The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1899-03-22
Let Well Enough Alone.

If President Mckinley had stopped at
the end OF the Spanish war this people
and the world would never have known
but that he was not only a good man, but
also a great man. Ii this country had
stopped at the end OF the Spanish war we
and the world would never have known
but that we were not only a good people
but also a great people Ii our repub-
lican government had stopped at the end
OF the Spanish war we and the world
would never have known but that re-
publican government was not only good
for people at home when properly han
died. but that it was also capable of sue
cessfully solving world problems. which
call ior able diplomacy and the handling
OF large ornaments.
But III attempting to 90 bevOnd the
legitimate end OF that war. the President
the people and the government have let
the cat out Of the wallet and spoiled
everything. Our treatment OF Spain since
the protocol. III connection with our pro-
posed treatment OF the Filipino and the
Cuban, has lost to us our reputation as
Just and liberty-loving people. not only
with Europe but also with the Filipino
and Cuban and with all other peoples
who may hereafter contend lor freedom
and independence In losing this we have
lost much, and it can only be regained by
long years OF righteous conduct hereafter.
II at all. Hereafter we are rivals OF Eu-
rope in the spoliation OF the world and
will be treated as such Hereafter no peo-
pie battling for freedom and independence
can have any confidence in us and will
not aid us in contest with any other En-
ropean nation, as the Cuban and the Fill
pino have aided us III our affair with
Spain Ii we had promptly given Gu
bans and Filipinos their independence no
European power with disconnected col
ones would ever have risked tackling us
Moreover such impetus would have been
given to liberty that not only European,
but also Asiatic despotisms would have
been shaken to their very foundations. No
wonder therefore that Europe and Old
England herself rejoice with mighty re-
joice. over our treatment OF Cubans and
the Filipinos. The possession OF Cuba
and the Philippines can give us no such
power as prompt concession OF their COM
plete independence would have given us
We have not only lost our reputation for
goodness, but also the power that went
with that reputation.
Ii President Mckinley persists in any
intention OF controlling the Philippines.
thus involving us in a serious war, both
Mckinley and the country may speedily
lose that reputation for greatness which
was so cheaply earned in a contest with
the inpotent Spaniard. Mckinley. al
though good man, and a power in Sun
day schools. and a passable president in
times OF peace and on this side the Mon
roe Doctrine, has not in him the sterner
stuff necessary to meet the stern and
unknown realities OF IN expansion
world When he attempts it, necessarily
he will rattle in his place and not only
lose his reputation ior greatness but do
serious damage to his supposed goodness
Not only will the president rattle in his
place; but our volunteer army and our
republican government will rattle in their
places when the regular armies and i'm
perial governments OF Europe are to be
dealt with in Our career OF expansion be
yond the Monroe Doctrine.
Choose We therefore between expansion
with its necessary concern. taunts, a large
regular army and an imperial govern
ment. on the one hand; and republican
government and the Monroe Doctrine on
the other hand. Many who now strenu-
ous1y oppose the whole expansion bust
ness will favor an imperial government
when, as it will, continued national eX-
istence demands it.
The Filipino, the Cuban and the world
should not, however, Judge this people
too harshly. They should remember that
this people are very often misrepresented