The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-08-09

century, It's PRONUNCIATION defeated
the DurpOse of the Holy Alliance,
and destroyed forever the power OF
Spain upon this continent. Under IT,
Louis Napoleon. third of century
AGO. was compelled TO withdraw the
French army from Mexico and leave
the ill-starred MaXimilian to his fate.
Under it the empire established by
foreign bayonets disappeared, and the
republic was restored. Are we now
to say, we still recognize the binding
force of this doctrine upon other ma
tions, but not upon our own?
GOVERNMENT OF THE ISLANDS:
If ultimate statehood for these re-
mote 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 power
of the army and of the navy-and
this is not for a day, or for a year,
but for time. What then becomes OF
the bedrock principle that: Govern
ments derive their just powers from
the consent of the governed II they
are to be held permanently as con-
ouered PROVINCES it will be not only
outside of the constitution, but in dl-
spirit of our Declaration of Indepen-
dence 1t is no less true now than III
the days of our revolution, that Gov
eminent by arbitrary power is still
despotism." The attempt then, either
to give these people American citizen
, shin. or to hold them as subjects, IS
to us fraught alike with peril. Should
there be an immediate declaration by
our government of its purpose towards
them?They should be given unmlstak-
able assurance of independence. Pro
lection by our government should not
now be withheld against outside in
! reference. The same protection
| should be theirs, heretofore extended
| to the little states of Central and
| South America. Under existing condi-
| tions, there should be no hesitation
upon our part in giving them protec-
tion against the cupidity or aggressive
| spirit of other nations. All this, not
to the end of subjugation or OF con
! quest upon our part, but to that OF
the full enjoyment by them OF liberty
and of the ultimate establishment OF
stable government fashioned by
! their own hands.
WHAT IMPERIALISM MEANS.
Against this policy stands imPer~al-
ism. In American polite the word
is ew-fortunately 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 ira
ditions of the past, from the high
ideals of the founders of the Repu2-
lie. 1t abrogates the holding of our
great court that the Declaration OF
independence is the spirit of the gov
ernment-the constitution but its
form and letter. Imperialism knows
nothing of limitations of power. Its
rule is outside the constitution. II
means the establishment by the
American Republic of the colonial
methods of European monarchies. II
means the right to hold alien people
as subjects. 1t enthrones force as
the controlling agency in government
1t means the empire.
As a necessary cOrrollary to impe
rialism will come the immense stand
ing army The dead hand of militar
ism will be felt in the new world, as
it 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 .Jeffer
son who said, "A well disciplined
militia-our best reliance in peace anC