The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1900-07-26
IMPERIALISM-wHAT IS IT7


WASHING TON, July %. 1900. Impe
| rlalism may serve as campaign scare
crow, but before the harves of votes i
garnered next Nov emb er the peopl
will recognize that it is but tn ing o
straw.
Imperialism presupposes an empire
and the magnificent domain over which
our lovely banner flies is imperial in it
beaut y in it's product and in its extent
Sucha wealth of hill, mountain plain
and prairie, such an abundance of crys
tai lakes and such a network of com
merce-bearing rivers were never before
bes towed upon any people. Every State
Is an empire: every county is princi
pality. for which, as true Americans
we are proud, and for which, as Chris
tlans. recognizing God as the God OF
nations we should be deeply grateful
a power that is higher than any party
was called into being in order to protest
and battle against the division Of this
mighty empire. which Democracy de-
clared. in the press, in its platform, and
on the bloody battletields, should be di
perialism can with truth be made against
the Republican party Abraham Lin
coin was the embodiment of that impe-
rial idea, and martyr to the cause Of
one flag, one country, and one imperial
destiny.
Imperialism. if it means anything the
Democracy would have the people be
lleve, implies an emperor. a dynasty. a
throne, a crown and a scepter This
feature of imperialism. by no stretch of
partisan Misrepresentation. can ever be
charged against our honored President
and candidate for the Presidency. He
was the choice of the people: he was
honestly elected in a constitutional
manner, and has been SO loath to oppose
the will of the people. as expressed by
legislation enacted by Congress, that in
the four years of his Administration he
has vetoed but four bills. He will serve
his two terms as many other good Pres
ldents. both Democratic and Republi
can, have done. and will then give way
to his successor. chosen as he was chosen
by the free votes of sovereign people
The partisan accusation of imperial
ism. when translated into plain every
day English, in the light of the history
made during the brilliant administra.
ton of President Mckinley, is simply
this; The Republicans declare that it is
their policy not to blindly abandon the
islands transferred from Spanish tc
American sovereignty by the treaty OF
Paris. The Democracy, SO far as it has
a policy, would have the master nation
builder of the world abandon it's plain
duty, furl our triumphant flag and hunt
rot IL,
future. Porto Rico, recognizing the
fact that she can not stand alone. does
not wish to become an independent
power, and the only thing possible is
for the United States to continue its
sovereignty, which is Republican, or to
invite Spain to re-enter the Western
policy of misrule, of robbery and ex
tortion from which we have delivered
Cuba. TO plant the customs of the
seventeenth century is Democratic
This Is the logical conclusion when the
Democratic cry of the Democratic plat
form is analysed.
The same is as true of the Philippines
as of Porto Rico Will the Democrat.
dare TO fix date for the evacuation O,
either? They are under the flag of thu
Republic, and there they will remain
This means work and thought and states
manship for the people of the United
States, but it means blessing and liberty
justice and opportunity for the islands
placed under our care by solemn treat,
obligations that We're approved by thu
Senate of the United States, and llrgeC
by Mr.. Bryan. Methods of administra
ton and Of government are Iegitimat,
~ ~ vi Il
neXation is fact. 1t is for all purposes
as much an accomplished fact as is tn.
abolition Of slavery, another Republi
can measure for which that party wa
hated and misrepresented
The people will learn that imperial
ism, as employed by the Democrats
means that they would have the coun
try shirk its duty, turn it's back Of
destiny, count all bloodshed as lost fur
the flag and withdraw its protection
than ever before in all their history.
The charge of imperialism, whel
properly translated, means duty. Ant
rison. and of Mckinley, is willing to b,
charged with doing its duty. no matte
how hard that duty may be-
Stllpl'eu VI dll Sldlliol, tllt I'elllocldl
have entered upon a tia9-furling cam
palgn. They condemn expansion, We
welcome Hawaii. because its one vot,
alone enables them to again attempt t,
overthrow the stable currency of TIN
country. They decry imperialism.
yet shout themselves hoarse over al
Hawaiian prince" They are WELDON,
to all the votes and glory they can max
out of such duplicity and treachery
which will nauseate. but never deceive
the true American people.