Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1900-10-12
DEPEW ON IMPERIALISM.
hew He AssaIlsd McKInIey's Policy In
May, 1898.

Hew He AssaIled McKInIey's Policy In
Nay, 1898.
In the Chicago Times Herald on
May %, 1893, Senator Chauncey M.
Depew had the following interview. OBJ
tanned and signed by Geo. Grantham
Balm and copyrighted:
When l asked Mr.. Depew what he
thought should be done with the Phi
lippine Islands he drew in his breath
aud said:
THAT : apretty big question. Then
he pushed back his chair from his desk
aud swung around until he half faced
me.
"If We should keep the Philippine
Islands. said Mr.. Depew, I'VE would
re verse the traditions of this Govern
nent from its foundation. We would
open up new line of policy.
"Let US see what that would mean.
In the first place it would mean the es-
Enlistment of a military government
over possibly 10000 900 of people 5000
miles away from US; it would mean the
increase of our navy to the proportion
of the navies OF Europe"
mot to the proportion of England's
navy," l suggested.
ITO the navy Of France and Ger
many" said Mr.. Depew. "It would
mean the increase of our army to $780,
O0O-more likely to 200, 900 men. 1t
would mean the increase of our annual
expenditures to double what they are
now. 1t would mean that the United
States Government would be brought
| in closer contact with the people than
ever before in the history of this cOun-
try.
I'VE have known that there is a
Federal Government only as represent
ing our flag, our nationality and glori.
Gus traditions, but we have not felt the
burden of its support or been con
fronted with the possibility of the pay
ment Of an enormous annual military
tax, except during the civil war. Ii
Europe, where great armies and navieI
are maintained, the people are taxed
Idirectly for their maintenance. Oul
revenues have been obtained heretofore
lby Indirect taxation, with the excep
} ton of slight tax on whisky.
"But with the increase of our ex
tpenditures by 100 per cent. the take
to support the Government would b.
felt in our homes and in our Offices
, We would feel them IN both the neces
saries and luxuries of life-in GU
houses, in our tools, in our food, in GU
clothing, in our carriages and in GU
wagons, in our checks and notes an
bonds and transfers of property
every transaction of our everyday buf
mess life. For il we are to maintain
great armies and navies like the power
! of Europe we must raise the revenu
for them by the means mentiont d, an
also by stamp tax that will face US q
s every turn.
"These conditions are contrary to GU
present form OF government. Toda
We know that the customs collectt
exists. He sits in bis Office at the Gu
: tom house and few of US ever think {
!. him-fewer still have ever seen him {
felt the taxes collected through hin
Under the new regime tax collector
would necessarily be excise men wit
!. lofiices everywhere. They would |
|, known not only in New York and tt
J. other great centers of commerce, bl
: in every town, village and hamlet
t the United States. Our people respOr
with patriotic alacrity to every burde
sacrifice or tax for the successful ca
rying on of war. Whether they won
" with equal cheerfulness do the san
for the now policy of the colonial Ell
pire furnishes food for consideration
what also does a worldwide poll
mean to ua ? 1t means centralizatie
l. which would change materially tt
II relations of the United States to Il
at Federal Government. The control
Re these pOpulOus colonies would be ce
10 tered at Washington, and We shou
is have Capitalization of power far b
's yOnd what the old Federalists ev
dreamed of. You cannot have empi
AZ without all its attributes, and tn
means a practical revolution of o.
n. form of government aud an abando
ment of the beliefs which the fathe
held when they established this Go
eminent In 1776."
asked Mfr. Depew if it was not pc
i. sible to derive from these proposed G.
III onIes revenue greater than the ado
ID tiOnal expenditure which their posse
d. sion would involve.
er "HOw." said Mr.. Depew, "by tax
at tionp Every time you attempt to CT
10 lect tax from these people they wOu
rise and you would have to call I
81 your military force to suppress thel
;. And suppress them for whatp For d
D. ing what John Hancock did? TIL,
might quote against us our immort
declaration that taxation without re
resentatiOn is tyranny. New Yo
World.