St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1900-08-25
THE REAL MOTIVE.
Troubles In China Being Used by the
Administration to Hide
Home Affairs


| rationale of imperialism is understood,
even at this late date, by the masses
of the American people; for the events
which led up to the policy of expan-
sion in the orient seem, at the first
glance, to be in the nature of de-
cree of fate. Nevertheless, a little re-
fection will serve to show that the
republican party has availed itself Of
Dewey's victory in Manila bay, in or
der to hold public opinion at arms
lergth, while domestic policies of the
most farreaching import were being
developed to their logical conclusion.
The device is by no means new. When
Napoleon III. was menaeed by the
searching scrutiny Of the peoples con-
science. he. instinctively had recourse
to the scheme of an empire in Mexico.
When that bright dream faded, the
duel with Germany followed in the in
exorable logic of things. Thus. the
blood and treasure of France were
wasted, in the vain hope that foul
crime against free government might
be hlotted from the memory of men.
After this disas trous fashion has des-
potism found itself compelled to act.
in every land and i'll every age. Free
dom alone stands in no need, of screen.
In the present case, the title of no
dynasty is in question, but the justice
of system OF policy is under examine
tion at the Judgment barof conscience.
The corporations have grown until
they eEershadow the government
which created them, while wealth finds
increasing Immunity from its proper.
burdens. If the problem should be pre-
4sented in its naked form, the popular
verdict would be, {. foregone conclusion.
The instinct of self-preservation thus
compels the republican party to be-
cloud its errors of omission and COM
mission with issues which should have
no place in our politics.
At the outset, it was the evident. in-
tention to treat the Filipinos as we
have treated the Cubans, but the repre-
sentatives of the trusts saw their OPP
portunity, and the instructions to our
ENJOYS at Paris were so changed as to
convert the islands into spoils of con-
quest. Indeed. the apostasy would have
taken the form of a reputation of the
nations pledge to Cuba, if the moral
fiber of the American people had been
less fine.
1t thus happens that a party whose
original shibboleth was human free
dom finds itself the champion OF the
doctrines that might makes right. At
such infinite cost do parties or men
palter with the yerities. It is the first
step that costs; all the others are easy
and, indeed, inevitable. "Faeilis de-
scensus Agerni''
t. is, however, clear that President
McKinley's ruse will have no greater
measure of success than the third Ma
poleon's. The planfor the retention of
Cuba has already met with a failure
so complete that even the republicans,
in their platform of 1900, have been
compelled to announce their unequivo-
cal recognition Of the national obliga-
tion. IN the fullness of time, the Fill
ipinos will receive the same full meas
ure of justice. and America viii once
more stand forth as the one sincere adj
vocate of the principle that all just
government has its origin in the con-
sent Of the governed.
norder that this supreme result may
be achieved, 1t behooves all right think
ing Americans to exercise their full
of power, by tongue, pen and
ballot. After all, public opinion is the
molding force in this government. The
spokesmen of injustice and greed may
weld a mighty influence, for season,
but the sober second thought of the |
masses is invariably fatal to all schemes
which lead up to the enslayemenf of |
Ihe many for the benefit of the few. |
The great wrongs of the present time /
must be righfed,; but we must do JUS
tiee to others, in order that we NAV |
come into our own. imperialism is but |
The cloak of monopoly. and should, |
therefore, be torn away witIIa ruthless
hand.
Imperialism is not myth. It lis
not bugbear to frighten people. 1t |
IS actual peril which the nation must /
face courageously andffearIess1y Crap
pie with IL free institutions are to be |
maintained and preserved. The fight
IN the democratic side is for the people /
md their republic; on the republican
slde Is is for elevation Of the dollar