The times., 1899-08-19

Al DeS MONIES the other day Mr. Rryan
very truthfully observed: IF we are right
We VIII succeed" In the course of his
eloquent speech he also said that, when
the Republican party was first organized
in 1856 il appealed to the people TO take
the Government back to the principles Of
Washington and Jefferson. in 1859 the
Republicans OF Boston were celebrating the
birthday of Jefferson. Think of Republi-
cans celebrating the birthday of Jefferson.
To be Jefferson is TO be the great
est statesman the world has produced
True. Mr.. Bryan, true-aIlowing for a
little pardonable national vanity. But
surely greater was never known in his
torical times. and the grand edifice of an
expanded, imperial country is plainly in
sight to prove it.
To be Jefferson" is not only to be the
greatest statesman the world has ever
produced as Mr.. Bryan declares; it is
10 be the commanding American imperial
ist';-the man who secuted the idea of a
national CONAN confined within the boun-
daries of the thirteen original colonies; who
had visions OF vast republic, the wan
lord Of the hemisphere in the battle for hH-
man freedom. and who made a splendid ad-
vance toward the realization of his dream
in the Louisiana purchase.
''Expansi0ni Imperialism, Our institu-
tions are in danger, The Declaration of
Independence is on its last legs!'' screamed
the political opponents of Jefferson, and
the cross-eyed, muddle- Drained, provincial.
tons, Rales, and Clevelands of that day.
But Thomas Jefferson carried through the
Louisiana purchase in spite OF them all,
and added 10 the territory OF the Union
the area now comprising the States of Louis
lana, Arkansas. Missouri. Iowa, Minnesota.
the two Dakotas, Nebraska. Kansas, Okla
homa. and the Indian Territory. part OF
Colorado. most OF Wyoming and Montana
Then as now the instinct of self-preser-
walton called upon us to expand The
people and their great leader. Jefferson,
were expansionists. and their antagonists
were in principle. precept, and action the
same sort OF obstructionists who see the
destruction Of liberty and representative
government in the acquisition of Hawaii.
Porto Rico. and the Philippines today. and
who knew that the country would go TO
the devil when. under President Polk. we
crucifled freedom and returned 70 the
worst prosecutions of Nero. by adding the
stars of Texas and California TO the field
of our glorious imperial flag.
In each OF these cases, whether that OF
Louisiana, Texas, or California, a burden
of necessity was placed upon the back Of
the American people; a burden which they
must shoulder to be true to their world
mission and their duty to God and man.
Have they lost or won in the aggregate by
bravely accepting their plain destiny?
The intelligent masses OF America will
no more shirk the inevitable today than
they did in 1903, 1918, or in 1913, There
is no question Of expansion, as applied to
the islands now in our possession. whether
by voluntary cession, conquest. or pur-
chase. As 10 them expansion is an ac-
compiished fact. involving responsibilities
10 civilization from which there is no pos
sible retreat with honor And there viii
be none. II the case OF the Philippine
archipelago the United States has had an
unexpected task thrust upon IT, Through
the fortune OF war II has been compelled
to accept the role OF pacifcator, ruler, and
civilizer for millions OF human beings
who, without our help and power. would
straightway fall into hopeless and misera-
BILE saTagery on the one hand. or become
the prey and slaves of eager and greedy
European States on the other. From the
position we have assumed toward them
there is no escape. without bringing upon
our heads the just contempt and ridicule
OF the world
Even II We could for moment think
of acknowledging cur inability to perform
. sacred duty. and cynicaIly TO leave our