Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-07-21
EIGHT PAGES.
SATURDAY, JULY 81, 1900
AN ISSUE AND WHO MADE 1T,

Says the Knoxville Journal and Tri.
bune:
There are questions that come be-
lore us which should be settled outside
9 or partisan limits: These problems
sitions belong to that class.
There are 10. inperialists In this
country-neVer was and never will be.
/. some or those who write and talk
about 1t have no idea what Imperial
Ism means"
1t would be infinitely comfortable for
the Republican party 10 have these
problems that have come with our new
acquisitions" '"settled outside of narti-
san limits" If that party had brought
to the solution OF these problems n
spirit in keeping with the traditions Of
the Republic; IL it had outlined policy
essentially American, one involving no
reputation of the past and no stultG-
cation in the present, the questions re-
lating to Cuba, Porto Rico and the
Philippines would never have been
made the subject and occasion of par
tsan controversy. But the Republi-
can party did nothing of the sort. 1t
laid down MS the basis of it's admins
tration Of affairs in Porto Rico ana
the Philippines that those islands be-
long to the United States, but are not
u part OF It; that their inhabitants
have no rights that Congress and the
Executive are bound to respect; that
they have no share or lot in the safe
guards of the Constitution, but must
submit TO any form of government that
is imposed upon them. That is I'M
perlalism III it's esscntials--the govern
ment OF distant peoples without their
consent and by force of arms, IL need
be, While denying TO them the rights
claimed in the Declaration OF Inde-
pendence and embodied in the Consu-
tuition. Every man who believes III
these things is an Imperialist. Are
there then no 1mperialists in this coun-
try?
Why is not tho administration of
ton OF legitimate issue between the
parties? by what inherent sacredncss
Is 1t raised above the realm in which
tho administration of sovereign States
and OF the central Government has
been determined since the Union was
formed? This matter is above politics
In one sense only--whcn his country Is
IN danger 1t is the duty OF the patriot
TO forget party Tor the time being.
through this It comes that at the
present time the grave menace TO
american institutions involved in Inn
periaiism should drive every citizen 10
SET MS face resolutcly against this
most dangerous and insidous doctrine.
1t Is not the fault of the Democratic
party that Imperialism is the present
issue Ill politics. 1t was not the De-
mocracy that played Frankenstein TO
THIS new monster. Its hidcous hulk
does not bear the Democratic trade
mark. 1t Is the legitimate product of
4 the fundamental idea OF the Republi-
can party that the Government should
s be exalted at the expense of the cit-
izen. True to its traditions, the De-
mocracy has not been willing to stand
by while new victory for fraud ana
force was wrought by the prostitution
OF the nations powers to the ends of
the Republican party. The Republi-
cans have made and emphasized the
Issue of Imperialism. They have made
the thing; they approved and applaud
ed II, If not in their formal declaration
In the utteranccs OF their leaders. The
Republicans have made the issue. The
Democrats take it up. cheerfully, fear
iessiy and confidently.
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