The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-08-22
EMPIRE OR REPUBLIC.

EMPIRE OR REPUBLIC.
Essay Read Before the Palmetto
ss4,a Literary Society.
u @sEi [BY THOMAS LYoN.] IL.
Mr.. President, most honorable judges, and
ladies and Eentlem en-: l believe this ls one o
the greatest question that has ever confronted
the American people, and do not believe as
the president (HemphilD has said. that IL
confronted fhe American people when the
,Lputsiap< Ietritory was purchased. ! DO
5npfshSb 5at u confronted the American
:peOpAe3W Texas was annexed. do not be.
3ieve 43Ht4< confron ted the American people
swI3en IDA was purchasedssl do not be.
AtQ44 has ever confronted the Ameri-
cen until the present day. II Is new
10 Xhetnef the United States of America will
hes&p enspiTSHbrremain Tree republic, and
lnthe course fmy remarks will prove What
Let hs first consider the trade and CONNER ce
of The territories. will lake nrsL The Phillp.
pines as they are said 10 be the golden gate
10 the orieatal trade. The latest statistics
show that the entire trade Of the Philippines,
including imports and exports, amounts 10
not more than OO annually. For The
year 1886 the imports from the Philippines
into Great Britain, France, Germany and Inc
United States and the other leading countries
anon aaee6fsl9 ,7O2 $40. The exports to the
PhisfI e& for the same year amounted 10
81. So, II We should control the whole
trade OF these islands, unless 1t should won,
derfpflys increase, it would not pay one-third
ths expense Of maintaining our army and
.naYyln that quarter OF the globe.
sIt3B said that the Philippines will form q
basis tor our trade in the east and especially
China insist, Mr.. President, that this can
Eba obtained Without the American people as
EbuInipg the great burden of this foreign ter.
Iritory and Insist further that this trade has
been overseStdmated. The total import and
ex port trade or China for one year does not
exceed S250,00a00O. Now, II the United States
received every dollar OF this as profit, how
does The account stand ? For the year 1901
are Sl28 900. 900, and for our navy $75.WOOUO, a
total OF 500, 10000, taking no account OF the
the pensions incident to the Spanish aud Phil
ippine wars. Add 10 this the past cost OF the
war, S250;000 900. and allow tor the commerce
of the Philippines and Porto Rico, OOOOO
which counts every cent OF this as profit. anu
we find that we come out behind Si10,OOO OO0.
But the army and navy must ST. Dc incleaSea' aa,Ira
ments. with the increase of pensions, civil
government, ETC.. will add To the cost OF run
ming the government $500, 1000 or twice as
what IL cost us in 1897 before the Spanish.
American war, or twice as much as all the
commerce OF China, the Philippines, Porto
Rico and Hawaii, If we received every dollar
of their commerce TO The exclusion OF every
other com ercial power In the world.
The statistics again show that there has
been an annual Increase OF our expenses
under the policy of Imperialism pursued by
President Mckinney OF s3ei l39'o9o o or as
a distinguished gentleman has said, ian In
crease In three years over what the approprl-
ton would have been but for the change,
from republic To an empire, OF over SsUO,0OO,-
600" Think of IL An increase OF over SSO,-
600 OOU per anuuin. The imperiaistS cry, we
don't care Tor money. Neither do the anti
imperialists, but when our government eX-
pends money we Ike TO see some Sood derived
Nd but
from this unholy war? Is an increase of ex-
penses OF S}Ol ,i3J $50 annually It benefit? Is
II To our best Interests to have true Amerl-
can soldiers, whose blood Is as gold, to be
placed in foreign lands where disease Is more
destructive than war? l think not, Mr.. IreSi-
dent, ] think not.
It has also been urged by some inconsider-
ate people that We could have profitable cot
ION trade in the Philippines, and tha, ii
would be wise TO send our coal to New Castle.
Living in Il warm climate these people have
very little need for clothing or coal, but they
can produce cotton though, ana with The
Chinese, Japanese and Malay labor They can
manuiacture this cotton, paying or lOctS., a
day tor their operatives. How then could
this benefit New England, oouth carolina,
Georgia, or In any other State in which the
manufacturing OF cotton goods Is paying in
dustry.
MIR. President, il Las been said that America
has always been expanding, that Jefferson
was an exransionist | believe this is true,
but Mr. President, there Is a difference be-
tween expansion and imperialism, as another
has said, mo one but blind man should huve
any difficulty in distinguishing between the
ex pansion of Jefferson and the Imperialism
of Nick kinley: one was the natural evolution.
AIRY growth of the republic, the other is for.
elgu fungus that, II not removed, VIII sap the
lie Of the republic,f All the territory pur-
chased up 10 this time was contiguous terri
tory, and acquired by the consent OF the peo-
pie for the purpose OF making states OF the
Union. Therefore the territory heretofore
N hnr
expansion with view That the territory
would be admitted eventually 10 statehood
and citizenship. But when we 20 of the
American continent for territory-yea ten
inousaud miles awsy--it is not American eX-
pausiOn, but Imperialism.
| President Mckinley said that expansion by
force is criminal aggression Yet what are
the leaders OF this policy doing but forcing
Filippin os, the Porto Ricans the Cubans and
all 10 submit to- this govern ment?
Mr.. President, this policy that the American
people are now entering upon Is imperialism
aud nothing less. Now let us see what has
happened to other free republics that sought
imperial destiny.
The republics of Greece were strong until
they entered upon II policy Of Imperialism
and invaded the Persian Empire. In the
glorious victories Of Alexander came I'M perl lal
destiny, but with it. the extinction OF Greek
liberty and the decline OF the power OF the
Republics.
The same story Is found upon the pages OF
Roman history. Rome, having grown strong,
listened TO that voice which spoke of wealth
of extension of power and expansion of terri
tory Tome rose To the height of power.
Rome WAS the mistress of both land and sea,
hut In the hour of her greatest glory came
also the first note To the Roman citizen of the
| loss of his greatest privilege, I" for no nation
ever vet robbed Il weaker people OF their
rights OF self government than in the end
,hn Iule of Providence did not cause the
blow 10 rebound and strike the perpetrators
| Of the outrage ,
These, IL may be said, are ancient examples
but 20 on down TO modern times take the
kingdom of spain. Spain, who was onoe the
most powerful nation III Europe; spain who
dictated the very policy OF the continen'
when in league with Imperial Germany
Snain who sought in all quarters OF the globe
| East and Vest, To enlarge herarea oi dominion
| 10 get wealth and power, yet Where does SPAN
stand today" She is II wreck before the ciVi
| lied world, No nation will bow to her honor
| L,rulaud has often been pointed 10 ~ tht
| one great power who has established lhe uoc
! trine that colonies on annexation, aS VIZ Sai
| n oan he used To an advantage, but when We
curefllly consider il, we lind that the colonlh
| noIicv Of England has been and Will be {
nositive lis:d vantage to her. she once owned
tho a American colonies, but on account oi he
tyranical rule, they pulled from the oppresSiV'
woke and inflicted upon her wound Una
stiupS her today. Since then Tie spirit OF Col
| imitation has proceeded to grow, ana Enslaht
has urabbe;. all the land she could get. Sht
gtormcd India and biuuGht the poor lnhaoi
tants under her yoke and Sir, what mas neei
| The resultq When she sends her numerou
amy. arraycd in all its pump and glory, Int
i South a fricn To deprive Tree and liberty lOV
| ro,,,I. ar tI,.ir riultS she HWQkeuS IRON