Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1903-07-10
the ADVANCE OF IMPERIALISM.


part of Virginia to regulate striking
wOrkmen. We have all along hoped
that such necessity might never
arise in this State and that law break
ing necessary to cause the ordering
out of troops would If it occurred at
all be confined to those sections where
foreigners have imported Iawlessness,
and not where those to be governed
are native Americans and especially
native Virginians. For two weeks
our military companies and those of
other parts of the State have been in
Richmond guarding the street railway
from injury by the men whom that
railway had employed, and who had
struck for higher wages.
Most all things tangible an intange.
BILE have been given by the State to
corporations and it does Seem like ask
ing a good deal when we have now to
put force around it. There is spirit
of unrest throughout the land between
the employers and employed, especially
where the employer is a strong cOrpo-
ration. There has been an increase in
this discomfort ever since the great
anthracite coal strike last winter
when the country was saved the most
intense and appalling suffering by a
kind providence which sent us a mild
winter. 1t cannot be denied that those
who toll and sweat and bear the heat
and burden of the day. are in this land
of protested liberty each day being
m ore and more ground to powder.
There is being woven about them,
quietly, but surely, web as subtle as
the spiders weave about the captive
fly, but from whose tolls they cannot
escape.
Away from Individual liberty this
government is bounding as rapidly as
time can carry it. The imperial ten
denotes which are the Outgrowth of
wealth, and consequent on wealth, are
asserting themselves in every branch
of our government, and In every de-
partment of trade. To feast and fat.
ten Imperialism there must be mobiles,
and there must be serfs. These classes
need not be called such by virtue of
law, they nee1 wear no coronet or dec
GRAFTON, or insignia of rank or inferi.
GRITTY to create them or distinguish
them. They need no particular statute
to give them place and rank. There
are other modes of reaching those dir
zy heights or lOwly depths. Whilst
we were nation of farmers and trad
ers whose individual wealth was not
great, we moved along in harmony,
craving no garter, no star, there was
a glorious equality of all men. in every
avocatiOn and calling, and before the
law. But change is fast being wrougt.
Our flag has been advanced to the fur
thermost parts of the earth, our war
ships are riding into every port, our
cannon are frowning in the face of all
peoples, we are world power. Our
army is differed after the continental
plan, soldier is lower than dog, and
an officer higher than the arch angels.
With these elements of Empire come
other elements. Our President domi.
mates everything civil and military.
He saitheth to one 60, and he goeth;
and to another come, and be cometh.
His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor of
Germany. has not so much power nor
is he any more of an autocrat. So SER
vile and so base and fawlng are those
who receive favors at our Presidents
hands that they are already nominat-
ing him for the second and third
times, and will nominate him for az
many more as their trucking baseness
will suggest. Our armies are DESTROY
ing people in our new possessions who
have not bowed the knee to this mod.
ern Baal. Only a few days ago a great
massacre took place in one of our newly
acquired islands. Six hundred natives
were killed in what is called a battle.
without the loss of a single one of our
soldiers. Thus We are drifting along,
and is it strange that these poor work.
men who are being more and more
envelOped each day In the tolls corpo
rate power and wealth are weaving
about them, should show much un.
rest and some signs of resistance We
think not.
New Jeffries are springing up in va
rlous parts Of our country in the shape
OF U. 3 Judges. Men are imprisoned
at their sweet will, they may yet be
1mpoted by judicial order. Who can
tell how far this unwarranted grasn-
ing of power may lead. There are
many who pretend they do not see this
trend of affaiis, and those who do. are
called alarmists, often anarchists
When Laurennais said to the people
of downtrodden Europe I'm the bal
ance OF eternal right your will ont
weigheth the will of kings, for it is the
people which makes kings, and kings
are made for the peoples, not the peo. |
pies for kings, he breathed doctrine
which must soon in America be repro.
claimed, for we are wandering away
from it with appalling rapidity.
The new King of Servia has houoh+
an automobile. He may be able tn
ride over into the next kingdom when
the army undertakes to make another
exhibition of it's bravery.
It is fast becoming un. Republican
to cheer the name of Washington. to
have reverence for the constitution, or
20 see any beauties in the Declaration
If Independence. Il