The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-03-23
What Constitutes Imperialism?

| territory acquired through the war with
! Spain but who still pirate of an imperi
| alistic programme Of the Republican
| party which they are in duty bound to
| oppose. These pretended friends of ex-
! pansion and foes OF Imperialism have
! shudders Of horror at the suggestion OF
| the adoption Of a colonial system Of
! government for our new possessions,
and insist that the only proper way of
| dealing with them is to extend at once
| the constitution and laws Of the United
States over the islands, and proceed to
govern them as territories.
Words count for nothing. 1t is the
| policy to be adopted toward the Phil
| ippines and other colonial possessions
which win determine whether the i'm
perlallstic idea is TO be the ruling mo-
tive in dealing with them. While these
Democrats do not pretend to define
what particular idea imperialism" pre-
sents TO their minds, 1t may be pre-
sumed that the Roman form of imperi-
alism is in contemplation. This imperi-
alism would make the outlying posses
sions tributary to the home state, to he
governed solely by laws promulgated
by the central government. to be placed
under perpetual tribute to 1t and ex-
plotted for its own purposes and not in
the interest of the provinces and 20
have all laws framed upon the idea of
out any regard to the needs or wishes
Of the province itself
on this conception OF Imperialism IL Is
these Democrats themselves and not the
Republican party who are inconsistent
ly but persstently advocating the i'm
perialistic idea. An extension of the
constitution and laws of the United
States over the Philippine islands for
example applies at once to those ISL
ands all Of the federal statutes for the
collection of revenue and compels them
to assume at once their share Of the
burdens of a federal government in
which they have and will have no voice
This is taxation without representation
precisely the condition proposed in
very small way for the original thirteen
colonies. and one of the chief promoting
causes OF the revolutionary war
Further than this. the extension of the
customs laws over the islands would
practically exclude the Philippines from
trade with any other country than the
United States: and aside from the effect
which 1t would have upon the interna-
tional situation, would be distinct in
justice to the people Of the islands.
Furthermore. II would exclude all but
American ships from engaging in the
trade between the Philippines and any
ports Of the United States. This would
he good thing for the American ship
owner, but II would certainly be ex-
plotting the colony for the benefit Of
the home government, the genuine i'm
perialistic idea
AS a contrast with this, the Repub-
lican programme as tentatively out
lined. proposes for the Philippines sub
stantially lf-government. under intel
ligent American supervision: with COM
plete control by the colony OF its own
revenues, It's own tariff laws, and its
own trade relations, with no share ~
the burdens OF the federal government,
and no voice in it's affairs-precisely the
condition presented by the Austria
Han colonies: the ultimate IDEAL, SO soon
as the people OF the Philippines are suf-
hciently advanced 20 be competent TO
be trusted with such complete self
government
Between these two systems, 80 CON
trasted. it Is easy 70 see that the Dem
ocrauc programme so far as it CON
templates a retention Of the Islands az
all, is decidedly irnperisllsile; while the
Republican programme Is utterly OPP
posed 10 the lmpsrialis,lc idea. and IA
democratic In form and substance
There is an attempt in Kentucky to
put On foot a nonpartlsan movement
locking toward action 20 retrieve the
reputation Of the state. For the sake
Of Kentucky u is to be hoped that II
win not SO into rapid degeneration. as
movement Ia Seattle under a similar
name ala recently
OF Course They Win Agree.
IL Is scarcely news that Great Britain