The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1901-05-01

2 with apparent gusto for railroad
subsidy which was not wanted by the
7 Postmaster General, and was therefore
SAID at the time by consistent Demo.
Gratis TO be simple gratuiy from the
, treasury"
" You do not, then, apprehend that
} imperialism or 'militarsm' will take
the place of popular government if the
carried out ?'
No, sir Ii the President had done
less than he has in dealing with The
questions involved, in the absence of
Congressional action, he would have
made himself liable to impeachment
and disgrace. He could not have done
less and maintained the dignity, houor
andsgOod faith of the government of
which he was and ls the Chief EXccu-
tive.
"That is my candid opinion, speak
ing as a citizen. 'lmperalism' and
'mllltarlsm' do not grow out of such
questions, and cannot as long as the
press is free and uncorruptcd citizen
ship is permitted to cast a ballot for
the preservation of popular govern
ment. We are in much mole danger
popular constitutional government
is-from demagogism, socialism, popu-
ism, anatchism and such heresics aud
iallacles. The supremacy and control
OF such doctrines in The affairs of gov
ernment may neccssitate the employ
ment of force to preserve public order,
the rights of property and enforce
ment of law SO that those who are
crying ioudest against 'impcrialism'
may make it necessary and become its
authors. Political agitation which
'lcais with the intelligence and patriot
ism OF the people is always healthful,
but no republic has survived or can
survive the domination aud control i'm
Its governmental administration of
reckless, time serving demagogucs.
What the South needs now more
than ever in its history is broad, liberal
craftsmanship, which suggests some
thing mere than mere obstruction and
opposition, conforming in all reslects
to constitutional limitations, but get
ing in line with the progress and de-
Velopmcnt of the age. We are lust
emerging from the paralyzing effect of
reconstruction, with all its horrors and
crimes, and should turn our faces to
the front and contribute to the State
and national strength and power on all
legitimate lines. | believe McLaurin
and many other young men of the
South are in harmony with this thought
and, therefore, his course has my ap-
prnval. The Democracy, in my iudg-
ment, made fatal blundcr when it
permitted the Republicans to appro-
pirate to their own use the prestige
growing out of the Spanish war. rhe
Democrats did as much to bring about
the war as the Republicans and should
have claimed their share of its results
and consequences. For myself, am
rejoiced that the crust of our national
isolation has been broken and that we
can take our proper place among the
nations OF the earth"
" You favor retaining possession of
the Philippine Islands and other insular
possessions ?"
81 do most assuredly. We came
into possession of this new territory in
the prosecution of just war. We ex-
pended vast amounts Of money and
many valuable lives in the Spanish
war, and by all the rules governing
such questions we are entitled to in
demnlty for the expenditures. This
indemnity is usually paid in money or
territory. Inasmuch as Spain had no
money, we took Porto Rico In part
payment, and for the Philippines we
paid cash. The title deeds were
signed, sealed, delivered and recorded.
Why should we give up land we have
u oc
Spain2"
DO you apprchend that the gov
ernment of these islands is going to be
very embarrassing to our govern
ment?n
Not necessarily, if common sense
and good judgment are employed in
dealing with them. OF course, the
problem is serious one, but not in
surmountable. l do not believe in q
protectorate or colonial government.
There is no place in our system for
such dependence. The new posses
slons of the United States belong to
all the people Of the United States and
governed by the supervision of Con.
gress as our other territories are
governed, giving to the inhabitants of
them just as much power of self
government and sovereignty as they
are capable of exercising. This has
been the rule for Alaska for thirty odd
years and may be as safely applied
elsewhere.
cannot see where there is such
an over-powering difficulty in our way.
No, sir; if the American people will
put their heads together in patriotic
spirit we will solve the problem Justly
and satisfactorily. The possession of
these islands will rebound with especial
and immeasureable benefit to the cot
ton States, furnishing, as they will,
most valuable market for her manu-
facturcd cotton goods, and give US a
| status in the Orient from which we
can DEFY competition in that vast field
for lucrative business. We should
insist upon the door being kept open
to China. We should hold on to the
islands and govern them, as we can,
honestly, justly, fairly. When the IN
habltants realize that the installation
of our constitutional form of govern.
ment, with representative response
bility, means for them freedom and
enlightened progress, thew will scoff at