Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-08

ing long line of presidents. A long course
OF history has prepared the way and de-
termined the general chart for what we
are now doing. When Thomas Jefferson,
the author of the Declaration of Independ-
ence and the first democratic President
made the Louisiana purchase, he exercised
American authority exactly President
Mckinley has exercised 1t over Porto Rico
ton in the latter archipelago has required
special treatment. Mr.. Jefferson and the
Congress of his day provided local gov
eminent for Louisiana which represented
ernor and council. They established all
the administrative machinery. They de-
fined and appointed all the officers. They
did all this wholly by virtue of the national
power and without stopping to ask the
consent of the people over whom this gov
eminent was extended.
An Old Story.
1.-THE same course was repeated when the
Florida cession was made, and it has been
repeated in every subsequent acquisition
Of territory. Not only have we extended
the flag over new peoples, but in many
cases we have, for reasons we deemed suf-
ficient, kept them in dependent position
for more than half a century. New Mexico
came to from the Mexican war, and
1t is still in a territorial condition. Alaska
was purchased from Russia in 1867, and it
was only last winter that the law was
passed which gave 1t a substantial civil
government. From the beginning of our
government we have had Indian tribes
within our domain. We have recognized
that they were not capable of the same
measure of self-government as our own
people. and we have kept them in sepa-
rate and dependent position. We have not
allowed one Indian tribe to rule over an
other. and have not permitted them to es-
tablish confederacy among themselves.
We have held that they were under our
dominion. and that 1t was our province to
establish such relationship was best
for our interests and for their own.
Expansion Not Sought or Desired.
1.-The administration has not favored even
expansion for expansions sake. Except In
the case of Hawaii, which had itself long
ago applied for annexation. 1t did not seek
the territory which has come under our
flag. This expansion has come,a the un1
axofdable result of the Spanish war. 1t
was the universal demand of the American
people that Spanish power should be ex-
PEELED from the western hemisphere. The
fate of the war brought the same destruc-
ton of Spanish power in the Philippines.
Since it was overthrown by American
aims, the American nation became respon-
sible to the world for what should take It's
place. We had extinguished Spanish
authority; we could not permit anarchy;
we could not throw the Philippines into
thing left was to accept the responsibility
ourselves. In accepting this responsibility
we are fulfilling the highest national oblf-
cation of humanity and civilization; and
to call the performance of that duty i'm
perialism is simply an attempt to mislead
the people with an .opprobious term Ours
Is government Of the people, by the peo-
pie. and for the people. Imperialism is
autocratic rule without law and against
the public will. To charge Imperialism
under American institutions is an affront
to the intelligence and character Of the
American people.
Broken the Yoke of Imperialism.
President Mckinley has himself pricked
the bubble in a suggestive and striking
sentence In his speech of acceptance at
Canton he said. The republican party was
dedicated TO freedom forty-four years ago.
1t has been the party Of liberty and eman-
cipation from that hour; not of profession.
but Of performance 1t broke the shackles
Of four million slaves and made them free.
and to the party of Lincoln has come an
other supreme opportunity which II has
bravely met in the liberation of ten mill
lions Of the human race from the yoke Ct
Imperialism There Is the whole truth in
a nutshell The administration has broken
the yoke of imperialism, not established 1t.
1t has freed the Philippines from imperial
ism. not subjected them to 1t. 1t has re-
lieved them from oppression without law
and given them liberty under law The
party that came into being to make liberty
the rule of law will never countenance Inn
perialism without law.
Standing Armies of World
1.-THE following table shows the leading
countries of the world, with their popula-
ton, their standing army and the number
Of soldiers each country has per 1000 of its
people:
Soldiers
per 900