty of the Southern States since
1866 and the unfeigned esgerness of
Southern politicians to enter the
Federal service.
1t is q curious circumstance that it
is in Massachusetts, and the South
that the apathy in regard to expan-
sion is most marked. Conservatism
manifests itself sporsdically elsewhere
also, but it has its stronghold, 1t APP
pears, in these widely separated
areas. Opposition to expansion APP
pears in various universities of the
West and Northwest, but in these
places it is chiefly the professor who
speaks, the masses being bellicose, or
willingly led by lingo politicians who
have axes to grind. Only in Mas
saehusetts and the South does con-
servstism seem to control the ma
jority of the people. In these regions
the Constitution and American tradi-
tions are taken seriously. The
fathers and their policy are studied
and honored. Elsewhere the old
ideas are deemed obsolete and
provincial" Mr.. Mckinley and
Mark Hanna teach a new gospel or
policy, before which the older doc
trine must give way-s mOney-get-
ting policy which is summed up in
that homely old Anglo Saxon word,
& alb. The ultra protective Tariff
formation of protected trusts, the war
of humanity" on Spain, the "be-
nevolent assimilation" Of the Philip |
pines and the degradation of the
civil service, all have this one idea
and object in common-grab.