The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-05-24
sOME LEADING EDITORIALS.
PRACTICAL IMPERIALISM.

From the indianapolis Sentinel
The proposal of the great step toward imperialism
At home has come rather than was anticipated III @
suggestion OF third term for President Mckniey nc
tendency OF republicanism has been constantly IN tiS
ton Many men remember the desperate effort 10 noa
Grant for third term and how narrowly failed OF sue
cess although at the preceding session of congress- III an
cipaon OF the contest following resolution had been
passed by the house by majority Of 234 to 10;
Resolved il the opinion Of this house the Prere
firing from the presidential Office their second term
become by universal part OF our epn
this tehonored custom would be unwisv unpatriotic and
fraught with peril to our free institutions
Would present congress SIMILAR resoiuon ioi
President McKineys edihcaon? There not one chance
of it hundred 1t is quite possible that President Nc
Kiney could induce the house to resolution recng
that have changed and the nation has changed ana
that therefore third is rather desirable thing In
deed, the Boston Herald independent republican paper
voluntarily takes this stand 1t says:
-Four was different form OF ~
which were added Territories in preparation become
States There was not foot it included in other
Of States owning provinces which stand toward it in the re
aon OF dependencies They do not share in that privilege
self government prospective which was &C
corded to all the nation il was earlier constituted
patton % and 1t n C anq 0s the United
States Of America and Asia We hold the Philippine islands
tcd in before the Spanish changed its char
This is an admission of what the opponents of imperial
ism urged timehat the seizure of the islands
outside scope existing and involved
change from the government instituted by forefathers
preserved UP that time 1t urged that these ISL
could possibly be accepted members OF the union
the capacity and that hold them dependen
cies was utterly subversive of republican system The
Herald takes the logical of Imperialism in sug
costing that colonies incompatible with republican
government we proceed break down republican
ment thus
To hesitate about agreeing to third term in the Pres-
dency doing violence the National traditions OF the
people while accepting this vastly important change
is strain small point while accepting large one Let
the presidency We simply looking facts they
accepting them in their natural relations and considering
what may logically OF them The nation is not as
it when composed only of contiguous territories
and based that there should be equality be
the peoples that nhab them. II extends now 1000
miles away into another continent IS not TO allow me
people there whom holds sovereignty representation
home it is administered by congress and by
the president The president is to be the executive ocer
mssioners OF customs all It's more important ocla II IS
logical operation OF this system to make frequent
changes in the occupant OF an office that has such e%aord
Enlightened students OF government would not have
framed present system of government as is now IN
operation best adapted to working that feature in its
operation hey would nave sad that the term OF e pes
dent should either have been longer or should be open to
greater extension 1t is entirely natural that this latter
should be made apply If not the term OF President
Mckinley to that of his successors
But why limit the holding of a fixed term? If you put
this power in the hands of president and
him with command of standing army, why
through periodic elections which he will
executive for life with hereditary succession? That
would insure continuous policy in the exploiting of the
colonies. and promote civil service by keeping the
people Office. Relieved of the danger OF defeat by the
people the president would be enabled put such
office as he saw fit and keep them there We predict
growth for the third term proposition No doubt President
McKineys free excursion will aid materially in its de
velopment.