The Van Buren press., 1900-07-21
Carl schurz Gives Grave Warning.

NEW YORK, July is. The journal
publishes the following today;
BY CARL SCHURZ.
Copyright, 1900, by w. r. Hearst. }
| am profoundly convinced that the
imperialistic policy, policy of criminal
aggression by forcible conquest and Of
substantially arbitrary rule over sub
jngated populations, will, no matter
what the purposes may be, involve the
subversion of the fundamental principles
of our democratic government
To avert so calamitOus result 1t Is
necessary that the American people
should, in the directest and most un-
equivocal manner, repudiate the un-
democratic policy of criminal aggres-
sion, and of subjugating foreign popu-
lations to American sovereignty, and
that can at present be done only by de-
feating Mr.. Mckinley in the coming
presidential election.
To accomplish this we may, being
forced to choose between two evils have
to pay a heavy price; but the stake is
so great that we may we'll ask ourselves
whether any possible price can be too
high; and say this, after very mature
deliberatiOn, as a conservative man, n
great part Of whose public life has been
devoted to fighting against the financial
theories represented by Mr.. Bryan If
1t were even true that Mr. . Bryan would
lead us into an internal revolution if
elected, it would, in my opinion, be not
nearly as serious and dangerous revO-
luton as that into which the policy of
imperialism is sure to lead us, and it
effects would be much more easily and
speedily counteracted than the total
subversion Of the fundamental principles
Of our democracy which the policy of
imperialism involves.
And can you be blind to the effects
which the tendencies of imperialism are
already exercising among ourselves upon
the popular mind?
Do you not hear the scoffing levity
with which the Declaration of Independ-
ence and the high ideals of liberty and
human rights which SO long have been
sacred to our people are made sport of;
how the teachings of Washington and
Lincoln are derided as antiquated
nursery rhymes, and how the Consti.
tuition, when 1t stands in the way Of
grasping schemes, is lightly brushed
aside with the fiippant word that consti-
tutions are made for men and not men
for constitutions
1t cannot be repeated too often that
there are things which may be done by
monarchical or aristocratic governments
without making them less strong as
monarchies or aristocracies, but which
cannot be done by democracy based
upon universal suffrage without fatally
demoralizing 1t as a democracy; and
that one of those things is the arbitrary
ruling of foreign populations as subjects.
I can hardly imagine any kind OF gov
ernment more repellent than dem
ocracy that has ceased to believe in any
thing, and In which all ambitions are
directed toward a selfish use of power.
Indeed, there may be some persons ex
pecting to make more money out of the
Philippines If we subjugate them at the
cost OF ever 80 much blood and devas-
tation and then rule them by sub
stantially despotic sway.
But who are they2
Not the people at large, especially not
the laboring masses, but favored few,
And here | invite the special attention
Of our conservative fellow citizens who
are 80 much alarmed at the possibility
that the political struggles In this dem
ocracya democracy wording through
universal suffrage-may develop into a
struggle Of the poor against the rich,
Have they considered how apt this kind
Of imperialistic policy will be to incite
and hasten such a developments
Nothing can be more dangerous In
Democracy like ours than the prevalence
Of the notion that might Is right--a
notion involving the worst kind of
anarchy, above and below, And that
principle Is preached and proclaimed
every day by this imperialistic policy.
Is it not high time that the American
people, sobered from the debauching
intoxication of victory, should rise up
again to just appreciation of the true
responsibility of this great Republic2
That true responsibility Is its RESPONSE
bility for the maintenance of the great
principles upon which 1t was founded.
II is Its responsibility for the great
lesson 1t is to administer to mankind
that true Democracy means, not only
tho assertion Of one 8 own rights, but
also just respect for the rights Of
others, and that this democracy Of ours
Is able to resist the temptation which
might seduce 1t from its fidelity to that
high obligation. II IL its responsibility
for the fulhllment of the great promise
expressed by Abraham Lincoln on the
battlefield Of Gettysburg that Govern.
ment of the people, by the people for the
people shall not perish from the earth, -