The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-09-26
CHAMP CLARK ) LETTER
The Commercial Phase Of
Imperialism.
A PH1LOs0PHIC ARGUMENT.
Shall Our Government Be a Re-
public OF an Empire7
WHAT IMPERIALISM WILL ENTAIL.

WHAT IMPERIALISM WILL ENTAIL,
Vast Fleets and Armies Must Be
Built and Rnised - Our Farmers
md Workers Would Be Com PEELED
to Compete With the Products and
Labor OF China and Siberia-Capi-
tai VIII Go Where Labor Is Cheap
and Raw Material Abundant-A
Careful Study of a Great Question.
Especial Washington Letter!
One of the very ablest of the young
Democrats in congress is the Hon. Will
liam NJ. Howard of Georgia. He pos
sesses as fine judicial and analytical
mind as does any other man in public
life His besetting sin is his nodesty.
which, perhaps, in this age of brass
ought to be accounted a virtue. lie is
a fine illustration Of the truth OF the
old adage that still water runs deep.
He represents the district formerly rep
resented by Judge Lawson, who was
universally regarded as one Of the
ablest men in the house.
In the Fifty-ffth congress Howard
and were both placed on the great
committee on foreign affairs by Hon.
Thomas Bracket Reed: consequently
1 got acquainted with him at al early
day in his congressional career and
learned to value his great qualities at
their true worth. He is very much dis
posed 10 hide his light under 4 bushel,
but gradually members on both sides
Of the house are coming to understand
that be is one of the really forceful
characters in congress. In the Porto
Rican debate the subject was discussed
from every conceivable standpoint ex-
cept the commercial Howard me de
great speech on the commercial phase
of imperialism:
Mr.. Chairman, we are now perhaps
we'll beyond the sentimental stage Of
our victory over Spain, and thoughtful
people are no longer willing to solve
the problems that confront US as the
legacy Of that war by the patriotic ex-
clamation. Who will haul down the
fag!' nor will they accept as an accu-
rate measurement Of our responsible
ties the mystical solution that it is
destiny.
Our Motives Honorable.
Whether the inhabitants OF Porto
Rico and the Philippine Islands are cit
izens Of the United States. or whether
the constitution guarantees to them
republican form of government. or
whether the tariff and excise tax laws
apply equally to all the territory of the
United States. or whether these islands
may be held perpetually as colonies
without the right of statehood. ard
many other problems not Yet suggested
BIZ this new and strange relation. alien
to the spirit Of 11!6 and repusnant to
the Declaration Of Independence and
unprcvided for in the constitution. are
questions TOO vital. too lnomentoGs. to
be solved with phrases.
The decision to go TO wai with Spain
was suddenly made Notwithstanding
the long continued existence OF the
causes which We proclaimed as justify
ing hostilities. and the public mind was
as little prepared for the ready conpre-
hension Of the consequences OF victory
MS WAS our government for the conflict.
and it was therefore but natural that
the hysteria Of our eNu!tation should
be prolonged by mysticism on the part
of those who conceived that the golden
opportunity was present to convert q
war begun for humanity into one OF
conquest for commercial gain. Ihe
change Of purpose was as raGlca! as 1t
WIS sudden and Invoked our pi.shted
faith to the world AID with each other.
NO matter that Europe WAS not de-
ceived. Wc ourselves believed that Our
motives were honorable and ;hat We
fought TO restore peace and establish
liberty where GcSpot;SEa was revclins
in 4 ca-nival Of death. In July. Wien
the blood Of our heroes w::s yet wet Oh
San Juan Hill. We spu:Iea tie s2Sses-
stion Of indemnity as 4 faint upon our
honor. and in Deccn.ber. a. Paris. we
were sitting the protest o1 oaf pros
trate foe with . bribe Of gold tast Eu-
rope might rot hear Ecr cries While We
stripped her Of the Philippines. 1t is
10 wonder. then. that the succeeding
chapter in our history WAS written i'll
the Delphic phrases, Who will haul
down the flag 1t is our destiny and
COG has given them TO Us.
1T is not my purpose to enter at this
time into discussion Of any Of the
problems which tie permanent retcn-
ton Of Porto Rico and the Philippines
involves except that Of commercial ex-
panSion. There are now many people
in the United States who believe they
see in the annexation o; Cuba and the
permanent retention OF Porto RICO and
the Philippines vast opportunities Tor