The Washington times., 1901-08-09
The Drift of American Sentiment

In an article intended to show that
the fears of the anti-imperialists are
groundless, the New York Independ-
ent'' INDUCES in some very curious,
and. if we may with propriety use the
term, shallow reasoning. The argu-
ment of the Independent" is, in sub
stance, that the whole drift of public
sentiment in this country has been in
the direction of larger and broader lib
erty; therefore, il cannot be possible
that there is any purpose TO deny the
full measure of American liberty 10 the
people of our newly acquired terri
tories. II the fact were as stated, there
would be no question of Imperialism
before the country. At al events there
would be no ground fer the contention
that the foreign policy of the Admins
tration is imperialistic in character, for
the drift OF sentiment referred to by
the Independent would have mani
tested itself in the treatment of the
islands ceded TO lis by Spain.
1t is very true that prior II the
Treaty of Paris the drift of sentiment
in the United States had been in the
direction of broader and more en-
larged freedom fol the masses of the
people. But it 20 happens that the
policy adopted toward Porto Rico and
the Philippines shows direct counter
current, and this it is that has raised
the question of Imperialism. Suppose
some man should assume the title of
Emperor. place a crown upon his head.
and claim supreme power. being sup
ported in his course by the dominant
political party of the nation. In the
face of such facts, what weight could
be attached to an argument that there
was no Imperialism in the country, and
could be none. because the drift Of
American sentiment had always been
the other way? Such a contention
would be absurd; and yet it is essen-
TALLY the argument which the "Inde-
pendent" makes.
1t is not a question of the former
drift of public sentiment, but one of
what we are doing now. It is because
the treatment of Porto Rico and the
Philippines is utterly at variance with
the former drift that vast numbers of
intelligent and patriotic people have
taken the alarm. in what possible way
can the denial of constitutional rights
TO Porto Rico make for an extension of
liberty The present Administrc {.
has asserted the principle that the
President and Congress have absolute
ly unrestrained power in newly ac-
quired territory In what way does the
assertion Of absolute power over other
peoples show a drift toward liberty?
II when the Administration urged tEis
doctrine it had beea repudiated by his
party, we may be sure that the "Inde-
pendent" would have made haste to
declare that such repudiation showed
the answering devotion Of the Ameri-
can people 10 the great principles of
constitutional government upon which
the Republic was founded. The Repub-
lican party having not only failed to
rebuke the policy, but actually sane
toned il, we must reach the opposite
conclusion that the drift of public sen
timent so far as that party is CON
ernment ard in the direction of abso-
lutism-
Again, we may ask, in what way does
the denial OF constitutional safeguards |
to ten million Filipinos. and, in fact, |
a denial to them Of all political rights |
in their own native land show A |
sentiment in favor of |
liberty among the American people, |
The Spooner resolution empowered the |
President to establish government Of |
pure absolutism in those Islands. 1t is |
beside the question TO argue that the |
President is a kindly man and will not |
abuse his power. This is not question |
Of men. but of principles. Russia is as
much despotism now as it was in the
days of Peter the Great or Catherine
the Second, although the present Car
Is kindly man. The fact that a par
ticular Russian Gar happens to be of
kindly disposition does not make Rus
sia Republic. by any means
The Independent" says: ''The United
States Is country OF liberty. 1t was
the parent OF government by the peo-
pie. The whole genius of our Constitu-
ton Is for freedom" These things
nave all been true until recently. They
ought TO be true now. and IL is because |
me principles stated by the ''Independ-
ent have been disregarded and per