North Park union., 1901-02-15
e Danger of
Anti-Imperialism. A


OF many political movements in
American history few have come to
more complete collapse and repudia-
tion than the self-styled "anti-imper-
ialism" which attempted to make
noble patriots out Of Tagal insur-
gents and which condemned with
epithets of oppressor and murderer,
Americans who were doing their duty
as honest men and patriots.
The sentiments that have been ex-
pressed by such newspapers as the
Springfield Republican and the New
York evening Post, and that have
been voiced in congress by Senator
Pettigrew and others do not COM
mand the approval of considerable
number of citizens in any state Of
the union, and the party which was
misled into an approval of doctrine
that it adopted more to get votes than
because its members actually believed
in 1t was overwhelmingly defeated by
Americans who have not doubted that
our people and our government are
honest, honorable and civilized.
The anti-imperialists have utterly
failed to convince the people that
eimper,alism" is danger. and the
course suggested by them has been
rcpudiated by American voters. But
there is a possibility that the anti
imperialist campaign may have an
effect precisely the opposite of what
they intended. and that thus may be
unfortunate for the nation. 1t Is
difficult to control or limit popular
movements, and this nation, has come
to be so disgusted with the anti-im.
perialists. so intolerant of their criti-
cisms aud so skeptical of their poll.
cies that there is already some
evidence that some OF our political
leaders have been carried to the other
extreme beyond the limits OF prud-
ence and safety.
The strength OF the defense against
the anti-imperial attacks lay in the
fact that we werein the right path.
We were not lmperiallsts in any OBJ
jectionable sense, we had no intention
Of becoming anything of the kind,
and there was no reasonable evidence
ii support Of the charge. es-1he peo-
pie knew this, and that is Why the at
tack failed. But it shouldsnot be ar.
gued from this that Che American
people has approved Imperialism or
adopted it as policy. 1t must not
be inferred that our people will con-
done any violation of the rights Of
our own citizens or acts Of injustice
or oppression to the. weak in other
laads. If the reaction against anti
imperialism is to lead us into real
imperialism, the American people
will be as ready and as emphatic in
its disapprovai Of the one as 1t has
been Of the other.
Those Republicans who in one way
or another at the present time are
warning their party against the dan
gers Of this reaction are doing it
real service. Ex-President Harrison,
Senator Hoar and Senator Teller, are
not men whom We would wish to see
in control of national affairs, nor are
they good leaders for the nation at
the present time. But their opinions
are worth consideration, and they are
on the side Of the boat that is dan
gerously vacant just now.
President Mckinley is, so far as
We are able to judge; absolutely right
on thsse things. He is neither anti
1Pr imperialist He is
American, an his Phhadelphia ad-
dress delivered shortly after his re-
was . mastery declaration
Of the principles that command the
support of the great majority Of the
American people, that are in accord
lnce with our historical character
md record, and that will prove to be |
;he only ground Of safety for the |
,arty that desires to continue to re-
.save tie support of the American |
,sop,s. The peftorma.cs IN good |