The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1899-07-13
DEMOCRACY AND IMPERIALISM,
Expansion and imnerlolism are


Expansion and Imperialism are not
SYNONYMOUS ideas. 1t is entirely pos
slblc for one to be an eXpansionist
ana at the same time oppose imperial
ism The things that are incompatible
however, both in principle and in prac-
tice are democracy and imperialism.
The essence of the democratic princi-
pie is self government or freedom and
equality of opportunity, whereas the
essence of Imperialism is government
from without, special privilege and eX-
ploitation. No nation or ruler would
want to govern Il people against their
Will except for purposes of spoliation
or TO put them to servile and selfish
uses. There is nothing in the princi-
pies or spirit of true democracy that
would prevent it from reaching out to
other nations and peoples and taking
them into its folds. But 1t would new
CT eoerce them to come in, and If they
elected to come in they would be ac-
cepted and welcomed only on terms of
equality and freedom. Imperialism
even when it does not coerce, never ad-
mlts on terms of equality, and its
ideals of good government is, as Pro
fessor Geddes of Edinburgh says, to
Keep them quiet and in order while
they are being tieeced. There is vast
difference between u colonial posses
sion and Democratic territory. The
inhabitants of the latter look forward
to being admitted into the sisterhood
of states Oh terms of equal opportunity
and the privilege of self government,
While the people of the former expect
TO remain the subjects of govern
ment imposed from without and are
the victims of special privileges eXer-
cised by their masters or granted to Il
favored few.
There are many people in this coun-
try who are opposing the adminisha-
ton because they believe that it in
tends to make Uf the Philippines col
ony to be governed and exploited by
citizens of this nation. On the other
hand, there are many who indorse the
administration because they believe
that 1t means to give the Filpinos free
dom and equal opportunity. Why can
ii not be made known which of these
opposing aims is the one really held
by this government? 1t is a pity that
our people cannot be given an opportu-
nifty through the referendum to eX-
press their convictions and wishes in
this matter. 1t was Il calamity, If not
shame, that our government did not
say TO the Filpinos, and TO the people
of this country, what they purposed TO
do with the philippines after they had
gotten possession of them. 1t is hard
ly sufficient to tell us now that the adj
ministration did not know what its i'll
tentions were, for that would be con.
Tossing that they had bargained for
something for which they were willing
TO pay dearly, both in money and in
the lives OF our people, and yet did
not know why they wanted it or what
they could or would do with it. That
is confession of incompetency that
Is sufficient reason for n dishonorable
discharge. If they wanted the Philip
pines enough to pay S20,000,000 and
then fight for them they must have had
definite purpose in view.
There are good reasons FOR believing
that the more intelligent inhabitants
of the island would gladly have joined
us or made terms with us If they had
been promised that in the near future
they would be self governing and pro
tected in the enjoyment of equality of
opportunity in their own territory. In
return for their liberation from Spain
and promised protection, this country
would have been cheerfully granted all
the trade advantages 1t could reasOna-
Dly anu justly nave tbheu anu u cOHl-
ing station and, indeed everything that
that nation mot Individuals, can or
will get in any event. This Democracy
of ours could have expanded all over
the Philippines as it had previously ex
panded over the West and to the Paci-
tic coast ON precisely the same con
ditions If 1t had frankly told the peo-
pie what they proposed and desired TO
do, provided of course their intentions
were truly Democratic.
Let us clear this matter of the con
fusion that comes of thinking that eX
pansion is necessarily Imperialism, and
also let us understand, once for all,
that Imperialism cannot be tolerated or
practiced in democracy We must
either make the new possessions terri
tories, with the prospect of becoming
states of this union, or else we must set
them free to establish n. government
for themselves while we exercise some
sort of protectorate over them in re-
turn for certain fair grants of privilege.
Fillmore Moore, M. ID.