The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-08-29

the dream OF her power, because she finds
that corruption has eaten to the very heart ol
The empire and her army, she thought still in
vincible, like that OF Cromwell, has been de-
feated time and again by Dom Paul Krueger's
little band OF patriotic Beers.
NOW, MIR. President. we do not want any
such calamity to befall this republic. Tf we
enter upon career Of acquisition we shall
find the end will be q disaster and the destruc
tion of Il Republican form of governyu ent. II
is impossible for us TO maintsin a republican
form or government over so large an area OF
territory. The war of secession, one Of the
bloodtest wars, that was ever fought, was
brought on because the interests of the South
was not the interests Of the North.
Sectionalism was involved. So, I say,
that which is for the interests OF
MS Will, ninety-nine times ont Of a hun.
dred. not be the interest Of the annexed terri
tories, and thus our interests will be antago-
nistic Just as they were before the war OF
secession and will resul u In trouble and wars
government. My opponents, no doubt, will
say that l am prophesy ng, but 1t is only with
the history of the past that you can foretell
the future, and as the poet says: ..
The boast OF heraldy, the pomp Of power,
And all that beauty, all that wealth e'er gave
Await alike the inevitable hour. ySss.3t r
The paths of glory lead but TO the grave
believe that further annexation ofterritoIy
will be calamity to the American people
b
Declaration OF Independence and the Monroe
Doctrine. Then when the glorious principles
for which our forefathers bled and died TO Oh.
tain are so carelessly dlsregarded. how can 1T
be to the best interest OF the American people2
We are told that whatsoever a ian SOW.
eth that shall he surely reap" Then, II we
deprive others Of tb cir rights, what can We
expect for ourselves? If we conquer other
people. take their territory and force them to
our government we may expect to be served
the same way some day, for the good book
says, with what measure you mete, 1t shall
be measured to you again."
If this great wrong, attempted by the Inn.
perlallsts, 1S consumated, our moral credit
with the world will be gone forever. Having
started into the Spanish.American war with
the solemn proclamation that II should be Q
war OF liberation and not OF conquest, and
then, having turned that war ito one OF land
grabbing and self-confessed criminal aggres-
gression," no people will believe In any PRO
fession of virtue or generosity" we may put
forth. II will be hooted down the world over
as hypocrisy and greedy schemes.
Mr.. President. the imperialists cry In loud
voice. who will haul down the flag? l reply
no one, but the ones who hauled 1t up.the
true and free people of this great republic.
and bring it back when 1t becomes the en-
blem OF conquest and oppression. .:s ~.
trust that 1t may never float over g. con.
auered and alien people. I trustit may, never
float over any people only in the spirit Of love
and reverence. ,ASt'T
By pursuing policy like this, by clinging
TO the principles Of the founders ofthe Repub..
lie, by maintaining the integrity and spirit Of
our institutions, by keeping free from all
foreign complications and influence, we Will
keep that flag as the mblem ola free republic
in all its purity, respecting the principles for
which our forefatheTs fought In l776 and
which we should an must transmit unstained
TO our posterity.