Cañon City record., 1900-08-09
Hon. Thomas Patterson on imperialism
Now and In 1898.

Hon. Thomas Patterson on imperialism
Now and In 1898.
Hon. Thomas NJ. Patterson, editor Of
the Rocky Mountain News, statesman.
orator, lawyer, capitalist, poor mans
champion, and guide, philosopher and
friend" to all the parties and factions
opposed to the reelection OF President
Mckinley, delivered a long speech at
the Bryan and Stevenson ratification
meeting in the Broadway theater last
evening in opposition to Imperialism
and expansion. A comprehensive re-
port of his utterances Will be found in
another part of this paper, and we
hope that it will be carefully read by
the people Of Colorado.
Without quoting part of it in this
article, we will say that it fully in
dorses the most extreme language of
the Kansas City platform in opposition
to the policy pursued by the Republi-
can party, under the able leadership
of President Mckinley, in the islands
which have come under the jurisdic-
tion of the United States in conse-
quence of the war with Spain, and
foretells an empire on the ruins of our
Republic il the Republicans win at the
polls in November.
And this carries us back to the posi-
tion maintained by Mr.. Patterson in the
News, with remarkable steadfastness
for him from the beginning Of the
Spanish war until after the ratification
of the treaty of Paris last year. on this
very subject. Hardly a week passed
in that long period without fervid edi-
torial from Mr.. Patterson's own facile
pen in favor of expansion or in scorn OF
those timld souls who professed to see
the phantom of Imperialism in the log
ic Of transpiring events.
We could fill every page of this issue
Of the Republican with these expan-
sion editorials of Mr.. Patterson's and
then have enough left to overload to-
morrow's paper in the same way, but
we will spare our readers that infiic-
ton and simply lay before them one of
Mr.. Patterson's best efforts, with the
absolute assurance that it is fair and
full embodiment of all the rest. The
editorial which we quote was publish
ed in the Rocky Mountain News on
June 90, 1898, seven weeks after Ad-
miral Dewey smashed the Spanish feet
at Manila, and one week before Roose-
welt and his Rough Riders stormed and
captured San Juan hill, and we give 1t
in full without the slightest change or
omission in order that no pretense of
unfairness may be urged against us In
the matter. 1t reads us follows:
1.-THE NATIONAL POLICY.
For veal or woe this nation is about
to enter upon the possession Of terri
tories beyond the borders of the conti-
nent. In two months there has been
a tremendous change In the currents Of
American thought. Before the boom of
Dewey's guns came across the Pacific
we were immersed in our internal at
fairs. We were engaged in search for
the solution of certain grave internal
problems and were comparatively in
different to concerns beyond our bor-
ders. Those grave problems are stiil
with us and for them we must find a
right solution, whether the national
policy be one of expansion or of strict
seclusion within the boundaries which
have marked our limits since Texas
odn mi fnd nj 1n @1n
south and Alaska was added on the
north. But along another line new
tasks and new problems confront us.
The old problems must not be neglect
ed, but we can no more push the new
problems aside than we can turn back
the sun or bid the tide TO cease. A re-
cent writer well says: After all 1t is
temperament that tells, and not
schemes Of national policy, whether
laid down in farewell addresses or In
Utopian books. No national character
was ever shaped by formula or phil
osophy, for greater forces than these
lie beyond 1.-THE forces Of Inheritance
and of events
sluggish lethargy Is not In the blood
of this nation. To whatever source an
American owes his race origin, all
Americans owe their temperament or
igin to energetic and progressive fore
,:athers. The blood may be Anglo-Sax-
on, or Celtic, or Slavonic, or Semitic; II
may have been carried hither by the
Puritans of New England. or by the
Cavaliers Of Maryland, or by the latest
steerage passenger on an Atlantic liner;
wheresoever it came from, 1t is blood
that dared to push out for something
better, blood that was courageous
enough to cross the sea to seek a new
home and brighter fortune. The Amer.
lean people are going to reach out for
their share of the worlds business
They come OF races that have sent ad.
venturers to the ends Of the earth since
history was first written. They have
built up here republic that takes first
rank in wealth, resources and potential
energy. We may philosophize and NOR
alize, but our expenditure Of effort will
be in vain IL we seek to argue down