The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-09-12
Congressman Williams rang the bell
every shot. In concluding his speech


he said:
But in answer to all these allegations we are
met with the vcr:- eloquent but empty phrase.
! .Who will p,,!l down tie fag:" answer, the
American government. whenever IFS honor and
glory require j.. but ether power on earth snail
ever haul it towE. Our GoScrnmcnt has always
pulled it dow, from places where 1t dld not be-
| long Il pulled it down in Mexico. in Canada.
and. if we observe our sacred pledge. will haul
/ i, down in Cuba whenever its people desire L.
We had better haul it down in Cuba now than
have il wave over that fair Island as the banle1
of larceny and corruption. would rather see 1t
&C dow, in honor than Up in d:shonor; down as
the emblem OF liberty than up IS the emblem OF
despotisr Our flag should never remain IN any
land where the constitution can never so anG
American liberty can never dwell. would rather
have it sna,c.!ed from its mast thousand tines
than see its sac.ed iolds unurled to the breeze as
the new banner Of American imperialism. the fu-
neral signal Of the republic
Who will pul; down the flag? ask: Who Will
pull down the Declaration OF independence: Who
will pull down the constitution: The sad echo
comes from the White House. William. the con-
oucror. he Will pull them down lie has already
torn from their sacred pages the sublime scntl-
mcnts Of liberty and freedom and written in their
stead. in letters of blood. the bitter words CT
trvanny and oppression.
Would to Cod the Republican party of today
contained within its ranks another Lincoln. TO
check it in its downward course Of criminal ag-
erosion and restore it TO the sacred precincts OF
human liberty it once enjoyed.
But the question is frequently asked BY gentle
men on the other side. How can the Democrats
oppose the annexation of those islands when JET
ferson. their great founder. was such an expan-
sonist? Jefferson was an eHpan>ionlst but not
an imperialist. Jefersons expansion consisted In
ACQUIRING territory here on this hemisphere then
in the possession OF foreign power. thereby re-
moving from our very doors European colony
whose presence here made war more threatening
| and defense more difficult.
Nckinley's expansion gives US territory lo,ooo
miles from this capital and carries us nght INTO
the broils and entanglemcnts OF all the warning
powers of Europe. Jefcrson's expansion removed
the foreign faG from Shores while Mchlalcys
expansion carries our flag into foreign land.
Jcfferson's expansion strengthened our ioft!:lca-
tions and made i: easier TO defend cur territory
than before. while Mckinley's expansion weakens
orr fortihcations and makes our national defense
more difficult and expensive. Jefferson acquired
territory with population OF one TO every -
square miles. with a climate adapted TO Cur peo-
pie and suitable for American homes. while Nc
kinlev is irving 10 acquire territory with popu-
lation of over 20 to the square mile. with Gil
mate entirely unfit fer our people and never IN.
tended for American homes Jefferson acquired
territory to become future states OF the republic
| inhabited by American citizens. while Mckinley
is ACQUIRING territory TO become colonies OF the
United States inhabited by subjects and not cIti'
zens jefferson expanded the republic with our
territorv, while Mckinley is expanding our terri
tory without tie republic
JcTcrscn's expansion carried to the inhabitants
OF The new territory the glad message Of peace anc
constitutional liberty. while McKiniey,s expansion
carries to the inhsbtants OF the new TERRITORY the
sad message of death and despotism. No liberty,
no freedom. no happiness. Jeferson,s annexation
gave the inhabitants OF the cedcd Territory rep
resentat;on with taxation and government with
the consent O: the governed. Mckinley's anncxa-
ton gives to the inhabitants OF the new territory
taxation without representation and government.
without the consent OF the governed
JeFerson's expansion was repubhcansn; Mchln-
ley's expansion is imperialism: How absurd to
compare the pcaceable annexation OF territory
hcre on our cwn hemisphere. right at our own
Goor, thinly settled. good climate and suitable ior
homes for our own people and for future states o.
the republic, with the forciblc annexation OF sew
eral hundred small islands 1000 miles from our
nearest shores, Wit. climate unfit for Americans.
with a dense population OF people alien to or
government our Institutions and our CIVILIZATION
Who will be so blind as not to see the distl2c-
ticn?
No. Nj. Chairman Mckinley imperialism viii
6nd no likeness in tho whole history OF this re-
public Thank Gcd. America has had but one
Napoleon. ard ! hope She may never have az
other.
Already American liberty under this admins
t.ation has becorle too timid TO s;mpathizc With
the oppressed OF other lands nov struggling for
that same liberty and freedom which we ourselves
cniov II we had Washington. jefferson or In
coin in the White House today. the American gov
eranent would bc syinpathizing with the I:ert;
loving Boers OF So::h Africa instead OF their BIT
is,l opnressors-
But ii is whis;a7e! we ere now in the act O:
beconlia:: world power. and 80 one must disturb
the evolution. Why. s;r. wc Lave been { world
power for over hundred years. We arc now. and
for wears have been. the niiShtieSt world power
on the face of the earth, made not by war. but
by pcace-lonc rei.ns OF peace. Sir, what has
contributed more 70 our rapid progress as na-
ton than the pure sunlight Of peace. which has
cast rs rays OF glory into every corner OF Ike re-
public:
Under its sweet influence we have expanded in
education science. art. literature. useful lnven-
rions and ali the happy auN'larics Ola progressive
civilization Who is not proud OF our whole ms
tory as republic. living under the constitution
and within the constitution our fathers made
49, -
With such supreme satisfaction oi our past. why
imperi the future by attempting new schemes or
trying new experiments? Why not permit the ola
shin Of state 10 sail on upon that same we'll tired
sea, which Will surely carry 1t safely through TO
higher honors and grander glories for the rcpu5-
lie?
But, alas. who will haul down the faS? an
swer who will hau: down Mckinley? The people.
the liberty loving people. They will haul him
down carly in November. They will snatch from
his imperial brov bis slit,erins crown bought
with the blood OF his coun:ry:nen and cnthrcnc in
his place Of power that ga ant champion OF hu-
man rights, that fearless defender OF human free
dem, and crown Kim with the Declaration o: In
dependence and the constitution OF the republic
b1lz.,d1z'1