Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1900-08-24

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that, it contemplates methods.of administra-
tion that pertain, not to- the republic, but
to the empire. Can it be doubted that the
attempt to stife the spirit Of liberty abroad
will imperil popular government at home!
- Administration's Policy Analysed. #
what is proposed by the party in power
for the government of these islands? II It
be intended to establish there our political
institutions, what then becomes Of the Mon
roe doctrine? This vital international pol
|icy, announced by the president Of the
United States seventy-seven years ago, was:
We owe it, therefore, to candor and to the
amicable relations existing between the
United States and those powers to declare
that we should consider any attempt on their
part to extend their system to any portion
OF this hemisphere as dangerous to our
peace and safety This was supplemented
by disclaimer, in substance. upon our part.
of any intention to force our institutions
upon the nations Of Europe or their depend
encies.
Monroe Doctrine Enduring.
1.-THE Monroe doctrine is wholesome and
enduring. 1t is the faith of Americans Of
every creed and party-is of the very warp
and wool of our political being. It was pro-
mulgated at the critical moment when the
holy alliance was attempting to stifle the
republican spirit and re-establish the des-
potism of Spain upon her revolted colonies
IN SOuLQ America anu Mexico. Inc eSSeuCe
Of the doctrine as then understood by the
world was, while we forbid the establish
ment Of despotic governments upon the
American continent, we recognize tho corre-
spending obligation to refrain from any at
tempt to force our political system upon any
part of the old world. This has been our
settled rule Of faith and practice for more
than ee-quarters of century. Its pro-
mitigation defeated the purpose Of the holy
alliance and destroyed forever the power
Of Spain upon this continent.
Under it Louis Napoleon, q third Of a
century ago, was compelled to withdraw the
French army from Mexico and leave the ILL
it the empire established by foreign bay
onets disappeared and the republic was re-
stored. Are We now to say we still recog-
nize the binding force of this doctrine upon
other nations. but not upon our own?
Government by Force q Despotism.
If ultimate statehood for these remote is
lands--and others yet to be conquered-be
disclaimed. how. then. are they to be held
and governed? The only alternative is by
force-by the power Of army and navy, and
this not for day, or for year, but for all
time. What, then, becomes Of the bed
rock principle that governments derive
their Just powers from the consent of the
governed?' II they are to be held perma-
nently as conquered provinces, 1t will be
not only outside of the constitution, but in
direct antagonism to the letter and spirit
of the declaration OF independence. 1t is NO
less true now than in the days Of our revo-
luton that government by arbitrary power
is still despotism.'. The attempt, then,
either to give these people American citi-
zenship or to hold them as subjects, is to US
alike fraught with peril. Should there not
ment Of its purpose toward them? They
should be given unmistakable assurance of
independence. Protection by our government
should not be withheld against outside in
reference. The same protection should be
theirs heretofore extended to the little
states of Central and South America.
Should Give Protection.
under existing conditions there should be
no hesitation upon our part in giving them
spirit Of ether nations. All this, not to the
end Of subjugation or%of conquest upon our
part, but to that of the full enjoyment by
them Of liberty and of the ultimate estab-
lishment Of stable government furnished
by their own hands. Against this policy
the word is new-fortunstely the policy is
new. We are daily becoming familiar with
it's meaning, with it's Psychological the
end is not yet. It means permanent de-
parture from all the traditions of the past;
from the high ideals of the founders of the
PUBIC. II aOrOkaLeS Cu0 uO1QluS O1 our great
court that the declaration Of independence
is the spirit Of the government-the consti-
tuition but it's form and letter. Imperialism
knows nothing of limitations of power. Its
rule is outside the constitution. It means
the adoption by the American republic of
the colonial methods of European mon
archies 1t means the right to hold alien
peoples as subjects. 1t enthrones force as
the controlling agency. in government. 1t
means the empire.
Mflitarism q Corol1ary to imperialism.
"As a necessary corollary to imperialism
will come the immense standing army. The
dread hand of militarism will be felt in the
new world as it is in the old. The strong
army Of power will be substituted for the
peaceable agencies which for more than a
century have made our people contented and
happy. It was Jefferson who said, "A we'll
disciplined militia our best reliance in
peace, and for the first moments of war;
True. at the beginning of the century, with
few millions Of population; no less*true
the nations with population OF eighty mil
liens. The result Of our recent conflict with
Srain gives emphasis to the prophetic words
OF Jefferson. Existing conditions in CONT
mental Europe-entailing taxation and mis-
cry to the verge of human endurance-illus-
t1ate by sad object lesson the inevitable
result of large standing armies in time of
inE of the great sage Of the revolution, or
enter upon a new century with European
monarchies as our model? Without large
standing army, but relying upon the pa
triotism and courage Of American manhood,
we were victorious in the second war with
Great Britain, with Mexico, in the great civil
strife, and with Spain. In the light Of his
tory, can it be possible that the American
people will consent to the permanent estab-
lishment Of large standing army, and ita
consequent continuing and ever-increasins
burdens of taxation?
Republic Always a World Power.
1--WE are told that our republic is now to
become a world power In the highest
sense-with the declaration of independ-
ence as its corner stone-it has been in all
it's past a world power It has been the
lofty ideal to all liberty-loving people; the
model for all builders of republics for more
than a century. In the sense used by tho
imperialists the expression is one of ter
rible significance. 1t necessftates the
methods and equipments Of monarchies. It
! means the creation Of and maintenance by
| our republic of standing armies equal to
| those of the world powers of Europe. At
| power. Study existing conditions in Eure-
pean nations, and know what this all means
| to us. It means taxation to the verge of
despair. It means, as has been truly said,
that every laborer. must carry an armed
! soldier upon his back as he goes to his
| daily toll All history teaches that the
corner stone of imperialism is the force
| of the standing army.
"We stand 100 years from the hour when
the political forces were gathering which
| were to result in the election Of the first