The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-10-30
THE ANTI-IMpERIiLISrS rs.

De Tocqueville said fifty years ago
in his Democracy in America" that
the rule of the majority in the United
States was that Of tyrant. He was a
profound believer in the cause of dem
ocracy, but in a cold analysis of its
workings, saw how the theory Of self
government was seriously qualified.
For, if six millions of voters and free
men must submit to what they con-
scientiously believe to be the unwise
and disastrous rule of seven millions
of other voters, called the majority"
there is practically no self-rule for the
six millions. Their only protection
against this absolute power of the ma
jority is to furiously resist it in speech
and document.
The attitude Of Mr. Edward Atkin-
son and his friends, the Anti-lmperi-
aists, shows the curious working out
of the theory OF democracy.
Probably majority of the people of
the United States sustain the Presi-
-
pinos. Although that course may in
volve perplexing questions, and de-
velop some inconsistent practices and
doctrines, it is on the whole a wise
and progressive policy.
But what is the political duty of Mr..
Atkinson and his friends who are,
it is said, encouraging the Filipinos to
continue their revolt against the gov
ernment? The Expansionists tell them
to "shut up" that they are guilty of
crime in abetting the Filipinos to kill
our men, and cause our treasure to be
wasted; that they are in a minority,
and minorities, however large, must
sit down in silence, whatever their con-
victions are.
Here at once crops out the tyranny
of the majority which De Toqueville
described. And yet, these Anti-Imper
ialists are guaranteed the absolute
right of free speech, under the Con-
stitution. They are not guilty of trea-
son until they commit an overt act. If
the ruling majority denounce them, are
they not enforcing d moral tyranny
which is, after all, worse than physi-
cal tyranny?
When Cleveland was elected TO the
Presidency, the Republicans freely de-
clared that the domination of the Dem
ocratic party would work the ruin of
the country. Perhaps It did do great
mischief. Whether il did or did not
the Republicans refused to sit in ST.
lence under the rule of the Democratic
majority. They opposed that rule per-
sistently and bitterly, and finally sue
ceeded in overthrowing it.
These efforts of Mr.. Atkinson and
his friends, are precisely on the same
lines. They are as sincerely honest as
the Expansionists. Senator Hoar has
certainly the reputation of being an
intelligent and upright man. At least
Massachusetts thinks so.
But the Anti-Imperialist encourages
the Filipinos to revolt, to kill our sol
diers and waste our treasure. He is
taxed to pay for war that he believes
is unjust. He says SO. because, under
a Republican constitution, he has the
right to say. But his saying SO may
be good as powder and ball and rife
to those in revolt. The attitude of the
Democratic party, during the Civil
War. led the South to believe that the
North would finally consent to a sep
aration. But the government could
not shoot or hang or imprison, all the
Democrats.
So these are perpleXing questions
Six millions of Democratic voters are
il is assumed opposed to the war Seven
millions of Republican voters are. il
is assumed in favor of it. The Anti
Imperialists say it's 'un-American" t
expand. The Republicans say it's ''un
American not to expand. So the all
| is full of the mud-baIls of ''un-Ameri
Canism.' In the mean time the goot
sense of the people reaches out for tn
I wisdom of the hour. while il lodges tn