Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-07-26
As to Imperialism.

constitutes his campaign bette noir oil
imperialism. He sees the monster In
his dreams by night and has his wax
ing hours made horrible by remem'
brance Of bis nocturnal visions. Yet,
like the sea serpent, descriptions Of
the terror are distinguished for their
indefniteness. Imperialism, we are
told, is a menace to America, most
wofully to be dreaded, but what it is,
and where in all this broad land Of
freedom IL holds itself in hiding, is
left out OF the recital. In the abb
sence OF Democratic definition, it Is in
place to draw light from a Republl'
can source. 10 that end let us grow
discursive. Imperialism presupposes
empire. Is this an empireP In
beauty, development, advancement,
wealth Of resources, yes. 1t is an i'm
perial domain, rich in commerce
bearing rivers, munificent in noun
tain, lake and plain, studded with
cities where commerce thrives and
dotted with homes where civilization
dwells in peace and happiness An
imperial domain given to an imper'
ial people by "a power that is higher
than any party or policy, though the
Republican party was called into be-
in order to protest and battle against
the division Of this mighty empire,
which Democracy declared, in the
press, in its platforms and on the
bloody battle fields, should be d.
vided. TO this extent the charge OF
can with truth be made
against the Republican party. Abra-
ham Lincoln was the embodiment Of
that imperial idea, and martyr to
the cause Of one flag, one country and
one imperial destiny.
Imperialism, il 1t means anything
the Democracy would have the peo'
Pile believe, implies an emperor, a
dynasty, throne, crown and a
scepter. This feature OF Imperialism,
by no stretch Of partisan misrepre.
sentation, can ever be charged
against President Mckinley. He was
the choice Of the people; he was hon.
estly elected in constitutional
manner and has been so loath to OPP
pose the will of the people, as ex-
pressed by Legislation enacted BY
congress, that in the four years OF his
administration he has vetoed but four
bills. He will serve his two terms as
many other good presidents, both
Democratic and Republican, have
done, and will then give way to bis
successor, chosen as he was chosen,
by the free votes Of a sovereign peo'
pie.
The partisan accusation OF imper-
ialism, when translated into plain,
everyday English, in the light Of the
history made during the brilliant adj
ministration of President Mckinley,
is simply this: The Republicans de-
clare that it is their policy not tc
blindly abandon the islands trans
ferred from Spanish to American SOW
ereignty by the treaty of Paris The
Democracy, so far as it has a policy
would have the master nation builder
of the world abandon its plain duty,
furl our triumphant flag and hunt an
easy future rather than working
future. Puerto Rico, recognizing the
fact that she can not stand alone,
does not wish to become an independ'
ent power, and the only thing posi-
BILE is for the United States to con-
tinue its sovereignty, which is Re-
publican, or to invite Spain to re-
enter the western hemisphere and
commence anew her policy Of misrule
Of robbery and extortlon from which
we have delivered Cuba. To plan,
the customs OF the seventeenth cen
fury in the dawn Of the twentieth
century is Democratic. This is thu
logical conclusion when the Demo
cratic cry Of the Democratic platform
is analysed.
The same Is as true Of the Philip
pines as OF Puerto Rico. viii thu
Democrats dare to fix date for tn,
evacuation Of eitherp They are un
der the flag Of the republic and Their
tbav will rsmain. This means worl