The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1900-09-15
THE REAL MOTIVE.
Troubles in China Being Used BY the
Administration TO Hide
Home Affairs.

1t is much to be doubted whether the
rationale of imperialism is understood,
even at this late date, by the masses
of the American people; for the events
which led up to the policy of expan-
sion in the orient seem, at the first
glance, to be in the nature of a de-
cree of fate. Nevertheless, a little re-
Election will serve to show that the
republican party has availed itself of
Dewey's victory in Manila bay, in or
der to hold public opinion at arms
length, while domestic policies of the
most far-reaching import were being
developed to their logical conclusion.
The device is bynomeans new. When
Napoleon III. was menaced by the
searching scrutiny of the peoples con-
science, he instinctively had recourse
to the scheme of an empire in Mexico.
When that bright dream faded, the
duel with Germany followed in the in
exorable logic of things. Thus the
blood and treasure of France we're
wasted, in the vain hope that a foul
crime against free government might
be blotted from the memory of men.
After this disastrous fashion has des-
potism found itself compelled to act,
in every land and in every age. Free
dom alone stands in no needle of a screen.
In the present case, the title Of no
dynasty is in question, but the Justice
of a system of policy is under examine
ton at the judgment bar of conscience.
The corporations have grown until
they overshadoW the government
which created them, while wealth finds
increasing immunity from it's proper
burdens. If the problem should be pre-
sented in its naked form, the popular
verdict would be a~foregone conclusion.
The instinct of self-preservation thus
cOmpels the republican party to be-
cloud its errors of omission and COM
mission with issues which should have
no place in politics.
At the outset, it was the evident in
tention to treat the Filipinos as we
have treated the Cubans, but the repre-
sentatives Of the trusts saw their OBJ
portunity, and the instructions to our
ENJOYS at Paris were so changed as to
convert the islands into spoils Of con
quest. Indeed, the apOstasy would have
taken the form of a Reputation of the
nations pledge to Cuba, if the moral
fiber of the American people had been
less fine.
4 1t thus happens that a party whose
original %shibboleth was human free
dom finds itself the champion of the
doctrines that might makes right. At
such Infinite cost do parties or men
palter with the verities. It is the first.
step that costs; all the others are easy
and, indeed, inevitable. "Facilis de-
scensus Averni."
IL is, however, clear that President
McKinley's ruse will have no greater
measure of success than the third Ma
poleon's. The plan for the retention of
Cuba has already met with a failure
so complete that even the republicans,
in their platform of 1900, have been
compelled to announce their unequfvo.
cal recognition of the national obliea.
ton. In the fullness of time, the Fill.
ipinos will receive the same full meas
ure Of justice, and America will once
more stand forth as the ote sincere adj
vocate Of the principle that all Just
government has its origin in the con-
sent of the governed.
In Ordert that this supreme result may
be achieved, it behOoves all right-thinE-
ing Americans to exercise their full
measure Of power, by tongue, pen and
ballot. After all, public opinion is the
moIding force IN this wovaTn-,ar+ ~
spokesman of injustice and greed may
WELD a mighty influence, for a season,
but the sober second thought Of the
masses is invariably fatal to all schemes
which lead up to the e-nslavement Of
the many for the benefit Of the few.
The great wrongs Of the present time
must be righted; but we must do JUS
tice to Others in order that we may
come into our own. Imperialism is but
the cloak of monopoly and should,
therefore, be torn away witha ruthless
hand.