The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-09-29
"AND STILL We co ON KILLING THEM

|
with the full measure of constitutional
rights?. Whoever denies this or equivo-
Gates about it, only seeks to falsify MS
tory to Islander Thomas Jefferson. and
to deceive the American people,
Nay, so little did the American people,
until recently, mean to expand our terri
tory without purposing correspondlngly 10
extend our constitutional system that,
when San Domingo was offered to US, the
offer was rejected by an overwhelming
public opinion, mainly because 1t was
believed that that tropical country and
it's present and prospective inhabitants
were not fit to come under our Constitu-
ton, while they could not be permanently
governed outside of it.
MKINLEY'S CRIMINAL AGGRESSION
Expansion in the historical and
| truly American sense, Mr.. SchurZ de-
| fined rs ''the extension of our consti-
| tutional system together with the eN-
tension of our territorial area" and
declared that in this sense we are all
expansionists, provided the expansion
be honorably effected
| But when we annex to this republic for
eign territory, especially territory in the
tropics which, owing to climatic conditions
can never be settled by our own or homo
| geneous people, with the intent and eX-
| pectation that such territory shall never
come into our constitutional system, but
shall as to the civil, political and economic
status permanently depend upon the will
| of our central government in which they
are to have no determining share, those
countries thus being yassal provinces, and
| their people subject populations, that is
not mere expansion, in the historic Amer
lean sense, but that is Imperialism. And
/ when such countries are annexed and such
| populations are subjected by force of arms
by what President Mckinley has very
properly called criminal aggression =
| it is Imperialism in it's worst form. Who
ever calls this Imperialism mere bug
bear is either grossly deceived or a gross
| deceiver.
| HIS BENEVOLENT ASSIMILATION"
Will anybody deny that this applies to
our rule over our so-called dependen-
cies? 1t is over and over again admitted
/ by the Porto Rico legislation as well as
| by the announcements of the imperalist
Spokesmen. 1t helps the imperialiStS
nothing to say that they intend to give
the subject populations as much self-gov-
| eminent as may be good for them. For
| who IS to decide how much self-govern-
ment will be good for them? Not they
themselves not the Constitution, but our
arbitrary will. We may give it and we
may take it away. This is arbitrary rule,
another name for despotism Nor does
it help the imperalists to say that we
shall treat our subjects benevolently. A
benevolent act is an act of grace, not
recognition of right. Benevolence to
others not seldom comes into conflict with
benevolence to ones self. and then the
result is apt to be very uncertain. How
ever benevolent the intentions of the i'm
perialsts may be, the benevolence of their
acts is so far painfully felt by its vic
tins. Look at the Philippine Islands,
which are flooded with blood and tears.
Look at poor Porto Rico, where our sol
diers were received with transports OF
Joy and hope, and where, according to
trustworthy reports, large majority of
the inhabitants would now in their mis-
cry thank God for delivering them from
their American liberators and for return
ing them to the rule of Spain.
Some extra smart people shout at u.s.
''You talk of imperialism Nonsense!
Where is your Emperor" Why, what
intelligent person does not know that it
does not require a personal monarch to
make an imperial government? Rome had
an imperial government in her Senate
long before Caesar crossed the Rubicon.
It may be the rule of a republic over an
other people, arbitrary and irresponsible
to the governed, and it will be an jmpe-
rial government in it's essence, however
you may disguise the fact.
THE ARGUMENT OF THE DESPOT.
The Disgusting of Imperialism, the
speaker declared, is being practiced
by some speakers, notably Mr. Nc
Kinley. "as a fine art" Mr.. Mckinley,
he says, would cover up his imperial
istic tracks by prating of 1.-The party
of Lincoln" and boasting of 'the liberia
ton of ten millions of the human race
from the yoke of Imperialism
The party of Lncoln?" 1t was Lin
coin who said: Those arguments that
are made. that the inferior race are to
be treated with as much allowance as
they are capable of enjoying; that as
much is to be done for them as their con-
dition will allow-what are those argu-
ments? They are the arguments that
kings have made for the enslaving of the
people in all ages of the world. You will
find that all the arguments of kingcraft
were always of this class; they always
bestrode the necks of the people-not that
they wanted to do it, but because the peo-
pie were better off for being ridden
IT is A WAR OF CONQUEST.
Having clearly stated what imperi-
alism is. Mr.. Sehurz proceeds to in
quire what the imperialistic policy