Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1900-11-01
PATRIOTISM r.
" is NOT DEAD.
BY z. r. BURCH.

ognition of condition that has
been steadily but surely growing
until it has attained its present
alarming development.
Is it true that this, the model
republic of the world, after more
than n century of progress and af-
ter having reached almost the sum-
NIT of moral aud intellectual
grandeur, is now TO abandon our
long cherished ideas of free gov
eminent by the introduction of in
novations at variance to the spirit
of our institutions!
Such is the condition that now
confronts us. The mighty river
begins as little wandering rivulet
that can be crossed at stride, but
as it pursues its onward course the
broad watershed furnishes new
tributaries; it broadens and deep
ems until finally a mighty volume
of water goes surging onward to
join the waters of the great deep.
Need we be alarmed at this insip-
lent stage of imperialism Are we
to fold our arms and stihe the best
emotions of our nature towards a
weak, defenseless but liberty low
ing people and solace ourselves in
the vain hope that our beloved
land will never suffer the pangs of
expiring liberty
If the innate principle of self
preservation were the only one Git
certainly is the main principle) we
would have abundant cause for
watching with vigilance the least
departure from our timehonored
traditions. Abraham Lincoln
prior to our civil war uttered these
memorable words: Il do not be-
licvc that this country can remain
half slave and half free No
words ever uttered by this great
man were commented on as these.
They had peculiar significance,
impressive of volume of truth.
Can we not change it but little
and say, I'VE do not believe that
this country can endure perma
nently half republic and half en-
pire!" And is it not equally true
and as applicable as regards our
form of government as were the
prophetic words Regarding the in
stitution of slavery'
We would not speak disrespect-
fully of the President or call in
question his patriotism. Princi-
pies are greater than men, how
ever exalted their position may be.
y wrong policy cannot produce
good results however pure the adj
ministrator may be. 1t is the pol
icy that would launch our beloved
land on the sea of imperialism that
we must enter our earnest and pat
riotic protests against. Eternal
vigilance is the price of liberty"
For sevcnty-tive years we have
maintained the Monroe doctrine
and in doing so have held i'll check
the monarchical tendencies of the
Old World. If we remain true to
our traditions it will only be Il
matter of time when hereditary
rule will crumble under the pres
tigc of American institutions. But
we are told that the Monroe Doe
trinc has not been disregarded,
that we are to maintain the princi-
pie, America for Americans" If
consistency has ceased to he a vir-
tue perhaps we may. The doe
trine that we would not hold pos
sessions in the Orient is II part of
the Monroe Doctrine plainly i'm
piled if not declared. A failure to
recognize this principle places this
country before the world on the
plane of arbitrary seliishness.
To those who are lulled to sleep
and can see no danger in the inn
perialistic spirit that dominates the
Republican party | will say, do
not hatter yourselves by the delu-
sion that your liberty will remain
intact while different form of
government is admin stored in our
territory abroad, a republic can
have but one form in the admins
tration of laws. If Porto Rico
and the Philippine Islands can be