The Lamar register., 1900-07-25
"HALF REPUsLic; HALF EMPIaEa

half free and has paraphrased 1t into
the saying that the nation cannot en-
dure half republic and half empire.
The $hrase was caught up by the
Democratic platform makers, and 1t
will no doubt be heard from the stump
In Colorado when The Hon" John
Shafroth gets to declaimins about the
dangers of Imperialism. But the idea
was not new, and the same argument
was used at the beginning OF the cen
tury, against the requirement by the
United States of some of the territory
out of which the state of Colorado af-
forwards was made.
In the debate In the House of Repre-
senratiyes in 1911 the Hon. Josiah
Quincy arose TO speak on the question
OF admitting Louisiana with a full
sense of impending calamity:
Mr.. Speaker, address you, sir,
with an anxiety and distress of mind
with me fun unprecedented, The
friends OF this bill seem TO consider it
as the exercise Of common power, as
an ordinary affair. mere municipal
regulation which they expect to see
pass without other questions than
those concerning details. But. sir, the
principle of this bill materially affects
the liberties and rights OF the whole
people of the United States. To me IL
| appears that il would justify a reyolu-
ton in this country, and that, in no
great length OF time may produce it
When l see the zeal and perseverance
with which this bill has been urged
| along its parliamentary path, when
know the local interests and associated
projects which combine to promote Its
success, al! opposition to it seems
unavaiIing. / am almost tempted to
leave, without a struggle, my country
to its fate ..
But, instead OF leaving its country to
It's fate. the auti-expansiouist COW OF
1911 decided TO face the oncomiug en-
gine. Mr.. Quincy said:
But. sir, while there Is life there is
hope. SO long as the fatal shaft has
not yet sped. II heaven SO will ii. the
blow may be broken and the vigor OF
the mischief-making arm withered
l am compelled to declare it
as my deliberate opinion that. II this
bill passes. the bonds OF this Union
are virtually dissolved; that the states
which compose 1t are free from their
moral obligation. and that. as II will
be the right OF all. 50 viii II be the duty
Of some, TO prepare definitely for a
eparation-amicahly II they can. viO-
lentiy II they must"
Here the anti-expansienist orator
WIS called to order, his uttsraDces
seeming to SAVIOR Of treason. on ap-
| peal from the Speakers ruling the
House generously allowed him to pro-
4 coed:
When l spoke Of n separation OF the
I states resulting from the violation or
the constitution contemplated In this
I bill. spoke OF It as necessity deeply
/ TO be deprecated: but as resulting from
causes 80 certain and Obvious as to be
| absolutely Inevitable when the effect
of the principle is practically exPer-
| fenced 1t Is TO preserve, TO guard the
4 constitution Of my country that | de-
nounee this attempt. would rouse
the attention Of gentlemen from the
apathy with which they seea beset
By this event. II this BIN passes. am
| willing TO he judged"
/ 1t should be borne in mind that the
/ awful danger which the Hon Josiah
| Quincy tried to avert was not merely
! the admission Of Louisiana: 1t was the
extension. which he clearly foresaw
and deeply deplOred In advance, OF the
| dominion Of the United States govern
ment over the vast area Of the MIssIs-
sippi valley. and perhaps even to the
shores OF the Pacific. That vision Of
possibilities filed his patriotic soul
with horror. He appealed to the earlier
and purer days Of the republic:
The people of this country at that
day had no Idea of the territorial avid
/ ity OF their SUCCESSORS. 1t was. on the
contrary. an argument against the sue
cess of the project that the territory
! was too extensive for a republican
form Of government. But now there is
no limit to our ambitious hope We are