The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-08-09
IMPERIALISM--THE PARAMOUNT
ISSUE OF THE NATIONAL
CAMPAIGN.

All who believe in the preservation
of the United States as a republic have
an interest in the speeches of Bryan
and Stevenson delivered at Indianap-
oils yesterday, and printed elsewhere
in this paper.
They are important documents,
clearly setting forth the issues upon
which the National campaign this
year will be fought, and defining the
position of the two great parties there
on. Both speeches are devoted almost
entirely to Imperialism, that being the
paramount issue of the campaign. In
its discussion, both Mr.. Bryan and Mr..
Stevenson lay great emphasis upon
the vital point-no recreancy to his
toric democracy, no changing of the
form and spirit of this government.
In word, they declare their belief
in the historic democracy of the Uni
ted States of America, and their oppo-
sition to the rule of this government
over dependencies, or colonies, or pos
sessions, because it is the rule of en-
pire, and inconsistent with the doc
trine of liberty as we have demanded
it for ourselves.
Imperialism is the danger that now
threatens this country-the stipend
Gus issue, whose decision next Novem-
Der is not more momentous to us
E than to our posterity. 1t is, to quote
Mr.. Bryan, question that involves
the very structure of our govern
ment." The imperial policy is one
whose consequences, once they are
invoked, will have to be borne by sue
ceeding generations.
In committing ourselves to such
principles and policies we cannot
avoid committing the rising and flu
ture generations to them also. Even
now" says Mr.. Bryan, 1--WE are begin
ming to see the paralyzing influence
of Imperialism and he adds:
Heretofore this nation has been
prompt to express it's sympathy with
those who were fighting for civil lib
erty. While our sphere of activity has
been limited to the Western Hemis-
phere, our sympathies have not been
bounded by the seas. We have felt
it due to ourselves and to the world,
as well as to those who were strug-
Cling for the right to govern them
selves, to proclaim the interest which
our people have, from the date of
their own independence, felt in every
contest between human rights and
arbitrary power Three-quarters of q
century ago, when our nation was
small, the struggle of Greece aroused
our people, and Webster and Clay gave
eloouent expression to the universal
desire for Grecian independence. In
1896, all parties manifested lively
interest in the success of the Cubans,
but now when a war is in progress
in South Africa, which must result
in the extension of the monarchical
idea or in the triumph of Republic,
the advocates of imperialism in this
country dare not say word in behalf
of the Boers.'
Thus begins the tiny stream that
gathers force as it runs until it be-
comes an irresistible torrent. If by
their ballots this year the people in
dorse the Mckinley policies we are ir
revocably committed to the new prin-
ciples that governments derive their
just powers from superior armed force;
that alien Asiatic peoples may be first
bought and subjugated and then held
under our flag as subject colonies and
independencies, to be ruled as Britain
rules India and South Africa, as Ger
many rules Alsace and Lorraine, as
France rules Algiers and Madagascar
land Then where and when can we
remedy the wrong?
There are some national evils as
there are some individual follies that
may be repented of and abandoned
and their consequences repaired But
no nation has ever deliberately adopt
ed the imperial policy of foreign con-
quest and colonial expansion and been
able to turn back. 1t dazzles with a
false glory and lulls with false pros
perity, until the people awake to find
their liberties gone, their nation inla
state Of almost perpetual war, with