The Portland daily press., 1900-02-24

ID tne fniippinesf honoubec1 IN tne
natural Language Of the tribe that there
was more trsasurs where 10 came from,
which could readily be seized By men |
stronger than the feeble owners, he was
rebuked by wiser ana more effective
nsmter OF the band who protested that
while such material things as nuggtti OF
geld would be accepted with rec ynation.
the true purposs Of the expedition was
the welfare of the natives, -an object 30
deeply cherished that even II they inhab-
tied Sahara iuetend VI fertile islands.
they would stlll be the objects of benevo-
lent bullets.
While imper iaIism remained an unde-
fined policy. II was easy 70 deceive or ut
least to bewildtr the peopls By claiming
for Il all manner Of extraordinary and
Inconsistent merits Wherever there was
q chance Of Obtaining . recruit, his sup
port was sought by appsals To his opin-
might BE-. The ayarioicus were told that
trade followed tbs nag. that Ia to say,
that there was profit In governing weak
er peoples hy force. 7hs generous were
informed that though trace did net fol
low ths flag, but always fled before dis
made It our duty TO oiviiiss inferior races
az the point Of the bsyon OF, even II u
involved financial loss TO ourselves. The
man OF violence was shown q place where
he could Indulge his propcnsities with
out fear Of any restrsining poiioe, while
the Humanitarian Was told that putt ,ng
lead or stesl into the body Of native
was Intended TO put the love Of psacs into
his heart. The lovers Of liberty and Of
the gospel were told that our arm les were
lighting to est sblish free instit utions and
to spread the light Of ohfistisn morality,
at the very moment when our flag was
unfurled over the harem and the slave
pen and a poly amous slave driver added
t. the civil list OF the unitsd States. II
the Humanitarian remained unpersuadsd
the money -sseking adveBt1rer and the
minittsr Of religion were relied upon to
outvote him, and II either Of there proved
intraotable the other two were expected
to overcome his opposition.
u ut the impe ious exigencies Of trade
have compelled the red uotion OF these
vaporous phrases 10 practical proposals OF
legislation. The bill before Congress 20
Tx the conditions governing our com-
mercial intercourse with Porto Rico, has
proved to be an attempt TO divide the
plumber before the cruise BEGAN. The
result was Inevitable and would probably
have been foressen IL Providence In hie
wisdom did not sometimes choose to pro-
teot the rights OF honest men BY the
quarrels Orwell, OF othe men. The pro-
tec,ed interests and the political interests
have come to blows. The uncsuous
phrases with which the President very
pro badly deceived him self when he under
took to pervert war OF humanity into
war Of conquest, are flung back In his
faCe by his mutinous followers. The
purpose IL no longer concealed TO govern
these territories net for the welfare OF
their Inhabitants. but primarily for our
own profit. Love Ut humanity Is scat-
tered 90 the winds and a thirst for gain
acknowledged TO be the controlling
motive The flag Of civilization is torn
down, the jolly Roger fioat, triumphant
aNs.xx Il
trampltd under foot. while the buccaneers
The fat Is In the fire. and by
the light Of the flame we can sac plainly
wins q hell broth 1t Is that these imper-
ialists ara brewing.
We uan now examine imperialism
as its opponents describe 1t, bot as 1t
friends present. It. And remember this
10 not imEerialism ut its W, rst, but I'm
reriaism at its beit-nct Imperialism
q jsssful, seoure-bus imperialism q can-
dictate for popular favor. ana therefors
clothed In the least repulsive garb which |
the ingenuity OF its supporters can de-
sign.
The illuminating feature of this meas |
urs 10 the proposal TO Impose discrin mat |
/ ng dut es on commodities pro1nced In
Porto Rico seeking access to the markets |
Of this country. and wha. Ia the nsos sssry
OF this proposal, this asser-
tion that territories owned by the United
the constitution.
1t may be that this particular attemrt
to impose discrim iuating duties against
Porto Eisan products VIII be abandoned.
Public indignation may revive the Presi.
DENTS risinal notions OF "pisin duty"
It may replace the War Department In
full harmony with the "highest dictates
Of honor and prudence" reft9re the
chairman OF the Ways and Means Com
mittss TO his better tin and his letter
self. But whatever the fate OF this meas
ure, nothing can now obscure the prin-
cipls on which It Is drawn. Whatever
course may he adopted towards Porto
Rico, there Is no doubt that the protso'
tive policy will lie enforced against the
people of tho philippines.
Speaking OF the position Of the Demo-
Gratis In the next campaign, he said
While 1t 10 obvious that this silver
question cannot enter into the canvass
OF 1900, / think that the heart OF the party
IL wsddsd 20 1t. II in 1904, the political
conditions be so changed that SUCCESS ID
the presidential elestion would carry the
control Of Congress, then think gre
Democratic party will again declare Tor
free ooipsge, anu then l shat be- AZ ready
to oppess them rs ] WAS In sc. Those of
US W no oppos I'D the D-inocratic candidate
four years ago, did not do so merely On
q qrestion OF coinage. Had the Chicago
platform CeCihfeu IN thVUf VI hi1tcE dt
sixteen to one, tire clins minted under Ii
to be- legal tender Only for dett arising
under future contrasts, tbs majority OF
us would have regarded Il rs an unwise
proposal, but IL would not have involved
consa uences SO serious as 90 have driven
Us out Of the party. When, however. u
was proposed through change IN the
coinage OF the country to effect q change
in existing contracts, then most or Us
belle red that tie success OF suoh an at
tempt would be fatal blow al orderly
government. Ihe ssorednsss OF contracts
Is tine vital principle OF Industrial CO.
operation. Industrial cooperation q
commerce.. and oonmsrvv Is civilization.
II government can be need co destroy or
modify contracts once, IL can he ased
again for that purpose. government -
founded mainly Co protect contracts II
It can hs ussd TO dss6ro y them, IL is per-
vertsd to the very purpose which II Is or
ganized TO prevent, and that would be
anarchy. Now, whether We wers right or
wrong in this behalf, holding 1t as We
did, the issue press nted to us WIS not
whether one financial system was better
than another, but whether the fonnde-
"a L.. a