Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-08-18
THE PASSING OF IMPERIALISM.

The fact that Imperialism as an
issue of practical politics has been
dropped has some significance. but
there is no special reason for surprise
thereat. Too much importance, of
curse. is attached by some to the
papers of j. F. Schurman's renuncia-
tion of that fad. Schurman. who was
formerly a Philippine commissioner,
has been on at least three sides Of
the Imperialism folly since his name
began to be connected with the Phil
ippine question and probably he will
make one or two more gyrations be-
fore the question drops into entire
forgetfulness. The important fact in
connection with 1t is that the Demo
Gratis have stopped talking about it.
Recently Messrs. Schurz Adams,
Story and one or two other fag-furlers
addressed a mild illumination to the
president against the Philippine policy
of the administration and the Republi-
can party but it received very little
notice from the Democratic press and
the Democratic congressional cam
paign committee has ignored 1t alto
gether.
Here is the fact of consequence in
connection with Imperialism. The
Democratic stump speakers have or
ders to steer clear of this question.
Carmack of Tennessee, an especially
blatant parsonage, gave this the place
of Importance in what he called the
issues of the campaign. but Griggs,
the head of the campaign committee,
has notified Carmack that imperialism
is tabooed until after the election.
The Tennesseean has been as silent
as clam on that subject for the past
seven or eight days, and probably will
say nothing more about it in public.
When Mr.. Cleveland at the Tilden
club dinner a few weeks ago, refused
to mention it, his silence angered two
or three persons and surprised few
others. but the majority of the ex-
Presidents fellow-countrymen knew
the reason why he skipped that sub
ject, Mr.. Cleveland, as well as the
great mass of sane Americans, favors
the policy which has been followed by
the Republican party 1t is a cond-
tion and not theory which confronts
the Republicans. and they have risen
to the necessities of the occasion on
this question, as they are in the habit
of doing on all issues which confront
them when in control of the govern
ment Most of the Democratic pa
pers of influence all over the country
especially in the south, have applaud
ed the course of the administration
and of the majority in congress on
this question.
An act was recently passed by con-
gress and signed by the president Civ
ing the Filipinos share in the gov
ernment of their locality. At the
time that act went into operation the
president issued proclamation
granting amnesty to all the political
prisoners in the islands, on the condi-
ton that they promise to support
American sovereignty. Aguinaldo and
all the rest of the recent rebel chiefs
are at liberty and can come and go in
the islands without any restraint from
the American authorities. The mass
es of the islanders so far as the world
is able to learn. accept the situation
without any mental or moral reserva-
than they could ever gain under
government of their own, for that
would necessarily be dictatorship
of some sort, which would quickly
prove as repressive as anything they
had under the Spanish regime. The
Islanders are especially fortunate in
the treatment which they are receiv.
ing from the United States. The
fact that the Democratic leaders. who
would be glad to put Imperialism at
the front If there was any such issue,
have dropped all mention of 1t shows
that imperialism has gone to join mill.
tarism and the rest of the spook
questions with which the enemies of
the Republican party have tried TO
impose on the American people