The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1900-10-25
DEPEW ON THE ISSUE.
The New York Senator Had the
Right Ideas Two Years Ago.

In the Chicago Times-Herald on May
%, 1898, Senator Chauncey NJ. Depew
had the following interview, obtained
and signed by George Grantham Balm
and copyrighted:
When | asked Mr.. Depew what he
thought should be done with the Phil
ippine Islands he drew in his breath
and said: That's pretty big ques-
ton" Then he pushed back his chair
from his desk and swung around un-
til he half faced me.
IF we should keep the Philippine
Islands," said Mr.. Depew, 1--WE would
reverse the traditions of this govern
ment from its foundation We would
open up a new line of policy.
Let us see what that would mean.
In the first place it would mean the
establishment of a military govern
ment over possibly ten millions of peo-
pie 5000 miles away from us; II would
mean the increase of our navy to the
proportion of the navies of Europe
Not to the proportion of England's
navy" | suggested.
"To the navy of France and Ger
many" said Mr.. Depew. at would
mean the increase of our army to 150,-
000-more likely to 100000 men. 1t
would mean the increase of our an
nual expenditures to double what they
are now. 1t would mean that the Uni
ted States government would be
brought in closer contact with the peo-
pie than ever before in this history of
this country.
I'VE have known that there is fed
eral government only as representing
our flag, our nationality and glorious
traditions, but we have not felt the
burden of its support or been con-
fronted with the possibility of the pay
ment Of an enormous annual military
tax, except during the civil war. In
Europe, where great armies and navies
are maintained, the people are taxed
directly for their maintenance. Our
revenues have been obtained hereto
fore by indirect taxation, with the eX-
ception of a slight tax on whisky.
But with the increase of our ex-
penditures by 100 per cent the taxes to
support the government would be felt
in our homes and in our offices. We
would feel them in both the necessaries
and luXuries of life--in our houses, in
our tools, in our food, in our clothing,
in our carriages and in our wagons, in
our checks and notes and bonds and
transfers of property-in every trans
action of our everyday business life.
For if we are to maintain great armies
and navies like the powers of Europe
we must raise the revenue for them by
the means mentioned, and also by a
stamp tax that will face us at every
turn.
"These conditions are contrary to
our present form of government. To-
day we know that the customs collec-
tor exists. He sits in his Office at the
custom house and few of us ever think
of him--fewer still have ever seen him
or felt the taxes collected through him.
Under the new regime tax collectors
would necessarily be excise men, with
Offices everywhere. They would be
known not only in New York and the
other great centers Of commerce, but
In every town, village and hamlet in
the United States. Our people respond
with patriotic alacrity to every bur-
den, sacrifice or tax for the successful
carrying on Of war. Whether they
would with equal cheerfulness do the
same for the new policy of the colonial
empire furnishes food for considera-
ton.
What also does worldwide policy
mean to us? 1t means Capitalization
which would change materially the re-
lations Of the United States to the fed
eral government. The control of these
populous colonies would be centered
at Washington, and we should have a
Capitalization of power far beyond
what the old federalists ever dreamed
of. You cannot have empire without
all its attributes, and that means a
practical revolution of our form Of
government and an abandonment of
the beliefs which the fathers held
when they established this govern
ment in 1776."
l asked Mr.. Depew if it was not pos
sible to derive from these proposed COL
onies revenue greater than the addi-
tional expenditure which their possess
sion would involve.
How" said Mr.. Depew, "by taxa
tion? Every time you attempt to COL
lect tax from these people they
would rise and you would have to call
on your military force to suppress
them. And suppress them for what?
For doing what John Hancock did?
| They might quote against us our i'm