Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1900-08-22

Standing out against the new policy OF
conquest, with all that il involves Of
European complication, are the warn.
ings of the founders Of the republic,
Out Of fashion. as 1t may appear,
quote the last words of Washington to.
the oncor,ing generations Of his coun-'
trymen: The great rule of conduct for
US In regard to foreign nations Is, in
| extending our commercial relations, to
have with them as little political con-
nection as possible" 1t was the author
OF the Declaration of independence who
| said: 'Our first and fundamental max
| i'm should be never 10 entangle our
selves in the broils of Europe" Is it
| not well to ponder these warnings be-
| fore permanently tmbarking upon an
| untried pathway beses with foreign
jealousies, complications and antag-
onism?
JEFFERSoN1AN EXPANSION.
The democratic party has ever been
| the advocate OF wise territorial expan-
sion. 1t was in control of the govern
| ment during forty years of the first
half of the present century. During
| that period new states were admitted
into the federal union, and our western
| border extended beyond the Mississippi.
Out of the Louisiana country-acquired
under the first democratic administra-
| tion-haVe been carved fourteen mag
| nificent states. Under a later demo-
| cratic administration-and as a result
of the treaty which terminated eur war
with Mexico-we acquired California
| and neighboring states and territories.
| thus bringing under our flag, to remain
| forever, the vast expanse stretching to
| the Pacific.
| The policy of aggressive expansion
| of subjugation Of distant lands-pur-
| sued by the present administration,
| finds no precedent in the peaceable ces-
sion of the Louisiana country by Napo-
leon. that of Florida by Spain. nor that
kyet later, of the vast western area OF
Mexico. The territory acquired under
/ democratic administrations was, with
| favorable climatic conditions, the tit
| abode for men of our own race. Atthe
| time of annexation II passed under the
| rule OF the Anglo-Saxon, who carried
With him our laEpuage and our laws.
1t was territory contiguous to our own.
and acquired with the declared inten-
| tion-when conditions and population
| would justify-of carving it into states.
| The result Millions Of American homes.
our national wealth increased beyond
| the dream of ararice, and the United
States chief among the nations of ths
| earth. Can ii be that the new policy
| of forcihle annexation OF distant islands
| hnds precedent in the historic events |
| have mentioned? The answer is found
| in the bare statement of facts. The
| territory acquired under democratic
| administration is contiguous--the Phil
ippjne islands 5000 miles distant Tho
| acquisition of territory upon our own
continent added little to the national
| IeXpense-to maintain permanent SOW
| ereignty over the distant islands neces
states immense expenditures upon our
| army and navy. More than that, it
| contemplates methods of administra-
| ton that pertain, not TO the republic.
but to the empire. Can il be doubted
that the attempt TO stifie the spirit OF
liberty abroad will imperil popular gov
eminent at home?
! POLICY ANALYZED.
| What Is proposed by the party n
power for the government of these ISL
| ands? If il be intended to establish
| there our politica Institutions, what
| then becomes %,f Aifr,s ;esssoe fl..7r;no :!
| This vital international policy, an
| Dounced by the president of the United
States seventy-seven years ago, was:
I'VE owe it, therefore, to candor and
to the amicable relations existing be-
| tween the United States and those pow
ers 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 in
/ StitutiOns upon the nations OF Europe
or their dependencies.
| MONROE DOCTRINE ENDURING.
The Monroe doctrine is wholesome
and enduring. 1t is the faith of Amer
leans of every creed and party-is of
ical being. 1t was promulgated at the
critical moment when the holy alli-
ance' was attempting to stifle the re-
publican spirit and re-establish the des-
potism Of Spain upon her revOlted col
onies in South America and Mexico.
ft,nYr
understood by the world was, while we
forbid the establishment of despotic
governments upon the American conti-
nent, we recognize the corresponding
obligation to refrain from any attempt
to force our political system upon any
part of the old world. This has been
tour settled rule of faith and practice
for more than three-quarters of GEN.
tury Its PRONUNCIATION defeated the
purpose of the holy alliance" and de-
stroyed forever the power Of Spain
upon this continent.
Under it Louis Napoleon. third OF
a century ago, was compelled to with
draw the French army from Mexico and
tleave the ill-starred Macmillan to his
fate. Under it the empire established
by foreign bayonets disappeared and
the republic was restored. Are we now
to, say we still recognize the binding
force of this doctrine upon other ma
tions. but not upon our own?
GOVERNMENT BY FORCE A DES-
POTISM.
II ultimate statehood for these re.
mote islands-and others yet to be con-
ouered-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 moi
for a day or for a year. but for al
time What then, becomes of the bed
rock principle that governments 0e
rive their just powers from the consent
of the governed?" If they are to bt
held permanently as conquered prov
inces, it will be not only outside of the
constitution, but in direct antagonism
to the letter and spirit of the Declara
tion of independence. 1t is no less true
now than in the days OF our revolution
that ''governmtnt by arbitrary. power
is still despotism. The attempt then
either to give these people American
citizenship or to hold them as subjects
is alike fraught with peril Should
there not be an Immediate declaration
by our government of its purpose to-
. ward them? They should be given un
mistakable assurance of independence
i Protection by our government should
not be withheld against outside inter
, ference The same protection should b,
Itheirs heretofore extended to the little
states of Ctntral and South America
Under existing conditions there shoult
, be no hesitation upon our part in Civ
ling them protection against the cupid
, lty or aggressive spirit of other ma
Z tions All this, not to the end of sub
jugation or of conquest upon our part
Il -