Rocky Ford enterprise., 1900-07-27
"HALF REpUeLlc, HALF EMPIRE"


The phrase was caught up by the
Democratic platform makers, and 1t
will no doubt be heard from the stump
In Colorado when the Hon" John
Sbafroth gets to declalmins about the
dangers OF Imperialism. But the idea
was not new,. and the same argument
! was used mt the beginning OF the cen
tury, against the requirement by the
United States OF some of the territory
out of which the state OF Colorado af-
tcrwards was made.
In the debate In the House Of Repre-
scntatives In 1911 the Hon. Josiah
Quincy arose TO speak on the question
OF admitting Louisiana with u full
sense OF impending calamity:
mir. Speaker, address you, sir.
with an anxiety and distress OF mind
with me full unprecedented. The
friends OF this bill seem To consider IL
us the exercise OF a common power, as
an ordinary affair. u mere municipal
regulation which they expect to see
pass without other questions than
tNtrt h'AhttF. buts RITZ thN
principle OF this hill materially affects
the liberties and rights OF the whole
people OF the United States. To me II
appears that 1t would Justify u rcvolu-
tIon In this country: and that. In no
great length OF time may produce II.
When I see the zeal and perseverance
with which this bill has been urged
along i,s parliamentary path. when
know the local Interests and associated
pro}ccts which combine TO promote Its
success. nil opposition Ia 1t seems
nnayaiiing. MN almost tempted to
leave. wiihou, struggle. my country
,o'its fate"
but. instead OF leaving its country TO
Its fate. the nnti-cxpansionlst COW OF
ISL decided to fncc ia. oncomins en-:
glue. Mr.. Quincy said: '
But. sir. while there II life there Is
hope. So long rs the fatal shaft has
not yet sped. II heaven "a will II. the
blow may H. broken nnL the vigor Of
the misunderstanding arm withcrci
-. I am compelled to declare II
ns my deliberate opinion that. II this
hill passes. the bonds OF this Union
are virtually dissolved: tim, the states
which compose IL arc free from their
moral obligation. and that. rs II VIII
be the rish, OF all. So will 1, ,c the duty
OF some. TO prepare definitely for n
scparaiIon-amlcabiy II they can. ,io-
icntiy II they must
Here the anti.cxpnn.ionist orator
was called io order. his uitcranccs
seeming 10 SAVIOR of ,rrason. ON nj.
peal from the Speakers ruling the
House generously allowed him to pro.
cccsi:
when spoke Of n separation OF the
states resulting from the violation OF
the constitution contemplated in this
hill. I spoke OF II ns n necessity deeply
TO Ia deprecated: but ns resulting from
causes 80 certain and obvious rs to bc
absolutely inevitable when the effect
fenced. II Is TO preserve. to guard the
constitution OF my country that I de-
nouncc this attempt. ! wouid rouse
the attention OF gentlemen from the
apathy with which they seem bcsct.
by this event. II this bill passes. am
willing to he Judged"
II should bc borne In mind that the
awful danger which the Hon. Josiah
Quincy tried to avert was not merely
the admission OF Louisiana: 1t was the
and deeply dcplorcd in advance. OF the
dominion Of the United States govern.
mcnt over the vast area Of the Missis.
sippi valley. and perhaps even to the
shores OF the Pacific. That vision of
possibilities filled his patriotic soul
with horror. He appealed TO the earlier
and purcr days OF the republic:
THE people OF this country Mt that
day had no idea of the territorial avid.
iiy OF their Successors. 1t was. ON the
contrary. an argument ngnins, the sue.
cess Of the project that the territory
was too extensive for republican
form OF government. hut now there is
no limit TO our ambitious hope. We are
about TO cross the Mississippi. The
Missouri and the Red river are hut
roads on which our Imagination trav.
els TO new lands and new states to he
raised and admitted tundcr the pow.
cr now first usurpcD into this Union
among undiscovered lands in the
West"
And again he prophcsicd the rcpub-
lies dissolution IL expansion went on;
This constitution was never con.
structcd 10 form covering for the in.
habitants of the Missouri and the Red
River country. and whenever 1t is at