The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1900-09-21

Mans opinion Of what is to be Is
q wish and half environment. Az
arice paints destiny with a dollar mark
before it. militarism equips It with
q sword. 81
Our guns destroyed a Spanish fleet.
but al they destroy that %self-evident
truth, that governments derive their
Just powers, not from superior force.
Blu from the consent of the governed?
He is the best prophet, who, recog-
mixing the omnipotence Of truth, COM
prehends most clearly the great forces
which are working out the progress.
not of one party. not of one nation. but
of the human race.
If w adopt a colonial policy and
pursue the course which melted the
revolution of 1776 we must muffle the
tones of the old Liberty bell and COM
mune In whispers when We praise the
patriotism Of our %forefathers.
Imperialism has been described as
The White Mans Burden" but, since
1t crushes the wealth-producer beneath
an increasing weight OF taxes, it might
with more %propriety be called ''The
Poor Mans Load"
The fruit of imperialism. be they
bitter or sweet, must be left to the
subjects of monarchy. This is the n
tree OF which the citizens OF a republic
may not partake. It Is the voice of
the serpent. not the voice OF God. that
bids US eat.
Is the sunlight Of full citizenship TO
be enjoyed by the people Of the United
States. and the twilight Of semi-citi-
:zensh}p endured by the people Of Por-
to Rico. while the thick darkness of
perpetual ~vassalage covers the Phil
ippines?
II some dream of the splendors OF a
heterogeneous empire encircline the
globe, we shall be content to aid in
bringing enduring happiness to a
homogeneous people. consecrated to
the purpose Of maintaining a govern
nent OF the people, by the people. and
for the people.
Lincoln said that the safety of this
nation was not in its fleets, armies. its
forts, u in the spirit which prizes lih-
erty as the heritage of all men. in all
lands. everywhere. and he warne his
countrymen that they could not de-
stroy this spirit without planting the
seeds of despotism at their W doors.
Many may dare to do In crowds
what they would not dare to do as
individuals, but the moral character
OF an act is not determined by the
number Of those who join it. Force
a defend a right. but force has never
yet created a right.
The army is the representation Of
force. 1t does not deliberate, it acts;
1t does not decide. 1t executes; it does
not reason, 1t shoots.
Milttarism is the very antithesis of
democracy; they do not grow in the
lime soil; they do not draw their nour-
tshment from the same source.
When the desire to steal becomes un-
comfortable in an individual he is de-
clared to be a kleptomaniac and is sent
to an asylum; when the desire to grab
land becomes uncomfortable in a Ia
lion we are told that the currents OF
destiny are flowing through the hearts
of men" and that the American people
are entering upon "a manifest mis-.
sion."
This republic Is not q prodigal son;
1t has not spent its substance in riot
Gus living, It is not ready to retrace
its steps and, with shamed face and
trembling voice. solicit an humble
place among the servants Of royalty.
It has not -sinned against heaven. and
God grant that the crowned heads OF
Europe may never have occasion to
kill the fatted calf to commemorate its
return from reliance upon the will OF
the people to dependence upon the au
thority which flows from regal birth
or superior force!
To borrow . Bible quotation, "A
house divided against itself canno
stand" Paraphrasing Lincoln's dec
la:ation, II may add that this natio,
cannot endure half republic and hal
Ncolony-half free and half vassal.'
Our form OF government. our tradi
tions. our present interests and our fu
iture welfare. ALI forbid our entering
upon . ire Of conquest.
II 100000 men are withdrawn from
tie ranks of the producers and place,
b q burden on the backs Of those VIII,