The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-09-28
FROM THE PEOPLE.
oLNEY AND IMPERIALISM.

Seattle, Sept "a. 1900.
To the Editor-It is entirely possible
that here and there in our country a
few men may be found who would prefer
truly imperial form of government to
the one we have. l never met such a man
and l never saw any one who had, but
as | say. his existence is possible. Con-
ceding this. still 1t remains true that all
Intelligent men, or nearly all, even before
the publication of McKinley's most mast
erly letter of acceptance, saw that the
Bryanistic cry of "imperiaiism"-tha our
liberties are in danger--that the Rcpub-
Leans are Matching a conspiracy to sub
vert the republic and establish an impe-
rial government-is the merest sham and
nonsense in which n man must be either
q permanent or a temporary lunatic, or
imbecile, to believe, Children and even
some grown up people may yet be found
In our midst who can be frightened by
ghost stories. but have observed that TO
make such stories effective they must be
told in the dark, and that in the broad
daylight they can not obtain an audi
ence.
Mr. olney. of Boston, seems TO be an ex-
ception, provided he Is in his right mind
1t may be that In the highly intellectual
circles Of Boston the brain has been Guilt
waited so uniformly and so long.-so I'M
hushandlike. as It were--that. like the to-
bacco lands In Virginia. 1t is not capable
of producing anything of value-that the
requisite ingredients have been exhausted
and the mental soil will bring forth only
a sckly and a worthless crop. However
this may be. Mr.. olney. who was SO
brave few short years ago, is now badly
frightened. But what Is sttl more sur
prising--and this is tho point ! wish to
emphasizes that he can he afraid of
Imperialism and not be afraid of Bryan
and Altgeld. Four years ago. at a time
when he may fairly be supposed to have
been tho same courageous. bold man he
showed himself 20 be when he was secre-
tary of state, Bryan scared him But
now. though the latter is even more won
derfully got up--is more imposing Big
Medicine Man than he WINS then-has more
horns on his head. more hideous streaks OF
paint on his face, more biaddeTs and
gourds with rafting beans in them. and
is cutting more fantastic tricks before
high heaven. he fails 10 affect Mr. Olney's
nerves In the least. or II he does he az
fects them In a different way. The fear
of imperialism Is making his heart dance
wildly under his tacket-f Mr.. Oincy
wears a tacket-and he thinks Rig Medi-
cine Billy Bryan Is the only man In the
country who possesses the occult power
20 drive the dreaded spirit away III shls
Is not the explanation. know not what
can be-
Seriously speaking. II Is phiful 10 see the
position IA which this man has put him-
self II Is pitiful as respects him. person
ally. ana u Is cause for grave couaidera-
tion AZ respects the number nf men there
must be who have heretofore looked up
70 Mr.. Oiney as 70 one % the bright and
capable men Of the country. Maehiavsii
divided men into three classes; Those
who thought for themselves. those who
thought as body else told them 20
think. ard those who ala not think az All.
We had heretofore supposed that Oiney
belonged 20 the first class. We nos SEQ
that Ne does not and that he ~ MEM
bsr Of the second but there viii be a
number 81 his fellow members who viii
stlli suppose he Is a leader end who will
listen 20 what he says The rore's the
pity. T. y. ALLEN