The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-09

of Americans of every creed and party
Is or the very warp and woof OF our polll-
cal being. 1t was promulgated at the
critical moment when the Holy Alliance
attempting to stihe the republican
spirit, and re-establish the despotism of
Spain upon her revolted colonies in South
America and in Mexico. The essence Of the
doctrine as then understood by the world
was. while we forbid the establishment OF
despotic governments upon the American
continents, we recognize the corresponding
obligation 10 refrain from any attempt to
force 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 a century. Its promulga-
ton defeated the purpose of the Holy
Alliance" and destroyed forever the power
of Spain upon this continent Under it,
Louis Napoleon, a third of century ago,
was compelled TO withdraw the French
army from Mexico and leave the ill-starred
Macmillan TO his fate. Under 1t the empire
established by foreign bayonets disap-
peared, and the republic was restored Are
now to say, we still recognize the bind
ing of this doctrine upon other nations but
not upon our own?
GOVERNING POWER.
If ultimate statehood for these remote
islands-and others yet to be conquered
be displayed, how then are they to be held
and governed? The only alternative is
by force-by the power of the army and
of the pavy-and this is not for day or
for a year, but for time. What then be-
comes of the bedrock principle that gov
ernments derive their just powers from
the consent of the governed?' If they are
to be held permanently as conquered prov
inces. it will be not only outside of the
Constitution, but in direct antagoniSm TO
the letter and spirit of our Declaration or
independence. 1t is no less true now than
in the days of our revolution that govern
arbitrary
ism The attempt then either to give
these people American citizenship or TO
hold them as subjects is to US traught
alike with peril Should there be an i'm
mediate declaration by our government or
its purpose towards them? They should be
given unmistakable assurance OF independ-
ence. Protection by our government should
not now be withheld against outside inter-
ference The same protection should be
theirs heretofore extended to the little
States of Central and South America. In
der existing conditions there should DE
no hesitation upon our part in giving them
protection against the cupidity or agrees
sive spirit of other nations. All this, not
to the end of subjugation or of conquest
upon our part, but to that of the full en-
joyment by them of liberty, and of the ulti-
mate establishment of a stable govern
ment fashioned by their own hands.
Against this policy stands Imperialism
In American politics the word is new-for-
tunately, the policy is new. We are to-day
becoming familiar with its meaning, with
its fOrebodingS-and the end is not yet. 1t
means a permanent departure from all the
traditions of the past, from the high ideals
of the founders of the Republic 1t abro-
gates the holding of our great court that
the Declaration of Independence is the
spirit of the government-the Constitution
but it's form and letter. Imperialism knows
nothing of limitations of power. Its rule
is outside the Constitution. 1t means the
establishment by the American Republic
of the colonial methods of European mon
ha alien
peoples as subjects 1t enthrones force as
the controlling agency in government. 1t
means the empire.
AS a necessary corrollary to imperialism
will come the immense standing army. The
dead hand of militarism will be felt in the
new world as ii is in the old. The strong
arm of power will be substituted for the
peaceable agencies which for more than a
century have made our people cOntented
and happy. 1t was Jefferson who said: "A
well-disciplined militia-our best reliance in
peace and for the first moments of war"
True at the beginning OF the century with
few millions of population, no less true at
the close as we stand in the forefront of
the nations with population of eighty
millions. The result of our recent conflict
with Spain gives emphasis to the prophetic
words OF Jefferson. Existing conditions In
continental Europe-entailing taxation and
misery to the verge of human endurance
illustrate by sad object lesson the newt
able result of large standing armies in
time of peace. Shall we still give heed to
the warning of the great sage of the revo-
luton. or enter upon new century with
european m0narchieS as our model? With
out large standing army, but relying upon
the patriotism and courage of American
manhood. We were victorious in the second
war with Great Britain, with Mexico, in
the great civil strife and with Spain. In
the light of history can ii be possible that
the American people will consent TO the
permanent establishment Of a large stand
ing army and its consequent continuing
and ever increasing burden of taxation?
We are told that our Republic is now to
become "a world power" In the highest
sense-with the Declaration of Independ-
ence as its cornerstone-it has been in
all its past world power. 1t has been the
lofty ideal to all liberty-loving people, the
model for all builders of republics for more
than a century. In the sense used by i'm
perialists the expression is one of terrible
significance. 1t necessitates the methods
and equipments of monarchies. 1t means
the Great ton and maintenance by our Re-
public of standing armies equal to those
of the world powers of Europe. AT no less
cost can we hold place as world power.
Study existing conditions In European ma
| tons, and know what all this means to
us. 1t means taxation to the verge of de-
| spair. 1t means, as has been truly said.
| that every laborer must carry an armed
| soldier upon his back as he goes to his
| daily toll" All history teaches that the
| cornerstone of Imperialism is the force of
| the standing army.
| We stand one hundred years from the
hour when the political forces were gath
ering which were to result in the election
of the first Democratic President. The an
| niversary of the masterful day in our his
| tory was wisely chosen for the assembling
| in convention of the representatives of the
| historic party whose founder was Jackson
| and whose platform is the Declaration of
| independence. In the great struggle now
| upon us we invoke the cooperation of all
| who revere the memory of our fathers and
| parchment, but the enduring chart of our
| liberties. Upon the supreme issue now in
| the forefront, and to the end that Repub-
| lican government be perpetuated we appeal
to the sober judgment and patriotism of the
| American people.