Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1900-07-26

I'm my judgment the coming political
campaign will be the most important
waged in this country since the civil
war;"
This statement was made to me Thurs.
day by Carl Schurz, secretary Of the in
terror under Hayes, who has been force
in every campaign for at least genera
ton. BY way Of explanation Mr.. Schurz
added:
"While the evil of slavery has been
disposed Of, the no less il not more serious
evils Of imperialism are impending. Not
q mere commercial, but great moral
issue is to be decided. The American
people are to determine whether they will
stand by the Declaration Of Independence
and the teachings OF Washington and Of
Lincoln, or abandon these to support
Mckinley in his imperial policy Of Grim.
inal aggression. conquest by force, perfidy
to allies and arbitrary rule oyer distant
populations"
When asked Mr.. SEIZURE what, in his
opinion, would be the outcome Of the
contest, he answered promptly:
II am confident that the people, If the
Issue is put clearly before them on it's own
merits, will answer with no uncertain
vote next November, and let all the world
know that the United States is still a
republic-and not an empire governing
subject races"
"What is to be done with the silver
question:"
"There will be q paramount issue In
every campaign" was the reply. "Such
an issue this year 10 imperialism. II
me ses little difference how many planka
til. parties insert In their platforms.
Gas far a. this campaign is c. ncerned
the silver question Ia dead. l believe
that It is conceded that Bryan, il elected,
can do nothing for silver In the four years
he may hold Office, even II the house oil
representatives were for l6 to l. am
not, however, talking Of candidates, MOI
do wish to until after the Liberty Con.
vention in August"
Pertinent to this remark is Mr.. Schurz's
recent significant statement to the execu'
tive committee Of the anti.imperialists
"The evil Of imperialism is 80 great that
almost any price should be paid to
avert it,"
"Will the result of the coming election
finally settle the question OF imperial.
ism ?" asked Mr.. Echurz.
"The question, whether all that has
been done by Mr.. Mckinley in the way
Of his imperialistic policy shall be ap'
proved or disapproved by the people, II
properly brought before the voters, will
think be decided against Mr.. Mckinley
in this election. However, as 1t is not 9
mere question Of policy, but q moral
question OF right and wrong, it will, like
the slavery question. never be put to resi-
until it is settled aright," answered Mr.
Schurz. Then he added:
"Why don't they dare to discuss the
moral aspect Of the imperialistic policy il
they feel themselves in the right? Three
different times have challenged them in
public speeches to point out. in the whole
history Of the world, single act Of per-
fidy ever committed by any republican
government more infamous than the act
committed by our government against
our Filipino allies. They have never
answered. l am still waiting for them tt
show me another instance Of such knavist
treachery-and they may have the whole
cam paign in which to do it, il they can.
"When such immortality is one Of thu
most important and most characteristic
features Of the imperialistic policy, Of thu
president" Mr.. Schurz continued, "nt
one can deny that the issue before thu
people in this campaign is moral ques
ton. l am fully convinced that whel
the facts are thoroughly understood THU
sort Of policy will be Indignantly spurnet
by the moral sense OF the great majorit!
Of the American people,"
asked Mr.. SEIZURE If there was no
some chance for argument 40 to who WA
responsible for the treachery to the Fill
pinos. He did not seem to think 90, 70
he answered:
"There can be no question as to win
was responsible. 1t was our president
war. He, Of his own motion, got US int
it. It was noteworthy how the admins
tration felt it to be necessary to keep tn
people in ignorance OF the true facts il
the case by an arbitrary and inscription
censorship Of the news service, OF whicl
the following, which has been freqnentl
quoted, furnished fair illustration: