Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-03-05

ically to tile drift OF pubic opinion,
and are 80 alert TO catch each breeze
of popular favor. that they come to
forecasting the worry language in which
the people. who are like,minded with
themselves would justify their plans.
In this case we find it aptly stated in
all the speeches made IN favor OF the
imperial policy of the government, aud
IN which the rnoneyed aud material
advantages which will come to us from
o scheme of ruling our dependencies
without constitutional guarantees or
limitations are painted In glowing COL
ors, aud self-aggrandizemen is the mo
tive appealed to. The wealth OF re'
source, the magnitude OF market tho
Wilderness Of opportunity, opening upon
us in our new possessions, form the
burden of iinperialist argument. Tho
justice, tho equity, the duty, the NOR
ality OF the reverse, Of scheme of
half-ayowed legalized spoliatiop, are
not ut all mentioned, except iu abstract
platitudes aud perfunctory periods,
which mean nothing and deceive no
one.
The appeal Is admirably summed up
in the interview heretofore referred to,
imputed to the President, and which
if not his still 50 accurately reflects
his known views as in no wise to mis-
represent him. 1t says:
"But the main purpose of the Presi-
dent is to deal with the islands as mar
kets for American products and as the
subjects of, commercial exploitation
generally.
The President is thorough believ.
er in the moral and intellectual value
Of commerce and he proceeds on the
theory that when nation Is doing well
as buyer and scller,it Is presumptivc-
ly we'll governed and its people are
morally sound.
HE looks forward to benefitting the
natives by explaining the blessings of
Protestant Christianity oud civilization
hy means of commerce
This is the epltcme of the spirit of
mercantilism. To my mind 1t has been
growing among our people for n gencr-
alton past with O constantly augment
lug velocity. Material success, by
whatever means brought about, Is the
criterion of worth. and the plea for hui
mnnity, the voice Of duty, any real love
Of country. arc obsolete things rele
gated to the care of the reclusc and the
whim Of the crank, and to he greeted
with the cynical sneer or open derision
Of the so-called man Of affairs. who is
tho omnipotept one among lis today.
That this commercial spirit, which
dominates our politics and shapes our
statecraft. is thing In which We are
but tenants-in-commop with the rest
Of the Anglo Saxon people, in no way
) lmpairs the preponderating influence
which 1t wields In our own govern.
mept, or shortens the fearful scourge
with which II lashes to fury the worst
passions Of the racc, or lessons our re-
sponsibility for being possessed by it..
4 thoughtful Scotchman,- given
to the language of extreme statement,
MFR. Robert Buchanan, has framed an
| indictment for this racial sin, which
I should scar and blister the soul of that
man, who with bcartless disregard
; of the natural rights Of IA people who
have never offended him. and merely
! that his own incomings may be the
, greater, is willing that whole provinces
/ be turned into deserts, and a race put
| under the ban of outlawry. Mr.. Blu
chanap says:
! "Thc Enthusiasm Of Humanity
among the mass has gradually but
, surely died away. Sentiment has at
! last become thoroughly out of fashion,
and Humanitarianism Is left to the
care of eccentric and unauthoritative
teachers. Thus, while few despair,
ing thinlrcrs and dreamcrs have been
trying valnly to substitute new Ethos
for the old religious sanctions, the
world at large, repudiating the Enthus,
iasm Of Humanity altogether aud ny,
changing it for the worship Of physical
force and commercial success In any
I and every form, has turned rapturous.
ly towards activities which need no
sanction whatevcr, or which at any
! rate, eau be easily sapctified by the
wanton will of the majority. Men no
longer, In the great civic centres al
least, ask themselves whether pur-
ticular course Of conduct is right or
wrong, but whether II is expedient,
profitable, and certain of clamorous
approval. Thanks TO the Newspaper
T'ress-~that mighty engine as Mr..
Morley calls 1t, for keeping the public