The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-11-02

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he was designated as Mr.. Paramount
Commissioner Blount.' He was charged
with the paramount duty OF hauling
down the. American flag where 1t had
been raised on those Islands. and after
that work was performed he was
charged with another paramount duty.
which was very extraordinary and curl
,ous, In connection with what we are
told Is now the paramount issue. He
was instructed to set up n throne which
had been overturned and to re-establish
on that throne the queen who had been
hurled from 1t by the Hawaiian people;
so that while we are now told that the
paramount issue is to oppose an imasi-
nary Imperialism 1t would seem that the
paramount duty then was to establish a
real Imperialism. (Applause.) What
Is this cry OF imperialism? 1t is a
'scare-crow that doesn't scare anybody.
1t is will-'o-the-w that nobody pur-
sues; 1t Is the imaginary serpent OF a
mental dellrium. and nobody is afraid
OF the snake. Think OF the absurdity OF
establishing an empire In the place OF
our republic! How can you have an
empire without an emperor or without
a state OF rule under the flag which can
Justly be described as imperiallstIc?
Where is your emperor? Docs anybody
associate our gracious. benignant, pa
triotlc. true-hearted. high-m1nded Pres
ident. he who went forth as lad
scarcely seventeen years Of age to de-
frEd the flag OF his country and has
been its sturdiest and most stalwart de-
fender through all these succeeding
years, does anybody associate him with
the idea OF being an emperor? Or Is
there anywere under our flag q state OF
rule which can justly be described as
imperial? Is 1t in Porto Rico? Why
there we are doing just what Thomas
Jefferson. the great Democratic leader,
did In Louisiana In 1903, except that we
are more regardful Of the rights, the in
terests and the welfare Of the people OF
Porto Rico than Jefferson and his asso-
clates were OF those Of the people OF
Louisiana. Is 1t in the Philippines?
| ThGre. pending Instruction and the
preparation OF the people for self-gov-
eminent. we are doing what James
Monroe did In Florida, with Andrew
Jackson, the great Democratic apostle
as his commanding general, after the
acquisition of that territory. except
that Resident Mckinley is more con-
slderate Of the liberty and the advance
ment OF the people OF the Philippine Is
lands than Monroe and Jackson were OF
those OF the people OF Florida. Was
there any imperialism under jefferson
or Monroe or jackson. No. And II not
then, where Is 1t row?
What Is Imperialism.
What is imperialism? You all read
Mr.. Bryan's speech Of acceptance. at In
dianapolis-that is. you did II you had
time to take 4 day or two Off from your
busy affairs. Uaughter.) 1t was
spercl: OF 10000 words, all about imper-
ialisrn, ard yet 1t did not once under
take to tell what Imperialism Is. Why?
| Because to define 1t would be TO prick
the bubble and let out all the wind. Is
not imperialism the assertion Of per-
sonal rule without authority Of law? Is
1t not the exercise of Individual will and
power on the part of an arbitrary ruler,
! without the sanction and authority OF
the peoples representatives.? Was not
that the Imperialism established. by
Louis Napoleon In France after his rev.
dictionary act OF 1852? Is not that the
Imperialism which prevails in Russia
to-day under the autocrat of all the
| Russias? How can you have imperial
ism under republican government? Re-
publican government Is government Of
law which comes directly from the rep
resentatives OF the people elected every
two years, and where law rules Imper-
ialism cannot exist. It could not grow
In the soil OF freedom; 1t could not live
| In the air of liberty; 1t could not endure
the blaze OF enlightened public opinion.
Where patriotism throbs as 1t burns In
the hearts Of the American people there
can be no fear of imperialism. Least OF
all could 1t find refuge In the mind or In
the heart OF that great and noble party
which sprang into being from the upris-
ing OF the public conscience against the
degradation OF man md whose whole
career through half century has been
a magnificent history of libarty and
progress and enlightenment. The cmpti-
ness OF the cry OF Imperialism recalls
the Inquiry OF Lord Dundraary in the
play. Lord Dundrcary was paying
court to his lady-love and was troubled
to find subjects OF conversation. and for
| lack of 4 better subject he asked. Docs
your brother like cheese? The lady an
swcrcd. 81 have no brother" "Well,"
stnmmered Lord Dundreary. 'If you
had brother would he like chcose?'
'aughter.) The cry OF Imperialism is
as senseless and irrational as Lord Dun
dreary's question.
The Philippines.
ut Is associated with the events and
the policy followed In the Philippines
and l want to ask your attention for n
few moments to the opposite plans with
reference to those new possessions. I
shall not reclte the glorious history OF
the Spanish war. shall not recount
the brilliant victories on sea and OH
land. which In 4 hundred days carried
our country farther forward In prestige
and influence throughout the country
| fhan n hundrnd i,na ru ~ linz, h L..