Arizona daily citizen., 1901-07-01
SOME FEATURES OF IMPERIALISM

We wonder if those who talk OF ae-
cspting the present progress tow ard the |
overthrow Of the constitution, and the
establishment of colonial policy, as
accomplished facts" have ever consi-
lered what that means for the flu
tnre Of American politics, The accept
anrc of the theory that the supreme
court can amend the constitution by a
majority vote, and that a department OF
our government may be made superior
to the constitution, are Of course tie
most serious phases OF the situation as
to the effects on our governmental sys-
tenn; but it may be doubted that even
these things will have the practical
effects on our future that will result
from the adoption of colonial policy.
The first principle of this, as illustra-
ted in the case Of the Philippines, IS
that we are justified in seizing hold
ing Territory. against the wisl g OF Its
people, if we deem it to our benefit to do
so. Ofcourse there would go with these
the supposition that We were beneftlng
them, for if you once deny the facred-
ness at the right Of self-iovernmcnt all
loyal Americans will hold that any out
eide nation would be better off If under
the control of the United States. The
primary question then in any case
would be the benefits to accrue from
the seizure, for there would be stand
ing assumption that the people whose
Territory was seized were not capable OF
self-Ciovernment--or at least could not
govern themselves as we'll as We could
govern them.
With this principle established there
wond be direct incentive to the poll
tician to appeal to public greed. Very
probably it would come frst, in a prac,
tical way, in connection with the 18th
mian canal. There would be some dl
tticulty about the concession, or somt
irritation over the management, and
forthwith a demand would be made sfoi
the appropriation Of the surrounding
territory. There would be an abund
ance of practical argument in support of
it. The canal would be great agency
OF fcivilzation whose purpose must moi
be interiered with. The people in tht
way would be semi barbarians, untitled
for eelf-government and needing the
consultations OF Amer can religion. They
would be iar better off under our rule
The Philippine precedent would be suffi
cient-probably the Cuban one could b'
added Why should not the isthmiar
country be taken under onr protection
for the benefit OF its people and the ad
yancement of civilization? The argu
meni would be unanswerable, and ths
seizure would be made. Similar easel
would be sure to arise elsewhere.
A Venezuelan asphalt lake, Peru
Wan guano island, or Chilean gold
mine might be the moving cause. What
ever the territory the demagogne wouit
have precedent and greed in his favor
and the political issues OF the future
would be questions of seizure. In tbs
nature OF things such issues would out
weigh questions OF domestic policy, ane
national &, andeur would be the answe
10 all complaints OF wrong. "Manifes
destiny" would swell with every new &C
qdisition. How could halt be called /
we enter on this system2 What oppor
tunity would there be for the sober con
sideration of domestic problems? TIL
prospect can not be considered an en-
couraging one.