The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1901-07-18
What Zoe. 1t Mean.


sprung up in the Republican papers is
Il sort of red herring across the trail of
the imperialistic fot Not the slightest
doubt is warranted that the Republi-
cans are very much worried over the
possible fate of their colonial schemes.
1t was only by a narrow majority of
-one that these schemes We're not given
their quietus by the Supreme Court;
and the reasoning by which the major
/ ity reached this decision in favor of
government by force was so devious
and so iucoherent that the fears of the
plotters have been augmented rather
than allayed.
| So far from the anti-imperial propa-
ganda having lost heart or hope. there
are evidences that ii has taken on fresh
zeal and that it has accepted the hint
| of the Supreme Court and will center
its fire upon Congress hereafter. Had
| this been done In the last election. 1t is
| exceedingly doubtful whether the Fif-
| ty-seventii Congress would have had a
| majority which could be relied upon 10
attempt the governing of acquired ter
ritory outside the pale of the Constitu-
| ton. As it was the anti-imperialists
let Congress go rather by default, con-
| centrating their efforts on the over
throw of Mckinley himself. This at
tack having failed and the question
still being open, the anti-imperialists
now see their way clear to a decisive
test of strength.
The question of Imperialism In all Its
badness and all its immortality and all
its cruel disregard Of human rights will
now be brought home to the plain peO-
pie in the Congressional districts of the
whole country. No intervening ques-
ton will be permitted to cloud the is
sue. No suggestion of Reputation" or
national dishOnor" or overthrow Of
prosperity" can be worked in by cum
ming political jugglers to confuse the
public mind and frighten timid busi-
ness interests into supporting the Presl-
dent in his brutal policy Of foreign con-
quest. The people will be asked to de-
eide whether they are in favor Of
"A
pies or whether they wish to abandon
these principles and ideals and go back
more than century to take up with n
policy which our fathers fought and
died to overthrow.
The Republicans undoubtedly see
that this is going to be the line of at
tack. They are therefore casting about
for the best way to side-track the agi-
tation They know full well that the
people are restless under the frightful
burdens of Dingleyism, burdens which
the trusts make heavier by extOrtions
Of their own under its monstrous pro-
lection. But the Republicans have no
intention Of wiping out Dingleyism or
of overthrowing the trusts. They do
intend to fool the people as far as they
can with plans for the modification of
the Dingley tariff and the curtailment
of trust robbery. They talk and will
continue to talk of reciprocity and per-
haps Babcock will talk and continue to
talk Of free-listing some trust-made ar
ticles; but let no one be deceived. The
party of public plunder. the party of
privilege, the party of plutocracy, is not
going to put stop to public plunder.
Not if it can help it. But If this party
can divert popular attention from its
schemes Of world-conquest by talking
of the tariff and by renewing the agita
than that it should resort to this trick
in order to gain time for the carrying
out Of its vast undertakings in colonial
ism?
That the tariff is attracting more and
more attention and that sooner or later
that issue must become definitivc one
before the American people is certain.
1t really ought to be the foremost ques-
ton before the people at this moment
and it would be but for the lamentable
fact that the Dingley party has taken
care to oyershadow that tremendous is
sue with one even more tremendous
For after all the matter of preserving
free government is more important
than the establishment Of free trade.
Ordinarily Democrats would welcome
the precipitation of the tariff question
into the arena of political discussion. |
Indeed they would welcome it at this |
moment if 1t did not come with the |
suspicious suggestion tRat 1t is being |
dragged in for the purpose of distract
ing notice from the more vital question !
of whether we shall have a Republic |
or an Empire. Democrats can hardly !
avoid taking a hand in the fight where |
is relied upon by the imperial free
hooters to disturb the alliance be-
tween the Democrats and those of the |
faith who have joined the
Democratic party on the issue of im-
perialism. Whether the plans Of the
will fail or not remains to
be seen.
But that this is really the inspira-
ton Of all the stir that is recently
abroad concerning the tariff we have
little doubt. The plutOcratic party has
enormous undertakings in view. 1t Is
not merely seeking to govern Cuba,
Porto Rico and the Philippines by force;
t is not merely looking for the conquest
IF the islands of the sea; it is PLAN
ling for the conquest of the United
States; and it has made the first steps
N that direction. 1t has already over
brown free government in one Of the
sovereign States of the Union. 1t is
,nly a question of time and of public
emper when 1t will take further steps ;
llong the same imperial road. And that
,arty may be trusted to resort to any
.xpedient. however desperate. to avoid
square issue before the people on the
'ital question of Republic or Empire.
+ it can keep the Empire in the back
,round by Juggling the tariff to the
ront, 1t will accept the risk of free
rade rather than challenge return TO
he old fundamentals of the Republic.
7Johnstown Democrat.
Where Do Republicans Stand.
Senator Foraker is right, no doubt,
n saying that the Democratic party