Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-08-09

Influence IN The world Not only has il
been 2 world power, but II has done more
10 affect the politfcs Of the human race
than all the other nationa Of the world
combined, BecauHe our declaration Of in
Dependence was promutea ted. others nave
been promulgated. Because the patriots
OF lI16 fought for liberty others have
fought for f.: because our constitution
was adopted, other constitutions have
been adopted. The growth Of the princi-
pie Of sclf-government. planted on Amer
lean soil. has been the overshadoving
political fact Of the nineteenth century.
VI has made this nation conspicuous
among The nations and given II a place
in history such az. no other nation has
ever enjoyed Nothing he's been able TO
check the onward march Of this idea.
am moi willing that4this nation snail cast
Gside the omnipoteni weapon OF truth TO
seize again the wcaDUn of physical war
fnre. ! you'd not exchange the glory Of
this rep:bllc Tor the glory Of all the en-
pires that have risen and fallen since time
began
Tho permanent chairman Of the last re-
publican national convention presented
the pecur.ary argument IN all It's bold
ness. whe.l hc said.
we make no hypocri deal pretehses Of
being interested in the Philippines solely
on account of others. While We regard
trust. we regard the welfare OF the Amer
lean people first We sec our duty TO our
selves as well as 10 others. We believe
In trade expansion. ny every legitimate te
and constitution We mean to stimulate
the expansion OF our trade and open
new markets.
This is the commercial argument It
is based upon the theory that war can
be rightly waged for pecuniary 'adyan-
tage. and that II Is profitable tc purcha se
trade by force and violence. Franklin de-
MED both Of these propositions. When
Lord Howe asserted that the acts of par
Lament. which brought on the revolution.
were necessary to prevent American trade
from passing into foreign channels,
Franklin replied:
TO mc n seems that neither the OBJ
tanning nor retaining OF any trade. how
valuable soever. IS an object for which
men may Justly spill each others blood
that the true and sure means Of extend
ing and securing commerce are the good
ness and cheapness OF commodities. and
that the profits OF no trade can ever be
equal to the expense Of compelling IL and
holding II by fleets an armies. ] con-
slider This war against us, therefore. as
both unjust and unwise.
I place the philosophy Of Franklin
against the sordid doctrine Of those who
would put price upon the life of an
American soldier and Justify wor OF
conquest upon the ground that II Will pay
The democratic party is In favor OF the
expansion of trades. 1t would extend ou1
trade BY every legitimate and peaceful
means but It is not willing to make mer-
chandise Of human blood.
But n war of conquest Is as unwise a.
il is unri:hteous. a harbor and coaling
station in the Philippines would answer
every trade and military necessity ant
such concession could have been secured
al any time without difficulty.
II is not necessary to own people in or
der TO trade with them. We carry oi
trade to-day with every part Of the world
rapidly than the commerce Of any Euro
pean empire. We do not own Japan o.
China. but we trade with their people. WI
nave not absorbed the republics Of Cen
tral and South America, but we trad,
with them. II has not been necessary Il
have any political connections with Can
ada or the nations Of Europe in order t.
trade with them. Trade cannot be per
manently profitable unless 1t is volun
tary When trade is secured by force. thu
cost of securing 1t and retaining it mus
be taken out of the profits. and the profit!
are never large enough TO. cover the ex
pense Such 2 system would never be de
Tended hut for the fact that the expens,
is borne by all the people. while the prof
its are enjoyed by the few.
Evils of Imperialism.
Imperialism would be profitable TO tn,
army contractors: 1t would be profita bl'
TO the shipowners, who would carry liv,
soldiers soldiers 3 sack; it Wouid be profitable tt
those who would seize upon the franchises
and il would be profitable TO the official.
whose salaries would be fixed here anc
paid over there; but to the farmer, to th'
iaboring man and to the vast majority o.
would bring expenditure without return
and risk without reward.
Farmers and labo-ing men have. as
rule, small incomes. and, under systems
which place the tax upon all consumption
nav more than their fair share of the ex
penses of government. Thus the very peo
pie who receive least benefit. from i'm
perialism will be injured most by the mil
itnry burdens which accompany II.
In addition to the evils which he and tn
farmer share in common. the laboring maj
will be the first to suffer i oriental subject
TO suffer II American capital leaves on
shores to employ oriental labor in tn
Philippines Ito supply the trade OF Chin
violence which the military spirit arouses
and the first to suffer when the method
of imperialism are applied TO our Owl
government
II is not strange, therefore, that the DO
organizations have been quick TO note tn
approach of these dangers and prompt L
protest against both militarism and i'm
perialism.
The pecuniary argument though NOR
effective with certain classes, Is not likel
to he used so often or presented with s.
much emphasis as the religious argument
If what has been termed the "gunpowde
gospel We're urged against the Filipino
only, II would be sufficient answer to SO
that majority OF the Filipinos are nov
members OF one branch OF the Christiai
church, but the principle involved is on
or much wider application and challenge
serious consideration,
The religious argument varies IN positive
ness from passive belief that ProVidenc
denvered the F'ilipinos into our hands, 10
their good and our glory. TO the eXultatio
of the minister who said that we ought I
thrash the natives tF'ilipinos) until the
understand who we are and that ever
bullet sent every cannon shot and ever
flag waved means righteousness.
No Calling Gossip.
We cannot approve of this doctrine i
| one place unless we are willing to appl
it everywhere II there is poison in III
blood CT the hand ii Will ultimately reac
| the heart II is equally true that forcibl
| Christianity. if planted under the America
| flag in the fa.-away orient, will sooner o
| later be transplanted upon American sol
| Ii true Christianity consists In carryin
out in orr daily lives the TEACHINGS 9
| Christ, who vii! say that we are command
| ed 10 clvilize with dynamite and proselyt
7, with the sword? He who would declar
the Divine win mast prove his authorit
either by Holy Writ or by evidence OF
| special dispensation. The command, &c
| yc into all the world and preach the Gospt
| to every creature, has no Gatling gun al
| tachment. When Jesus visited village Q
Samaria and the people refused to receiy
Him, some of the disciples suggested tina
| fire should be called down from Heave
| TO avenge the insult; but the Master rt
| manner of spirit ye are of: for the Son c
! Man is not come to destroy men $ live'
| but 10 save them. suppose He nau salu
I'VE will thrash them until they under
stand who we are" how different woul
have been the history OF Christianity
! Compare II you will, the staggering bu
| lying, brutal doctrine of Imperialism wit
J the Golden Rule and the commandment
Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thy
! self"
/ Love, not force was the weapon OF til
| Nazarene; sacrifice for others. not the eH
! pioitation OF them, was His method
| reaching the human heart. A mtssionar
| recently told me that the stars and stripe
| once saved his life because his assailar
| blood upon It, Let II be known that OF
| missionaries are seeking souls instead {
| sovereignty; let 1t be known that instea
OF being the advance guard of conquerin