The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-08-11

WASHINGTON, ID. c., August s. 1900.
The chief, in fact the only defensive argument
which the Republicans have been able TO invoke in
behalf of their new born revolutionary policy of
Imperialism. is based on the precedents found in
the old time Democratic expansion policy. first in
augurated by President Jefferson. which has borne
good fruit, and a doctrine which the Democratic
party not only ratified, but subsequently fully
frmed by further similar acquisitions of territory
With great efirontery they have claimed to be
yiving the old time doctrine of expansion and it is
remarkable that some Democrats, including one or
two Senators. have claimed to find justification in
the old precedents for the proposed Imperialism.
Otherwise the mischevous Spanish treaty would
not have been ratified
1t was not difficult matter to the falsity of
this reasoning and the alacy has already exploded
itself by the of its internal gaseousness
Those who fail to diflerentate between the peace
full and legitimate acquisition of contiguous terri
tory on our own continent. and the proposed forci-
BILE annexation Of territory 10000 miles away on the
eastern continent, must be either ignorant or for
getful of the essential principles taught by our
political history Even if the conditions attending
the proposed annexation were similar 10 those of
the past acquisitions referred that is to say
an amicable purchase proposed from nation anx-
ious 10 sell, of territory naturally adapted to
sanitation, and OF people not only suited to the
frnternlty oil our citiZeusnlp Dut an4ous ior such
association-were all these conditions equal-stll
the location of the proposed annexation would
alone, under our well defined American policy
prove an insuperable barrier to its acquisition.
That insuperable barrier is found in the Monroe
doctrine the very essence of which, as heretofore
demonstrated is to preserve the Felicity of our in
sular situation, continent removed as far as
possible from contact with monarchial influences
All past acquisitions of territory under Democratic
policy has been not only not in conflict with the
Monroe Doctrine. but strictly in line with. and in
promotion off The amcabe purchase of contig-
uous American territory from foreign monarchies.
anxious to sell. and the assmia lion of fraterial
and desirable population into our Republican sys-
TEN, stands on exactly the same ground as Mr..
Monroe's protest against the subsection of the
South American republics to the domination of
European monarchy.
II is well known historical fact that President
Jefferson hesitated long time before he would
consummate the Louisiana Purchase, holding that
a constitutional amendment was necessary to give
him the power; and il was only recognition OF the
strict compatibility OF the act with the spirit of our
American policy mot then known as the Monroe
Doctrine) that his scruples in this regard
And thus legitimate ex panson of republican gov
crnment oil American soil became xed principle,
and has unquestionaby borne good fruit 1t is one
does not need to be defended in order to assal and
beat down the proposed policy of Imperialism in
volved in capturing and maintaining foreign colo
MES by military force.
This great principle involved in the sites, or oea-
tion of the territory now proposed to be annexed
as distinguished from all previous expansion, and
as in open and notorious conflict with the Monroe
Doctrine ought to be kept constantly in view IN all
intelligent discussion of the great issue of Imperial
ism. 1t ought to be obvious 10 everybody how
ridiculous and untenable our contention that for
egn monarchies must not interfere i'll governmental
affairs on the American continent will become,
when we assert our right. along with the European
mouarchies, to take part in the land grabbing and
face subjecting policy on their own continent
But ia the ordinary discussion of Imperialism as
an issue its opponents accustomed to pass over
this great principle of antagonsm TO the Monroe
Doctrine which seems to me to be the b'sic and
fundamental objection and, ignoring the location
of the proposed acquisition, content themselves
with Objectionable incidents which attend the pro-
posed annexation. 1t cannot be denied that in
these alone they find sufficient ground for the utter
condemnation of the revolutionary project for
even if colonization policy in the far away Orient
were not in antagonism to our American policy
the extraordinary proposition involved in the pur-
chase oil human beings along with their native
force of war; and itself with outrightful title be
followed up by the forcibe and murderous subjec-
ton of the native people to our imperial demands
would be sufficiently startling arouse the public
mind,
When war was declared against Spain by Con-
gress by virtue of IL special amendment introduced
in the Senate by Mr.. Teller, and unanimously
adopted, the United States expressly disclamed to
the world any purpose of territorial acquisitions and
hence the utter bad faith of exactng in the treaty
which brought the TO II close an unwilling con-
cession by Spain of the Philippine Islands. Far
less reprehensible would it have been to have
acted the territory of Cuba ITSELF for that being
our own continent, would not have done violence
in its annexation to well defined American
policy, and in the holding of il would not have
jeopardized the existence of the republic and SUBJ
stituted Imperialism and Mitarism.
The sl0,000.0J0 paid TO Spain as reconsideration
for her quiclaim deed 10 us of the Philippines and
the Fihpnos while it may conform to the Yankee
dei of purchase is open to the objection that has
been well raised that it was price paid for prop
erty in and dominion over an inferior people. in
capable of American citizenship and not desiring
it. The subsection of the Fiipinos unwilingly to
American domination is, unquestionably. eo-
quently contended in the Senate by Mr. Hoar.
violation of the letter and spirit of Declaration
| of Independence.
| In whatever light the Policy ofdmperaIism may
be viewed, and by whatever name it may be called,
its promoters will find themselves always ON the
defensive and their efforts odisguise its dangerous
character or hide its un-Americanism from the
view of patriotic Americans, will become an ardu-
Gus task. The astute leaders of the Republican
party already begin to realize this important fact
and hence their efforts to get away from the great
| issue they have made and TO paramount" the
| financial question VERTAs.