, 1900-07-20
SIN which Judge Hallett and his asso-


learned jurist to enlighten his fellow
citizens on that subject. AS a matter
Of course, u columns will be open to
him for that purpose free Of charge.
We have carefully read almost every
thing said and written on the subject
since the discussion of it became &C
tive some two years since, but we have
as yet failed to find any lucid or com
plete definition of the term, and We ap-
peal to Judge Hallett in all good faith
to shed the light of his intelligence on
cur benighted. ignorance.
If Imperialism means the extension
of the territorial area of the United
States, it is almost as old as the con
stitution itself, for the Louisiana pur,
chase was made during President JEFF,
ferson's term Of ~office-almost a hun.
dred years ago-and many other in
creases Of area, both by purchase and
conquest, have been made in the mean,
time without either overthrowing the
republic or setting up the foundation
o: an empire in this country.
If it means the armed invasion of an
Independent power by our troops, that
happened during the Mexican a with,
out evil consequences to either the
Declaration of Independence. the con,
%stitution or the republic.
If it means that the United States
claims and exercises authority ovel
territory without granting to the in,
habitants of that territory the right OF
representation in congress or any voice
in federal taxation, until statehood Is
achieved, that has happened in the cast
of all the territories which subsequent,
ly became states, and is now the rule il
New Mexico, Arizona, Oklahoma, the
Indian Territory and Alaska, to say
nothing Of Porto Rico, Cuba, Hawai-
and the Philippines.
If the anti-imperialists set up The
theory that contiguous territory MAJ
be taken, either by purchase or con
quest, but that regions lying remote
from our present boundaries can onl!
be acquired through the destruction o
the Declaration of Independence, tn,
notification of the constitution and tn,
overthrow Of the republic, what hav.
they to say about Alaska, no part O
which lies within a thousand miles O
any other portion of the United States
Again, If President Mckinley and tn
party which he SO ably represents ar
such bitter foes to human liberty an
r~cg"I!ican institutions, why did the.
carry on the Spanish war which strucl
the shackles Of Imperialism from II.
500 900 people in Cuba, Porto Rico an
the Philippines? If it was wrong to ne
gotiate a treaty with Spain whereof.
the United States paid 20 million dol
lars to that country for the Philippin
islands, why did Colonel William Jen
nings Bryan-who at present appear
to be the especial favorite OF nearly al
anti-imperialists-so strongly urge an
beseech democratic senators to vote 70
the ratification of that treaty only las
year?
We are told now in solemn tones b
these self-constituted guardians of on
liberties and our national faith an
honor, that the republican party ha
strayed far from the paths marked on
by Lincoln and his associates some fol
ty years ago, but they either forget O
overlook the fact that President Lin
coin did not hesitate to use all the arm
ed power of the loyal states to suppress
the rebellion and to liberate from bond
age four million slaves.
II the principles Of the Declaration @
Independence, or the Constitution, O
the republic We're in actual danger, W
fancy that the republicans would b
quite as prompt as the democrats Il
rallying to their defense; but tn
American people are sane and leve
headed, and they cannot be frightene
by any mere bugaboo Of a disordere
imagination in this matter.
Now let Judge Hallett, or some othe
assistant democrat, tell us exactly wha
is meant by Imperialism, and then tn
people will be able to decide for them
selves whether he is right or wrong
Denver Republican.