The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-10-14
BISHOP POTTER'S WARNING.

At the Episcopal church congress
held during the week in the city OF
St, Paul Bishop Potter. the we'll
known prclatc of that church, Tor the
state OF New York, delivered a ringing
address upon the topic, docs National
Expansion Involve Imperiaism?' At
intervals during his address Bishop
Potter was greeted will, unboundcd
manifestations OF approval and at its
conclusion received splendid ovation.
The Bishop said i'll part
"Inlpcriaisn is an unfortunate word
in this discussion, because, OF course,
in one sense, it has no appropriateness.
The best authorities define an imperial
st as meaning 'onc who belongs to, or
supports IN emperor and imperialism
as system or state OF imperial gov
crnment.' Now. whatever else may
happen, The hands on the clock of his
tory do not usually go backward, and
nothing is. antcccdcntly speaking, more
improbable than that nation which
las delivered itself from the rule OF
kings ard the rights OF the few, as
against the disabilities OF the many, WILL
being moreover a people that has
adopted the principle OF universal SUI
'ragc revert to 4 system which takes
away that privilege and RENTS the gov
crnmcnt to the will OF an individual,
which is substantially the imperial idea.
But, whatever may be improbable
nothing is more entirely possible than
that a nation which still preserves the
forms OF democratic government may
i'll time subordinate them to methods OF
its administration which, sooner or
later. will bring the substance OF i'm
pcrialism along will, them.
Nov. it would seem at least rca-
sonablc that the conquering or pur-
chasing republic should inaugurate its
relations to its new possessions by some
conference with its dominant peoples.
But. no. Its first word is subsection, its
first demand surrender. its first, second
and third conditions are: We will rec
ognzc nobody. VIC will treat with no.
body. we alone will dictate all the
terms The policy does not work hap
PLY. These pcstilcrous wards OF the
ration will not lay down their arms,
and these alien communities. instead OF
llailing the Stars and Stripes with a
wild delight. are actually insolcnt
enough to intimate that they would
rather salute flag OF their own. Let us
suppose, however. that the time comes
when this foreign republic has crushed
out the last cnbcr OF rebellion and
stitlcd every faintcst hope OF protest.
The old revolutionary idea survives,
the old passion Tor freedom wakes
anew, and so the new possession must
be vigorously governed, there must be
hosts OF troops, and scores OF COVER
nors, and the organization OF armies
and staffs and military courts Tor no.
body knows just how many islands.
How are these governments to be
constituted? How is the chief ruler Of
the distant republic, in whom, as it hap
pens, there is vested, at any rate, fol
the time being, really despotic power tc
attend to all these matters? He hap,
pens usually, with us, to have task
on hand-tllat OF securing his own re-
election, which naturally absorbed F;
large share OF his time: how CAN he b.
expected to neglect it for the case o
some wretched islands--mainly peoplcd
as he is told Though unfortunately TO-
him incorrectly. with a lot OF ignoran
little 'niggers'? Or, rather, ii he mus
give them some sort OF attention, how
can he make their conquest and gov
eminent means OF strengthening him
! self with his party, and binding new