The Saint Paul globe., 1900-12-25
A PIPE DREAM.

IL Ib4lNNo WIlpSS
ton appears in another column, is GER
tainiy an eXpansionist of the most radi-
cal type. His self assurance is really
amusing, especially as he is quite harm
less. If he thinks that the majority Of
the American people, like himself, ex-
poets to see the stars and stripes float
over Central and South America, he is
certainly mistaken. The people at large
have no such thoughts. Such extension
of our territory might mean all the
wealth and prosperity he claims, yet
the people would not feel like taking
the trouble to go after it. E Pluribus
Unum is very much alone in his pipe
dream. In fact it is more than a pipe
dream; it is trance" People similar
ly afflicted are really quite rare E
Pluribus Unum does not say how he
expects that wonderful result to be ac-
complished. Even if it could be attain
ed by peaceful annexation at the request
OF the countries concerned, as in the case
OF Hawaii, there would be no end Of Oh
Jections to it i'm this country and the
anti-eNpansionists would shout 'Imper-
lailsra from every house-top.
But it is not likely that those countries
would ever ask to be annexed. Their
particular brand of patriotism would not
allow it. AS a rule people cling to the
outward trappings while they have but
little conception of the spirit Of liberty.
They have no idea of patriotism as a de-
votion to certain fixed principles OF law
and liberty, but instead, it means for
them merely a blind allegiance to a
name, an outward form and certain To-
cation Hence they will prefer their own
governments with their perennial revolu-
tions, corruption and despotic dictator
ships to The most enlightened and equit-
able form of government
And, besides. in ease, We should take
charge what. would become of the pro-
fessional reformers down there, who pose
as shining lights of disinterested patriot
ism, until they get control, when they
invariably use their brief relationships
for grabbing. everything in sight
before the next reformer comes
alcrg with Successful revolution
to get his inning? 1t would ruin and
break up their entire profession if We
should annex those countries and they
certainly would not want that.
In the case of Hawaii, the demand
for annexation was. due TO the great
number OF American residents. There
are comparatively few Americans living
in South America business there is main
ly in European hands; there is cons:dera-
bic agitation to deprive us Of what COM
merce we have there, and in Venezuela
they even seem to have gotten up a lit
tie revolution for the special purpose
of driving out American interests. The
prospects for pe@ce1ble annexation, there
fore, seem to be very slender, and forci-
bic annexation IS not TO be thought of.
AS far as, the, canal is, concerned, by the
time we had reached that exalted position
which e Piuribus Unum has in mind.
we would be so big and powerful that
no nation would dare to dream of at
tacking us. -Andi besides, we would have
such a. powerful navy that no hostile
fleet would be able to get within meas
urable distance of the canal; hence it
would make no difference whether it was
neutral or not. It does seem too bad to
discourage such unbounded assurance
and enthusiasm as E Pluribus Unum
displays, but his ideas are altogether too
ambitious.