The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1900-09-29
WILL NOT DISCUSS: 1T.

The truth of the matter is that we
cannot enlist our opponents in an ear
nest discussion of this question, at least
not upon the moral side of the con-
trovcrsy. They will not listen to it, If
we appeal to the constitution, they say
we have outlived it. Ii we refer to the
Declaration of independence, they say
that that document is a collection of
g]ittering generalities, good. enough in
their day, but not applicable now. If
we cite them to the maxims of WASH
ington, Jefferson and Lincoln, they say
that these men are dead. Our only re-
course, therefore, is to demonstrate to
the people the falsity of the claim that
imperialism will pay. A colonial en-
pire may prove profitable to the trusts
and to the army and navy contractors,
and to the favored individuals, but it
never can and never will profit the
country or the people as whole
The only way in which the American
people could secure gain from the pos
session OF the Philippines would be by
the expansion of Our trade with them.
The profit of such trade, in the nature
OF things, could not be greater than the
value of the commodities that would
pass in exchange. The total value of
the exports and imports of the Philip
pine Islands have in no year exceeded
$3o, 5000. The profit on such trade
cannot be many millions, and suppos-
ing it were doubled, trebled or quadru-
pied, the profit would not be large
enough to bear the expense of the in
creased military establishment for one
month. But whether the profits, were
great or small, one thing is certain:
Those profits would not return into the
pockets of the same people who have TO
bear the burden of maintaining the ar
my and navy necessary for and incident
to colonial empire. But the whole ar
gumcnt is fallacious AS was we'll said
by Mr.. Bryan, you need not own a peo-
pie to trade with them. A friend is a
better customer than an enemy. If we
want the trade of the Philippines, let us
secure it as we secure other trade, by
the superiority and cheapness of our
products, by fair treatment and by the
establishment of mutual confidence and
! relations of good will. These are the
conditions that bring trade-not con-
| quest, not war nor oppression. But in
| considering the question of the profits
| Of imperialism you must not lose 81 ght
of the expense of its companion evil
the large standing army.
THE LARGE ARMY.
When I was member of congress,
when we were building and providing
for the navy which fought and won the
victories of the Spanish war, when we
had the same regular army establish
nent that we had at the commence
ment of that war, the total appropria-
ton for the army and navy in no year.
| during my, term of service exceeded
$50. 900, 900. This amount was not ex-.
ceeded in any year prior to the Spanish
war, except 1897, when it reached
So, ooo, goo. That the standing army
that we then had was ample and suf6-
cient forsthe protection of our country
and institutions issa matter OF history.
. When the war with Spain broke out,
and the President maze call upon the
states for additional forces, that call was
responded to. almost before it was.
made. And it is no exaggeration to-
ksay that if the exigencies had demand
] Nd, ten men could have been had for
leAery one that was required. a large
stan ding army may be necessary for the.
purhose of imperialism, but it is not
necessary for the protection Of repub-s
llican Institutions and It's necessity had
never been urged until 4 i'm erialism
made its appearance. A popular gov
ernnent while it should have a small
number OF frained and efficient regular
troops and sufficient number Of Off
$500