The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-03-17
IMPERIALISM AND PIRACY.
A Striking Address in Brooklyn ty
W, BOurke Cochran.

W. EOufkc CCCkIdN.
| At a recent meeting OF the New Eng
and Anti-Imperialist League in Boston
v. Bourke Cochran made an address
N the policy OF the Mckinley admins
ration with regard to the Spanish
Nmerican islands.
TIc declared imperialism 4 form o
piracy. Mr.. Cochran said in part:
The refusal OF the l.ilipinos to ratiiy
y peaceful delivery the sale OF them
elves and the failure OF the Unite
states army to subduc their rcsistanc
| ave frustrated all attempts to ioresta
| he action OF the people on this qucstio
| II imperialism so vital to national we
are.
To his everlasting credit be it said
| lie American soldier has not proved a
fcctive for the establishment OF dies
| potism as he has been irresistible in the
| License OF liberty.
imperialism has always been a form
II piracy, but piratical craft seldom dis
play their true colors while in sight
utilization. This imperialism OF ours
while it remained under examination by
the American people tried to assume
every appearance OF an expedition ior
the conversion OF sinners.
The lovers OF liberty and of the
Gospel were told tlrat our armies were
| fighting to establish free institutions and
to spread the light OF Christian morality
at the very moment when Our flag was
uniurlcd over the harcm and the slave
pen and polygamous slave driver add
ed to the civil list OF the United
States. Ii the humanitarian remained
unpcrsuaded the money seeking adven-
turcr and the minister OF religion were
relied upon to outvotc him. and ii either
Of these proved intractablc the other
position.
But the impcrious exigcncics Of trade
have compelled the reduction OF these
lvaporons phrases to practical proposals
OF legislation. The bill before congress
to fix the conditions governing our
commercial intercourse with Porto
| Rico has proved to be an attempt to
divide the plumber before the cruise be
! gan
The Illuminating feature oil this
measure is The proposal to impose dis
eliminating duties on commodities pro-
duccd in Porto Rico seeking access to
the markets OF this country and what
is the necessary consequence OF this
proposal? The assertion that territories
owned by the United States can be gov
crncd independently OF the constitution
1T is a tragedy oil history that sucl,
4 system should be proposed to the
American congress. The system which
ruined Spain is the SYSTEM on which the
administration now seeks to embark
this country"
Mr. Cochran held that the case o
Louisiana was entirely different iron
the proposed disposition OF the Philip
pines ana quoted the purchase treaty a
follows to show that the guarantee o
the constitution was extended to tn
: new territory.
"'The inhabitants of the coded terri
tory shall be Incorporated into Il,
Union of the United States and ad
mittcd, as soon as possible, accordin
5 to the principles OF the federal const
tuition, to the enjoyment OF all III
{ rights, advantages and lmmunltlcs {
citizens OF the United States, and in IL
meantime they shall be maintained
c he free enjoyment OF their libert
c property and the religion they PROBES:
l. "Whcn the president undertakes
IS govern without the sanction OF the Co
= stitution, OF course he governs witho
: shadow OF moral right. His autho
C jty would depend purely on force, al
" an authority resting on force must
ID maintained by force.
er 1T is plain, then, If the preside
D rules independently OF the constitute
| he must rule by the grace OF the arm
to Here we have Roman imperialism i'll
n worst form"
S After arguing that free silver cam
IT, be an issue OF the coming canpais
y. since no declaration OF the people co,
re, pass a free silver law within the n(
be four years, Mr.. Cochran said:
ed cat this time l venture to cxpr
We the hope that some way or 9th
mt through Mr. Bryan, or in spite OF hi
SIS, the American people will have an {