The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-16
Disastrous Result to the Republic !
of Pursuit of Imperiaiistic +
Policy.
M'KlNLEY MUST BE DEFEATED.
Election of Bryan the Nations Only
Hope, Even Though Schurz
Does Not Approve All
His Views.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
New York. July I5.-The Journal publish.
es the following to-day:
BY CARL SCHURZ.
Copyright. 1900 by W. r. Hearst)
L am profoundly convinced that the I'm
perialistic policy. policy Of criminal ag-
gression b. forcible conquest and Of substan-
TALLY arbitrary rule over subjugated pop
uiatiors. will. no matter what the purposes
may be. involve the subversion of the fun
damental principles of our democratic gov
eminent
To avert so calamitous a result 1t is nee
essary that the American people should in
the directest and most uneauivocaI man.
ner. repudiate the undemocratic policy OF
criminal aggression, and of subjugating for
eign populations to American sovereignty,
and that can at present be done only by
defeating Mr.. Mckinley in the coming pres-
idential election.
To accomplish this We may, being forced
to choose between two evils, have to pay a
heavy price; but the stake is so great that
We may well ask ourselves whether any
possible price can be too high; and I say
this. after very mature elaboration, as 4
conservative man. great part of whose
public life has been devoted to fighting
against the financial theories represented by
Mr.. Bryan. II 1t were even true that Mr..
Bryan would lead US into an Internal revo-
luton II elected. IL would. in my opinion
be not nearly serious and dangerous a
revolution as that into which the policy Of
Imperialism is sure to lead us and its eff
fects would be much more easily and speed
lily counteracted than the total subvers.on
OF the fundamental principles of our de-
mocrary which the policy Of Imperialism In
wolves.
the tendencies of imperialism are already
exercising among ourselves upon the popu-
lar mind? 4
Do you not hear the scofing levity wiz
which the Declaration of Independence and
the high ideals OF liberty and human rights
which so long have been sacred to our
people are made sport OF: how the teach
ings of Washington and Lincoln are de-
rided as antiquated nursery rhymes. and
how the Constitution. when 1t stands IN
the way OF grasping schemes, IL lightly
brushed aside with the fipoant word that
constitutions are made for men and not
men for constitutions?
1t cannot be repeated too often that there
are things which may be done by monarch
ical or arfstocratic governments without
making them less strong as monarchies or
ar1stocracies. but which cannot be done by
democracy based upon universal suffrage
without fatally demoralizing 1t as a de-
mocracy; and that one of those things IS
the arbitrary ruling Of foreign populations
as subjects 1 can hardly imagine any
KIND OF government more repellent than a
democracy that has ceased to belisve in
anything. and in which all ambitions arc di.
rected toward a selfish use of power
Indeed, there may be some persons az.
pecting to make more money out OF tho
philippines IL We subjugate them at the
cost of ever so much blood and devastation.
and then rule them by a substantially des-
potic sway.
But who are they?
Not the people at large. especially not tbs
Iaborfng masses. but a favored faw. And
nero Invite the special attention Of our \
conservative feiiow-citizens who arc SO
much alarmed at the possibility that the
political struggies in this democracy-a de-
mocracy working through universal suf-
frage-may develop into a struggle of tho
poor against the rich. Have they cons,d-
cred how apt this kind of imperiai!stic pol
Icy will be to incite and hasten such a de.
velopment?
Nothing can be more dangerous in a
Democracy like Ours than the prevalence
OF the notion that might is right-a notion
involving the worst kind OF anarchy, above
and below. And that principle is preached
ana proclaimed every day by this imperial.
istic policy.
Aoe AhSh tiiiio tiidI TIC American
pie sobered from the debauching ,ntoxication
OF victory. should rise up again to Just an
probation OF the true responsibility of this
great Republic? s
Inat true responsibility Is its RESPONSE
o,nty Ior the maintenance Of the great
principles upon which 1t was founded. It
IS Its responsibility for the great lesson ~
IS 10 administer to mankind thar true
democracy means. not only the assertion
or ones own rights. but also a tust resnsct
ior the rights of others. and that this
democracy OF ours Is able to resist the TENN
tation which might setiuce n rror, a.,
hdeiity to that high obligation. II IN ira
responsibility for the fulflIment of .bs
great promise expressed by Abraham liz
coin on the battlefield OF Gettysburg thar
government OF the people by the people
for the people shall nor perish 60
earth" A'on inc