Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1900-08-04


Imperialism may serve as a cam
paign scarecrow, but before the har-
vest of votes is garuered next Noyem-
Der the people Will recognize that it is
but thing Of straw.
Imperialism presupposes an enpire.
and the magnificent domain over
which our lovely banner flies is inn
perial In its beauty. in its products and
In its extent. Such a wealth of hill,
mountain. plain and prairie, such an
abundance of crystal lakes and such a
network of commerce bearing rivers
were never before bestowed upon any
people. Every state is an empire,
every county is q principally, for
which, as true Americans, we are
proud, and for which, as Christians.
recognizing God as the God of nations,
we should be deeply grateful.
This domain has been given to US by
q power that is higher than any party
or policy, though the Republican party
was called into being in order to pro-
test and battle against the division of
this mighty empire which Democracy
declared, in the press, in its platforms
and on the bloody battlefields, should
be divided. To this extent the charges
of imperialism can with truth be made
against the Republican party. Abra-
ham Lincoln was the embodiment OF
that imperial idea and a martyr TO the
cause Of one flag, one country and one
imperial destiny.
IrnnnriaIfctn If IL npnpg ANYTHING
the Democracy would have the people
believe, implies an emperor, dynasty,
a throne, a crown and scepter. This
feature of Imperialism by no stretch
of partisan misrepresentation, can ever
be charged against our honored presi-
dent and candidate for the presidency.
He was the choice of the people; he
was honestly elected in a constitution
al manner and has been so loath to OPP
pose the will of the people, as express
ed by legislation enacted by congress,
that in the four years of his admins
tration he has vetoed but four bills.
He will serve his two terms as many
other good presidents, both Democrat
ic ard Republican. have done and will
then give way TO his successor chosen,
as he was chosen, by the free votes of
a sovereign people.
The partisan accusation of imperial
ism, when translated into plain, every
day English, in the light of the history
made during the brilliant administers
ton Of President Mckinley, is simply
this: The Republicans declare that it
is their policy not to blindly abandon
the islands transferred from Spanish
to American sovereignty by the treaty
of Paris. The Democracy, so far as it
has 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
a working future Porto Rico. recog-
nizing the fact that she cannot stand
alone, does not wish to become an in
dependent power, and the only thing
possible IS for the United States to con-
tinue it's sovereignty, which is repub-
lican, or to invite Spain to re-enter the
western hemisphere and commence
anew her policy of misrule, of robbery
and extortion from which we have de-
livered Cuba. To plant the customs Of
the seventeenth century in the dawn Of
the twentieth century is Democratic.
This is the logical conclusion when the
Democratic cry of the Democratic plat
form is analysed.
The same is as true OF the Philip
pines as CT Porto Rico VIII the DEM
ccrats dare to fix date for the evacu-
uation of either? They are under the
flag of the republic, and there they will
remain. This means work and thought
and craftsmanship for the people OF
the United States, but it means bless
ing and liberty, Justice and opportunity,
for the islands placed under our care
by solemn treaty obligations that were
approved ny the senate of the United
States and urged by Mr. Bryan.
Methods of administration and of gov
eminent are legitimate objects of party
differences. But annexation is fact.
1t is for all purposes as much an ac-
complished fact as is the abolition Of
slavery, another Republican measure
for whsch that party was hated and
misrepresented.
The people viii learn that imperi-
alism, as employed by the Democrats,
means that they would have the coun-
try shirk its duty, turn its back on
destiny, count all bloodshe6 as lost,
furl the flag and withdraw its protec-
ton from people who need it today
more than ever before in all their his
tory.
The charge Of Imperialism, when
properly translated, means duty. And
the party of Lincoln, of Grant, of Har-
rfson and of Mckinley is willing to be
charged with doing its duty, no mat
ter how hard that duty may be.
Stripped Of all glamour, the Demo
Gratis have entered upon a flag furling
campaign. They condemn expansion,
yet welcome. Hawaii, because its one
vote alone enables them to again at
tempt to overthrow the stable currency
of the country. They decry imperial
ISM" yet shout themselves hoarse over
n 10 ThnU well