The times., 1899-10-13
Imperialism.

Imperialism.
II the Anglican Bishop of New York
were not man who, in virtue of his eccle-
siastical position, learning. and high social
antecedents and connections, welded a
positive influence in the community, We
should not think it worth while to take him
seriously in connection with a grave ques-
tion Of State, concerning which his views
and opinions are neither clear nor logical: ::
but being the dignitary he is, with power
TO impress erroneous opinions upon un-
critical or unthinking people, the Rt. Rev.
Henry c. Potter is not altogether to be ig-
nored, at least as to his public attitude on
4 what is called the question of American
national expansion.
I In an address delivered before the Epis-
copal Church Congress at ST. Paul on
Tuesday. the subject being Does National
Expansion Imply Imperialism" DR.. Potter
argues that our position in the Philippines,
and our policy in relation TO that posses
sion, are essentially imperialistic, unwor-
thy. and opposed TO the genius of our in
stitutions; that the action taken by the
Government in closing the mails to the
seditious and reasonable literature of our
domestic Filipinos is evidence that we
have practical Imperialism at home; and
that our relations to the Malay inhabitants
Of the Island OF Luzon are so questionable
/ that they should be submitted to an in
ternationsl court of arbitration. While ac-
quitting the right reverend Bishop of any
disingenuousness in advancing such argu-
ments. We must say that from an intel
lectual or a practical point Of view they
would not justify an answer If offered by
less influential citizen
Bishop Potter, like ali of his fellow con-
tractionists. calmly ignores the "fait ac-
compli' of expansion, as Ii relates to the
Philippines. Guam, Hawaii and Porto
Rico and treats the subject as If it were
an open question which, Rs President
Sehurman says. il has not been since last
winter. He is not unconscious that the
contention, such as It is, is much compli-
Gated by a confusion of terms, and he
cheerfully adds his mite to make It more
so. Imperialism" he says, "is an unfor-
tunate word in this discussion, because, of
course in one sense il has no appropriate
ness. The best authorities define an i'm
periaIist' as one who belongs TO and sup
ports an emperor, and imperialism as "a
system or state OF imperial government .
The learned prelate is strongly opposed
TO any tendency, which has developed or
might develop in this country, toward "a
system or state of imperial government"
and he believes that the national determi-
nation to hold the Philippines under the
sovereignty of the United States consti-
tutes fatal step in that direction. 1t is
strange that man Of his mind and educa-
tion should have failed to learn before now
that our Government, in its complex or
ganization, exists not only in the form and
condition OF republic as to its principle
aspects, but an imperialism in Others
Relatively to its constituent quasi-inde-
pendent State units. 1t is q republic; but,
how is IL In relation TO national territories,
possessions, and the aboriginal tribes with
IN its borders, who are Americans but not
ciazensg
In its control Of these territorial divi-
sions and these communities it does and al
ways has governed them imperially The
fact that our Chief of State is Presi-
dent and not an Emperor has nothing
whatever 10 do with the argument. AL
though Queen Victoria is. by courtesy,
styled Empress of India II IS principle
OF the British constitution that the i'm
perial power inheres in the Parliament
and can only be exercised by that body.
In the United States the imperial power
is vested in Congress and the Executive
and is as obvious as any other. What kind
Of power is IL, f not imperial, which this
Government has exhibited in its administra-
ton OF Alaska ever since the purchase OF
that possession from Russia? What power |
is It, II not an imperial one. by which Con- |
gress and the President govern the Indian |
tribes? In smaller degree. but in ac- |
cordance with the same principle the gov |
ernment Of our territories is identical In |
point of Imperialism with the British i'm |
perlal government Of Australia or OF Ja- |
maics, or OF Newfoundland
We have been speaking only of the me-
tional conditions anterior TO the Spanish |
war and TO the annexation OF the Ha-
wailan Islands Since then the executive |
and legislative branches OF the Govern
ment, which, as we have shown. are COM
binedly possessed of the imperial power and |
functions OF the National Union, have ex-
ercised both in extending American SOW /
ereignty over Hawaii. the Philippine archi- |
pelsgo the Island of Guam, and Porto Rico.
The right 70 acquire territory and to rule |
IL is necessary consequence of complete /
independent nationality. In essence and
fact, the act of such acquisition is one
Of imperialism. By the application of no
other principle could we have taken over
Louisiana, California. New Mexico, or Ari-
zona- In raising our flag al San Juan.
Honolulu. and Manila, and IN providing for |