The Irish standard., 1900-10-13
HON. CARL sCHURz
Gives Two Reasons for Checking
Imperialism.

In his recent speech in Cooperation,
New York, Hon. Carl Schurz said in
part:
And now II sober, candid and con-
scientious consideration of the circum-
stances before us should convince you,
as 1t has profoundly convinced me,
that the present crisis is fully as mo-
mentous as the revolution which ere
ated the republic, and us the civil war,
which held it together and purged it Of
slavery. For now we find ourselves
confronted by Il powerful attempt. al
vancing under seductive guises. to fas-
ten upon the country Il policy essen
TALLY putting in peril the best fruits Of
the great struggles of the past II
policy cynically disdainful Of the fact
that it was the Declaration of indie
pendence, with it's proclamation of
high principles, that made this repub-
lie n really great and beneficent power
in the world; a policy which at the
very start broke the moal force OF our
republic by mean trcachery to it's lofty
professions; Il policy which, beginning
with criminal aggression, will need
more and more criminal aggression for
it's sustcnance; II policy, which, living
upon unjust rule by force abrond, will
inevitably tend to unjust rule by force
ut home; a policy. which, making sport
of the vital principles of our organic
law, cannot but run into more and
more despotic usurpations; II policy
which, utterly demoralizlng this de-
mocracy working through universal
suffrage by the destruction of It's ideal
beliefs and aspirations. will leave to
our children, instead OF n free, happy
and peaceahly powerful common
wealth, Ii mere sham republic tossed
and torn by wild passions and rnpn-
cious ambitions, and bound to sink in
disorder, disaster and disgrace. To
check this policy in it's growth, il pos
sible without delay, | believe to be
the very first duty Of the American cit
izen. Whatever it m:I cost to check
it now, that cost will be far less than
the cost will become, If that policy be
permitted to continue.
l cannot agree with some esteemed
friends who think that the struggle
against imperialism should now be
suspended ana that those in power
should be kept there in order to avoid
other troublesome risks. l do, indeed
not believe that, IL now baillcd. the
efforts against imperialism will cease.
They certainly will not, as the efforts
against slavery, however often blllled,
did not cease until their final triumph
came through IL tremendous crisis
which perhaps might have been
avoided had they succeeded earlier.
But our efforts should not now be
suspended, for two reasons. One is
this: There is but too much ground for
believing that the party in power is
largely controlled by strong and grasp
ing interests trying to exploit the gov
rrnmcnt for their profit, and inclined
to make the American flag, III the
characteristic phrase of the famous
Cecil Rhodes, "a iirst-clAss CONNER
cal asset"
Such interests have not yet thrown
large financial means into our "de-
Tendencies" for speculative venture.
| But if our present rulers be continued
in power speculative moneycd syndi-
cates-cxtcnsive settlement of those
tropical countries by Americans being
out of the question--will be much en-
their influence with the government
lOE llc VI LIIclL
AS soon MS their money is largely en-
! gagged there we shall witness at
tcmpts by them to control the govern
mcnt in it's different branches, in COM
parison with which the influence ex-
crcised by railroad and other corpora
tons over state legislatures, which we
know from observation, will pale into
insignificance. The efforts to break
the imperialistic policy will then have
to meet power, the resources and skill
of which will immensely increase the
difficulties to be overcome.
The second reason against postpone
ment is this: We are now engaged in
the awful business Of Establishing
order," as it is called, by slaughtering