The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1899-11-11
rs THERE NO LIMIT

rs THERE NO LLMIIF
There apparently is no limit to the
greed of q people who once start odt
on tour Of "beneyolent assimilation"
with the view to conquering and
subduing the earth. Spain started out
on such an expedition several CEN
turies ago, and the consequence is
told in the present condition OF that
principality. France, too, embarked
on q similar expedition, but itSlearned
in time that it could not subdue the
world, and for q century past has not
undertaken to spread its expansive
wings over the universe. and has
confined itself to few minor posses
sions outside its natural territory.
Great Britain has been the only gov
ernment that has made 9 success OF
expansion, but If the costs were
counted, it would be shown by
the lives and money that have been
sacrificed. in carrying the British
flag to every corner of the globe, that
government has paid very dearly for
what it has accomplished. Such
lessons, however. do not serve to cool
the ardor of those recent converts to
Imperialism who have sprouted up in
,qkhis country. There seems to be no
limf6e 10 their desire to expand. They
have conceived an idea that it is the
mission OF the American people. given
them by Divine Providence, to sub
due all people who are nos up to their
ideal standard of civilization, or who |
do not conduct their governments in |
accordance with the most improved |
and accepted ideas. They advance
the idea that because we are most |
enlightened or more advanced we are
justified in assuming control OF our
less fortunate brothers throughout
the world. They justify the war
against the Filipinos on these grounds
and of late some are beginning to show
their hands and insist that we
extend the war of conquest to other
countries and against other people.
Among thir class is the Portland Ore
gonian, which in recent editorial
said:
"Activity in Asia and Africa obscures
for the time phenomenon in our own
hemisphere which would otherwise en-
chain the attention of the civilized
world, perhaps pre-eminently. This
is the persistent state of revolution in
numerous republics south of Mexico.
If civilization were not busy elsewhere
1t may seriously be doubted whether
the turbulent and almost anarchic
conditions ruling almost everywhere
in Central and South America could
be longer tolerated" l.
Il then at some length comment
ed upon the ''deplorable" state of
affairs that exist in the Central and
South American republics. recited the
frequent insure ,tions and .rebellions,
and concluded by saying:
'This Is shocking record OF in.
competency and unrest. Its end is
only question of time, and will come
most likely, whenever settlement and
industry become considerable enough
to make q mighty appeal for protec-
tion. Latin America lacks the quality
of self elf-goYernment. Racial condi-
tions, concerning whose particulars 1t
is probably useless TO speculate, forbid
it. Industry must be conserved there,
business must be done, life and prop ,
erty must be made safe. Who is to
answer to the call, when it comes,
admits of no doubt. We cannot suf- .
fer Europe there. We must 60 our
selves. That is the next great task
that confronts the American nation.
Its work in the West Indies and the
Philippines is only preparatory for the
policing of q hemisphere.
This explains the objects and de- !.
sires of the rank imperialists OF this
It explains why the present :
refuses to accept any
terms of peace from the Filipinos ex-
cept unconditional surrender. The
object is to display or military strength =
against those people, whip them into
-
absolute subjection and establish full
control over their, institutions. This
accomplished they would have the :
government provoke a quarrel with
some of the weaker republics to the
south, raise an immense army, invade
Ito territory, and make the people
ssubjects'' of this country. They :.
wound inYolye the nation in an endless
war ofconqnest. for there is no limit =
70 their greed, and the expense and =
,ufferings that war entails are as =
,othing to them. Continuous war
would serve them two pusposes. 1t :
yives them opportunity to ''expand" = =
heir business of deeciug the govern. y
nent and at the same time enables =
hem to reduce the people to abject
,overty through taxation for the, pur- :. =.
,ose of prosecuting the war. This ',
reed has no limit and it can only be y, :,
hecked by the people rising in their q q
night and taking the reins Of govern. :
nant fy,on them at the next 0enaral 81