The Elk Mountain pilot., 1900-08-07
THE POLITICAL SITUATION AS
VIEWED BY OUR EXCHANGES

posed to it. They ey ,>ect to alright
the American people with name that
savors of crowns and monarchies. But
imperialism does not necessarily re-
perialism' means glorious, magnificent,
paramoun., splendid. 1t means in this
/ instance that the American Union shall
hold the territories that come to it by
fortune of war. or by the consent of
the people, as in the case of Hawaii 1t
means that we shall create new chan
nels for the products of our farms, fac
| tories and mills and for the energies
and ambitions of our people. 1t means
that we shall establish bases for our
navy which shall be the best protec-
ton for our COSTS 1t means that we
shall become the controlling CONNER
cial influence in the Pacific and the
countries which border on it and which
now annually purchase S66O,OOO, 900
worth of goods from others. 1t does
not mean that we shall emulate Europe
in land fever, but it means that we
shall not hesitate to assume the respon-
sibilities that destiny places upon us.
| We shall seek neither entangling alli-
ances nor part in foreign intrigues, but
we will go our way calmly injuring
none and suffering none to injure us.
This nation is no longer a fringe on the
Atl9chc coast. 1t is truly imperial in
the best sense of that word, imperial
in magnitude, population and power,
and We must bear the share of tue
work of progress that falls to such n
nation We cannot shirk it If we
would.
''Some timorous advocates of free
perialism' will be made n party battle
cry to overcome the demand for blmet-
allism. If it is it will be because the
advocates of bimetallsm dispaly n fat
uous shortsightedness which will do
more to endanger it than the assaults
of its most potent enemies. We are
told that the goldites will proclaim i'm
perialism as the new national policy;
that the voices of their orators will be
raised at every crossroads and on
every corner to beguile the people. But
how comes 1t to be assumed that the
goldites are to be allowed to pose as
the sponsors of an imperial policy,
while those who are devoted to bimetal-
lism are against it? Are we who be-
lieve in free coinage to hand over to
the custody of the goldites the owner
ship of this policy? Are we going to
permit them to take possession as their
own of n policy which is as fair in our
sight as in theirs-as near to us as to
them?
If we are, we may as well stop
preaching and prepare for defeat. Tho
American people are overwhelmingly
in favor Of holding every foot of ground
over which the flag is raised. The iu-
stinct is rooted in them and 1t is n
sound and good instinct. Shall we allow
those who are seeking to enforce pol
icies which we believe to be danger
Gus, to make an ally of this determine
ton and this instinct? Are we to vol
unfairly grant them an advantage TO
which they have no title and which
might insure them control of the gov
ernment for many years to come? II
would be cruel, well-nigh fa,ol
blow to bimetallism If those who advo-
cate bimetalllsm were placed in tie
false position of opposing n polity
which rightly helnngs IN thpm ra tbcr
than to their opponents; which has be
come verify part of our national nv
piration; which will command the sup
port of n vast majority of Americsn
voters, and which will lead to new cora
mercial achievements, new victories
for progress and civilization, and add
ed glory for the fiag."-Denver Repu0-
lcan, July DO.