West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1900-08-23
roun REPUBLICAN, CONVENTIONS.
Comment ON tho Principal Argument. of
tho Party In Powcr.

tho Party In Power.
The principal arguments. however.
advanced by those who enter upon a
defense OF Imperialism are:
First; That we must improve the
present opportunity Co become a world
power and enter into International pol
itics.
Second; That our commercial inter.
ests In tho Philippine islands and ln
the Orient make II necessary for Us to
hold the islands permanently.
Third That the spread of the Chris
tlan religion will be facilitated by
colonial policy.
Fourth: That there Is no honorable
retreat from the position which the
nation has taken.
The first argument is addressed To
the nations pride and the second To the
nations pOckct-book. The third Is In
tended for The church member ana the
fourth for the partisan.
1t is sufficient answer TO the first
argument TO say that for more ,han "A
century this nation has been a world
power. For ten decades IL has been
the most potent influence In the world.
Not only has IL been n world power.
but IL has done more to affect tile poll
ties of the human race than all the 9th
en- nations of tho world combined. BE.
cause our Declaration OF independence
was promulgated others have been pro-
mulgated; because the patriots of iT7G
Fought for liberty others have fought
Tor II; because our constitution was
adopted other constitutions have been
adopted The growth of the principle
OF self-goycrnmcnt, planted on Ameri-
can soil has been the ovcr-shndOwlng
political fact of the nineteenth cen
tury.
The permanent chairman Of the last
Republican national convention pre-
scntcd the pccuniary argument i'm all
It's badness. when he said: 1--WE mike
no hyp0crltlcal protenses OF being
Interested In the Philippines solely on
account of others. While we regard the
welfare OF these people as sacred
trust we regard the welfare of the
American people first. We see our duty
10 ourselves as well as 10 others. We
believe ln trade expansion. Iiy every
Legitimate means within the province
OF government and constitution we
mean to stimulate the expansion of
our trade ana open new markets"
This is the commercial argument. ft
Is based upon the theory that war
can bc rightly waged for pccunlary
advantage. and that It is profitable to
purchase trade by force ana violence.
Franklin denied both Of these prOpo-
siliOns.
! place tic philosophy OF Franklin
against Tie Sordid doctrine OF those
WHO would put price upon the life
OF an American soldier aud Justify n
war Of conquest upon the ground that
II will pay The Democratic party Is
In favor of the expansion OF trade. 1t
would extend our trade by every lcgitl-
mate ana peaceful mcaus: but it II not
willing 10 make merchandise OF human
blood
But war Of conquest is as unwise
as Il Is uurighteOus. \ harbOr and
cOalIng station in the Philippines
would answer every trade and mill
tary necessity and such u concession
could have been secured 0t any time
without difficulty
IL is not necessary 10 own people IN
order 10 trade with them. We carry
on trade today with every part OF the
world, and our commerce has expand
ed more rapidly than the commerce Of
any European empire When
trade Is secured by force, the cost OF
securing u and retaining II must be
taken ont or the profits. aud the profits
are never large enough 10 cover the ex-
pcnse. Such "a system would never be
defended but FOR the fact that the ex-
pensc Is borne by all the people, while
tie profits are enjoyed by the few.
Imperialism would be profitable TO
the army contractors; II would be prof
table 90 the ship-Owners, who would
carry live soldiers 20 the Philippines
and bring dead soldiers back; II would
be profitable TO those who would seize
upon the franchises. and 10 would be-
profitable e. the officials whose salaries
would be fixed here and paid over
there: but to thc farmer 90 the labor.
Ing man. and Co the vast majority OF
those engaged in other occupations. IL
would bring expenditure without re.
turn and risk without reward
Farmers ana laborlng men have. as
rule. small incomes and under svs-
TENS which place the tax upon con
sumption pay more than their fair
share or the expenses Of government.
Thus The very people who receive least
benefit from Imperialism VIII be ln-
iured mos by the military burdens
which accompany &c. lt is
not strange therefore. that the labor
ORGANIZATIONS have been quick 10 note
the approach % these dangers aud