The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-09

3
parture by the President from the plain
pathway OF duty he had here so clearly In
dicated. The law imposing tariff duties
upon the people of Porto Rico Is in pail
pable violation of the Constitution, and a
fragrant breach Of the pledged faith of the
nation.
DepIores Spirit of Empire.
"The Democratic platform condemns the
policy pursued by the present Administra-
ton toward the Philippine Islands. This
poliey-inspired by the greedy spirit OF
eommerciaiism-has embroiled our Govern
ment In an unnecessary war. sacrificed
valuable lives, and placed the American
Republic in deadly antagonism 10 our for
mer allies in their efforts to secure their
liberties. For the first time in cur history
we are boldly confronted with the Gues-
ton Of imperialism-the spirit OF empire
This Is. indeed. the supreme question,
to which all others are of secondary Inn
portance. Before we break irreyocabiy
with the past and abandon the doctrines
of the fathers. il is well that we deliberate
upon the consequences Of a permanent de-
parture from the settled governmental
policy OF more than century. The sue
cess of the imperiaiistic policy foreshad-
ows the empire. Shall the closing hours
OF the century witness the american peo-
pie abandoning the sure pathway in which
past generations have found prosperity
and happiness and embarking upon that of
aggression and conquest, against which We
are warned by the wrecks that lie along the
entire pathway of history Standing out
against the new policy OF conquest with all
that 1t involves OF European complication,
are the warnings Of the founders Of the Re-
public. Out Of fashion as 1t may appear.
quote the last words OF Washington to the
oncomlng generations Of his countrymen:
The great rule OF conduct for US In regard
10 foreign nations is, in extending our COM
mercial relations. TO have with them as lit
the political connection as possible II was
the author of the Declaration of Independ-
ence who said: Our first and fundamental
maxim should be never to entangle our
selves in the broiis of Europe Is 1t not
well to ponder these warnings before per-
manently embarking upon an untried
pathway beset with foreign jeaiousies,
complications. and antagonism?
Jenersonian Expansion.
THE Democratic party has ever been the
advocate of wise territorial expansion. 1t
was in control of the Government during
forty years of the first half of the l~esent
century. During that period new States
were admitted into the Federal Union, and
our, Western border extended beyond the
Mississippi. Out of the Louisiana country
acquired under the first Democratic Admin
istration have been carved fourteen mag
nifieent States Under later Democratic
Administration, and as the result OF the
treaty which terminated our war with
Mexico, We acquired California and neigh
boring States and Territories thus bring
ing under our flag to remain forever the
vast expanse stretching to the Pacific
The policy Of aggressive expansion or
subjugation Of distant islands. pursued by
the present Administration finds no pre-
eedent in the peaceable cession of the Lou
isiana country by Napoleon, that Of Florida
by Spain, nor that yet later Of the vast
western area by Mexico. The territory
acquired under Democratic Administrations
was. with favorable climatic conditions.
the ut abode for men of our own race At
the time Of annexation it passed under the
rule of the Anglo-Saxon, who carried with
him our language and our laws 1t was
territory contiguous to our own and ac-
quired with the declared intention, when
conditions and population would justify of
carving it into States. The result: Mil
lions of American homes, our national
wealth increased beyond the dreams Of av-
arice, and the United States chief among
the nations OF the earth. Can it be that
the new policy of forcible annexation OF
distant Islands finds precedent in the his
toric events l have mentioned?
The answer is found in the bare state
ment of facts The territory acquired un-
der Democratic Administrations is eontig-
uous-the Philippines. 5000 miles distant.
The acquisition Of territory upon our own
continent added little to the national ex-
pense-to maintain permanent sovereignty
over the distant Islands necessitates i'm
mense expenditures upon our Army and
Navy More than that, it contemplates
methods Of administration that pertain not
to the republic but 10 the empire Can it
be doubted that the attempt to stife the
spirit OF liberty abroad will imperil popu-
lar government at home?
What is proposed by the party in power
for the government of these islands, If it
be intended to establish there our pol;ti-
cal institutions. what then becomes of the
Monroe Doctrine? This vital international
policy, announced by the President Of the
United States seventy-seyen years ago.
was: We owe it, therefore, to candor and
to the amicable relations existing between
the United States and those powers to de-
clare that we should consider any attempt
on their part to extend their system to any
portion Of this hemisphere as dangerous
to our peace and safety This was sup
plemented by disclaimer In substance
upon cur part OF any intention TO force
our institution upon the nations Of Europe
or their dependencios-
Monroe Doctrine Enduring.
THE Monroe Doctrine Is wholesome and
enduring. 1t is the faith of Americans Of
every creed and party-is of the very warp
and wool Of orr political being. 1t was
promulgated at the critical moment when
the holy alliance was attempting TO stifie
the republican spirit and re-establish the
despotism of Spain upon her revolteds
colonies in South America and Mexico. The
essence of the doctrine as then understood
by the world was. while we forbid the es-
Enlistment of despet!S governments upon
the American continent. we recognize the
corresponding obligation TO refrain from
any attempt to force our political system
upon any part of the Old World. This has
been our settled rule of faith and practice
for more than three-quarters of century.