The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1900-02-01
THANKFUL ZOE puNlsAMENr
r .publleanlsm and Imperialism Discussed
With n Eree Hand.

With Free Hand.
All good men should rejoice ia the
victories OF the Beers. Not since Wash.
ton cornered CORVALLIS has a greater
service been done the world than now
by their little republic.
While England extended her power
by rightdoing and gave the advantages
of modern life and civilization to less
fortunate peoples, there was no need
that her power and growth be limited.
Such in general was her career during
the long life of Gladstone, when he was
premier, or the practical director of the
premiers. He attempted, as one of his
critics said, to apply the principles of
Christianity to .pubic affairs, although
there we're blemishes upon even the
p 'licies of Gladstone, showing how
dangerous is the possession Of great
power to even the greatest.
But since the death of Gladstone, and
even before that event, there has been
growing most monstrous doctrine,
nothing less than that the great powers
needed no longer TO respect moral obi.
cations. Some have even impiously
dared to call this 1.-THE higher morality"
Faith need not be kept with a weaker
p tople. A strong power, especially Eng
land, had right to assume control" Of
the less advanced nations, and organize
them into her system. Their supersli-
tions, or customs, or even her own
treaty obligations, need not be consid-
ered This was her duty" and she
was acting in obedience to high destiny
in taking up "The White Mans BURDEN
and lording it over those who were
half devil and half child''-to use two
almost objectionable expressions OF a
young Englishman.
1t was in this spirit that England
fomented the war In South Africa.
Feeling herself able to attemptI "the
strenuous life" in the world, her first
step was TO demonstrate "prestige -
She wished to show that an Englishman
was somewhat better than any other
man; like Roman Of the ancient world.
Indeed It was seriously stated that It
would be fatal to her pretensions unless
the Briton as such should be allowed to
be the superior ofall others.
Africa, for various reasons, offered the
best field Of operations. But in order
that there should be no really formid-
able foe England compounded friend
ships with America and Germany; and
even withdrew an antagonistic attitude
toward France and Russia. Not q great
power peeped while she prepared to an.
nihilate a people deemed too weak to
succeed, but too brave 10 finch. II was
perhaps the most shameful silence the
world ever kept; even exceeding that
when the Armenians were massacred, or
the Greeks we're crushed.
II the Beers had failed ii God had not
directed the bullets" the idea would
have prevailed that great power is net
amenabe TO moral law. By the fearful
destruction Of her troops, the hollowness
and hypocrisy, not only of the British
claims and their pretended strenuous
life" but its utter feebleness and inca.
pacity are demonstrated. Whatever
power England ever had rested solely
upon right. Let hor swerve hair from
the right and her high organism is
swept into ruins. Great power in states
is like high speed in locomotion, A
very little variation from its true course
sends the lightning express to wreck,
Not less, but infinitely more careful
great powers must become. Their ex-
istenco depends upon the moral suffer-
ence and support Of mankind. In a
years time Chamberlain's playing the
tyrant has threatened the results of
sixty years ol Gladstone's great states.
manship. One administration Of tyranny
in America ruins the party OF Lincoln.
A very little wrong doing by gr, at
state aggregates wrong 80 great-Eng.
land can do wrong faster than any other
country in the world-that punishm' mt
is worked up like a fash Of lightning.
England is now beaten by tenth rate
power, and is hated and despised by all
the world. Her prestige is gone. She
is probably hated more than she de-
serves; but in all the reaction of moral
feeling the measure is heaped up double
She must now exert every resource TO
get out even respectfully from scraP
with a pigmy. The burst Of loyalty will
turn to criticism and contempt OF her
own subjects. Her larger colonies may
separate themselves from power likely
10 disturb their peace and give no pro-
lection. Not century OF pre-eminence
but Of recuperation and painful atten-
ton TO home affairs awaits her. She has
abused her world power, and is summa-
rily sent home TO begin over again. The
primary lesson Of justice mast he learned
once more. For this the Beers are 10 be
praised and America may see, perhaps,
where "imperialism" leads a great
modern power.
ii. S. LYMAN.
Take Or. Bulls Cough Syrup for All