The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-08-24

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economic question can compare In i'm
portance with question which concerns
| systems Of taxation can be changed with
less difficulty than financial systems, and
ans ess ss atet Re- Se e
1 try than the vital doctrines upon which
free government rests.
when Money Was Secondary.
/ In. the early COS, when we were en-
| gagged IN a contest which was 20 deter
mine whether we should have one repub-
lie or two, questions ordinance were lost
sight Of. Silver was at a premium over
gold. and both gold and silver were at a
| premium over greenbacks and bank notes.
| but the people could not afford 20 divide
| over the money question In the presence
OF a greater issue. And so today we are
| terfnlne whether we are to have a republic
| IN which the government derives its lust
powers from the consent OF the governed
or an empire IN which brute force is the
only recognized source of power.
In a government where the people rule
every wrong can be righted. and every
eyll rernedied, but when once the doctrine
or self-government is impaired and might
Is substituted for right. there is no GER
tainty that any question will be settled
"A colonial policy would so occupy the
people with the consideration of the ma
TONS foreign policy that domestic ques-
IONS NoItd De neglected. Who Will haul
down the Rag or stand by the presi-
dent would he the prompt response to
every criticism OF sthe administration,
ana corruption and special privileges
would thrive under the cover OF patriot
ism.
Miiftarism and Imperialism.
1t Is not strange that the Popuists
should oppose miltarism and imperial
ism. FOR both are antagonistic 60 the prin-
ciples which Populists apply to other
questions. Looking at the questions from
the standpoint OF spectator, the Popuiist
recognizes In miiitarism constant and
increasing burden The army worm which
occasionally destroys a field Of wheat
is not nearly so dangerous an enemy to
the farmer as large standing army
wnich inyades every field of industry and
exaets toll from every crop.
II 10000 men are withdrawn from the
ranks OF the producers and placed as a
burden on the backs OF those who re-
work and greater sacrifices for those
who toll. and the farmer while he pays
more than his share of the expenses OF
the army, has no part in any contracts
or development of companies, and his sons
are less likely to fill the life positions In
the army than the sons Of those who. by
reason of wealth or political prominence
exert influence at Washington.
Colonial Policy.
Soon after the political leaders began
TO suggest the propriety of a colonial
policy, the papers published an interview
ElNep out from san Francisco by a for
eign consul residing at Manila. He de-
clared that the people OF the United
states owed 1t to themselves, 10 other
nations and TO the Filipinos to hold the
Philippine islands permanently At the
conclusion Of the interview there appears
the very significant statement that the
gentleman was visiting the United States
for the purpose of organizing company
for the purpose OF developing the Philip
pine islands
"A few days later. on his way East. he
gave out another interview In which he
explained that the company which he in
tended to organize would establish banks
at Manila and at other places throughout
the islands, and build electric light plants.
water plants. street car lines, railroads.
factories. etc. II seemed that the plan
OF his syndicate was to do all the devel-
oping and leave the rest OF the American
people nothing to do In the matter except
10 furnish an army sufficient 10 hold the
Fflipinos In subjection while they were
being developed.
nually upon the army approximately half
as much as we spend for education in
the United States. and this immense sum
is wrung from the taxpayers by systems
OF taxation which overburden the poor
and undsrtax the rich man
In the presence Of such an issue as
militarism II is impossible that any Pop
ulist should hesitate as to his duty
Republican Policy.
But even the menace OF militarism
IL but part of the question of imperial
ism. The policy contemplated by the Re-
publican party utilities every principle
set forth In the Declaration OF lndepen-
dence. strikes blow at popular govern
ment and robs the nation of It's moral
prestige. Already the more advanced
supporters Of the colonial idea point 10
the economy Of a system of government
which intrusts all powers to an executive
and does away with the necessity of legis-
lation.
'sThe Army and Navy Journal. In its
Issue of August & commends the Eng
llsh system and declares that as a re-
suit OF this system a fifth OF the worlds
area. containing nth of it's population
is ruled with an administrative economy
which Is an administrative marvel. and
adds;
one million two, hundred thousand
dollars spent in London is the price OF
administer ton over colonial rule whose
total budgets aggregate Via 354. see or
70 per cent more than our total of FEEDER
al state. county and village expenditure
for every possible purp6-e for which
taxes are levied. In contrast 10 the re-
suits Of this system Of executive admins
tration the fact Is cited that the Ameri-
can congress has spent an entire winter
In wrestling with the tarln. the taxation.
the administration and personal rights OF
tive little islands. The English execu-
tive Is an imperial executive. The Brit
ish parliament Is an English legislature.
To the same system we are coming by
decree Of circumstances as inevitable as
that % fate, II this he imperialism.
make the most OF A. So far az eltizen-
ship Is concerned the British empire is
enc, but beyond the limits Of the United
Kingdom the citizen lives under a rule
essentially monarehlcal and not restricted
by the constitutional limitations OF the
pnrlis mentaTS system
Thus does imperialism bear It's sup
porters backward. turning toward the
dark ages There IL no middle ground
between the American policy and the
European policy. III this nation remains
true 10 rs principles i;s traditions and
It's history, Il cannot hold colonies IL
u enters upon a colonial career II must
repudiate the dactrine that governments
derive their Just powers from the con-
sent - the governed
when such an Issue Is raised there
can only be two paffies--thc party. what
ever is name may be. which believes IN
n republic HUd the party whatever It's
name which believes ir IN empire. mud
the influence az every citizen f. con
scinualy og unc0uscianRiy, Intentionally
or Internationally. thrown upon ono side
or TIE other
Republic and Monarchy.
Whore the diYiBe right 81 kings is rec