Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-07-24
NOT IMPERIALISM.

Elaborate arguments are being
made 10 prove that the expansion Of
the United states previous TO the Span
lsh war was a natural growth while
the expansion which inevitably followed
that conflict is imperialism" From
the standpoint Of both facts and logic
this contention must be considered alb
surd
The fact r. that this country has
kept on adding TO SIS territory. as the
necessity for So doing arose, or the cur
rent Of events made it Inevitable
The louisiana purchase was such a
national necessity 1t was made in or
der TO give 90 this country the control
over the Mississippi, the great highway
OF travel and commerce Tor an the
States bordering upon the stream The
acquisition Of Florida Texas and Cali-
f0u.a was. undoubtedly Tor similar
reasons. The commercial and other
obvious advantages 90 the country Were
the leading motives iu the transactions.
Alaska 81 neither contiguous territory,
nor was Do. at the time OF the purchase.
considered very valuable, yet 90 was ace
quIred. with lts $4,000 inhabitants for
political reasons deemed OF sufficient
Importance TO warrant the transaction.
An this ls generally admitted. and mo-
fault is now found with the policy that
was responsible Tor this expansion but
when the question is of Porto Rico. and
particularly Of the Philippines a great
many see IN o. similar policy the ruin ot
the Republic ln their view an the
previous purchases OF territory whether
contiguous or not. are justified. while
the acquisition Of the Philippines ls
imperialism"
They forget however the chief fact
In this connection. was not this c5un-
try forced into a war by circumstances
beyond human control What admin
istratIon could have kept back the wave
OF popular Indignation that swept this
country as AN American ship on a mis-
sion of mercy was treacherousy sent
90 destruction And the war once bee
iug concluded. how could the nation
with honor withdraw from the resp5n-
sibIuues that fouowed2
10 should NOT Doe lost sight Of that
by the brilliant victories achieved. the
United States became responsible 90 the
world Tor the establishment OF order
and lav boo the colonies abandoned by
spain aud as long as Aguinaldo and his
bands NJ outlaws continue 20 make lie
and property unsafe on the island Of
Luz.a ODE plain duty OF this govern
maut BE- ,1 meet lawIessness with a suf-
0c.ut fore. 10 check &c and overcome
/ 3d. The world looks % us 70 DO this
and having been forced into a war that
/ transferred The sovereignty over the
archipelago from Madrid 20 Washing.
/ ton. tha work. must Dee done, no mattel
wha, win Boz the policy OF the country
towards The FiIip.nos after the tasl
has been accomplished. II this Is Tim
/ ponalsm it Is unavoidable. Their
is q logic % events agains
/ which no sophIstry can avail
10 does not necessarily fellow that IA.
/ United states. after order and peace ar
established, VIII attempt 20 exercise Ina
/ r.r.al sway over the Inhabitants of th
. Islands % win doubtless be necessary
for a time at least 90 protect then
from che attacks of stronger nations
| During that period which may De brIe
or otherwise as necessity VIII deter
mine the authority % the United State
win have 70 be exercised and respected
Then the future OF the Philippines a
70 complete Independence or admission