Willmar tribune., 1900-10-20
Jefferson vs.. Imperialism.

The advocates of Imperialism have
sought to support their position by
appealing to the authority of Jefferson.
OF all the statesmen who ever lived,
jefferson was the one most hostile to
the doctrines embodied in the demand
for a European colonial policy.
Imperialism, as it now presents
sitions:
l. That the acquisition of territory
by conquest is right.
?. That the acquisition OF remote
territory is desirable.
3. That the doctrine that govern
ments derive their just powers from
the consent of the governed is un-
sound.
4. That people can be wisely
governed by aliens.
TO all these propositions Jefferson
was emphatically opposed. In letter
to William Short, written in 1791,
he said:
IF there be one principle more deep
ly written than any other in the mind
of every American, it is that we should
have nothing to do with conquest
Could he be more explicit? Here
we have q clear and strong denuncia-
tiOn of the doctrine that territory
should be acquired by force. If it is
said that we have outgrown the ideas
of the fathers. it may be observed that
the doctrine laid down by Jefferson
was reiterated only a few years ago
by no less a Republican than James
G. Blaine. All remember the enthusi-
asm with which he entered into the
work of bringing the Republics OF
North and South America into close
and cordial relations: some. however,
may have forgotten the resolutions in
troduced by him at the conference held
in $780, and approved by the commits
siuners present. They are as follows:
''First. That the principle of con-
Guest Shall not. during the continuance
Of the treaty Of arbitration. be recog-
niZed as admissible under American
public law.
''Second. That all cessions of terri
tory made during the continuance of
the treaty of arbitration shall be void
if ma, under threats of war in the
presence OF an armed force.
'.Third. Any nation from which
such cessions shall be exacted may de-
mand that the validity of the cessions
tration.
':Fourth. Any remuneration of the
right to arbitration made under the
conditions named in the second section
shall be null and void.'
If the principle Of conquest is right,
why should it be denied a place in
American public law? SO objection
able is the theory Of acquisition of
territory by conquest that the nation
which suffers such injustice can, ac-
cordiny to the resolutions, recover by
arbitration the land ceded in the pre-
;sence of an armed force. So abhOrrent
is it, that a waiver OF arbitration,
made under such circumstances, is null
and void. While the resolutions were
only for the consideration of the Ameri-
can Republics, the principle therein
stated cannot he limited by latitude or
Ions itl(e.
ut this is a time of great and rapid
changes and some may even look upon
Blaine's Off ;ial acts as ancient his
tory. If so, let it be remembered that
Pres ident Mckinley only year ago
December 6, lS97). in message to
Congress discussing the Cuban situa-
tion, said:
81 speak not Of forcible annexation,
for that is not to be thought of. That,
by our code of morality, would be
crimina! aggression
And yet some are now thinking of
that which was then mot to be thought
Of" Policy may change, but does a
''code of morality" change? In his
recent speech at Savannah. Secretary
Gage, in defending the new policy of
the administration, suggested that
''philanthropy and five per cent" may
go hand in hand. Surely we know
not what a day may bring forth, if in
SO short a time terminal aggression -
can be transformed into "philanthropy
and five per cent? What beauty,
what riches, the isles Of the Pacific
must possess if they can tempt our
people to abandon not only the tradi-
~tions OF a century, but our standard of
rs national morality! What visions of
national greatness thePhilippines must
: arouse if the very sight of them can
lead our country to vie with the mon
arches of the old world in the extern
sion of sovereignty by force.
Jefferson has been called an expan-
sionist, but our opponents will search
in vain for single instance where he
advocated the acquisition of remote
fo,r;t n,.1- 5ft# 4 On tho coDtrocy, bo nv