The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-08-23

tenn for themselves, regardless of the ac-
ton of other nations. The failure of the
Republican party to secure international
bimetallism and it's open espousaI OF the
gold standard still kept them open ques-
ton in politics, but no economic question
can compare in Importance with ques-
ton which concerns the principle anu
structure of government Systems or
taxation can be changed with less diff
Guilty than financial systems, and hnan-
cial systems can be altered with less
danger and less disturbance to the coun-
try than the vital doctrines upon which
free government rests.
In the arly sixties, when we were en-
gagged in a contest which was to deterIn-
inc whether we should have one republic
or two, questions of finance were lost
sight of Silver was at premium over
gold, and both gold and silver were at
premium over greenbacks and bank
notes, but the people could not aford 10
divide over the money question IN the
presence OF a greater issue And so to-
day we are engaged in a controversy
which will determine whether we are to
have a republic in which the govern
ment derives its just powers from the
consent of the governed, or an empire IN
which brute force is the only recognized
source of power
rule, every wrong can be righted and
every evil remedied but when once the
doctrined of self government is impaired
and might is substituted for right, there
is no certainty that any question will be
settled correctly.
"A colonial policy would so occupy the
people with the consideration of the ma
TONS foreign policy that Domestic ques-
lions would be neglected Who will
haul down the hag?' or Stand by the
president would be the prompt re-
Spouse to every criticism of the admins
tration and corruption and special privl-
1ege would thrive under the cover OF
patriotism.
POPULISTS OPPOSE MILITARISM.
''It is not strange that the Populist
should oppose militarism and imperial
ism for both are antagonistic to- the
principles which PopuliStS apply to other
questions. Looking at questions from
the standpoint of the producer of wealth,
rather than from the standpoint of the
speculator, the Populist recognizes in
milftarism constant and increasing
burden. The army worm which occa-
sionally destroys a field of wheat is not
nearly so dangerous an enemy to the
farmer as large standing army, which
invades every field of industry and ex-
acts toll from every CROP
IF one hundred thousand men are
withdrawn from the ranks of the pro-
ducers and placed as a burden on the
backs of those who remain, it must mean
longer hours, harder work and greater
sacrifices for those who toll, and the
farmer, while he pays more than his
share of the expenses of the army, has
no part in any contracts or developing
companies and his sons are less likely to
fill the life positions in the army than
the sons of those who, by reason of
wealth or political prominence exert in
huence at Washington.
Soon after the Republican leaders be-
gan to suggest the propriety of a colon
ial policy, the papers published an in
terview given out from San Francisco
by a foreign consul residing at Manila.
He declared that the people of the Uni
ted States owed it to themselves, to 9TH
er nations and to the F'ilipinos to hold
Islands
the conclusion of the interview there ap-
peared the very significant statement
that the gentleman was visiting the
United States for the purpose OF organ
izing company for the developing Of
the Philippine islands. A few days later,
on his way east, he gave out another in
terview in which he explained that the
company which he intended to organize
would establish banks at Manila and at
other places throughout the islands, and
build electric light plants, water plants,
street car lines, railroads, factories, etc.
1t seemed that the plan of his syndicate
was to do all the developing and leave
the rest of the Americans nothing to do
in the matter except to furnish an army
sufficient to hold the FilipinoS in subjec-
ton while they were being developed.
AT the present rate we will spend an
nually upon the army approximately
half as much as we spend for education
in the United States, and this immense
sum is wrung from the taxpayers by
systems of taxation which overburden
the poor man and undertax the rich
man.
In the presence of such an issue as
militarism it is impossible that any Pop
ulist should hesitate as to his duty.
But even the menace of militarism is
out part or the question of imperial
ism. The policy contemplated by the
Republican party nullifieS every pTinci-
pie set forth in the Declaration of indie
pendence, strikes blow at popular gov
ernment and .robs the nation of its NOR
al prestige Already the more advanced
supporters of this colonial idea point to
the economy of a system of government
which entrusts all powers to an execu-
tive and does away with the necessity
for legislation. The Army and Navy Jour-
nal in its issue of August 4 co1flmends
the English system and declares that as
worlds area, containing a fifth of its
population, is ruled with an administra-
tive economy which is an administra-
tive marvel, and adds:
"One million, two hundred thousand
dollars spent in London is the price of
administrative order over a colonial rule
whose total budgets aggregate $1724-
S54, S96, or so per cent more than our total
of federal, state, county and village ex-
penditure for every possible purpose for
which taxes are levied. In contrast to
the results of this system of executive
administration, the fact is cited that the
American congress has spent an entire
winter wrestling with the tariff, the tax
alton, the administration and the per-
sOnal rights of two little islands. The
English executive is imperial execu-
tive. The British parliament is an Eng
liSh legislature To the same system we
are coming by the decree of circumstan-
ces as inevitable as that of fate. If this
be Imperialism make the most of it So
far as citizenship is concerned the Brit
ish empire is one, but beyond the limits
of the United Kingdom the citizens lives
under a rule essentially monarchical and
not restricted by the constitutional i'm
itations of the parliamentary system.
AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN
POLICY.
'dThus does imperialism bear its sup
porters backward, turning toward the |
dark ages. There is no middle ground