The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-11-17
ARE WE A RoRRER NATION?

When some months ago there was
prospect that the negotiations for a ca
nal treaty with Colombia would fall to
the ground and it was suggested by GER
tain Republican organs that this coun-
try might in that event go ahead and
seize by force the territory desired for
the work, the country in general took
1t as mere bit of jingoism. It was
thought to be good opportunity for
these writer's to show off by advoeat
ing something so preposterous that
it could never be put to the test. The
publication, however, of certain por-
lions of the message that President
Roosevelt had prepared to submit to
congress before the revolution occurred
in Panama shows that he was actually
prepared to urge upon the country this
policy of dishonor and of infamy.
We have thought at times that talk
about imperialism" had been carried,
perhaps, too far. We have to admit
now that the most radical critic of
Republican present-day ideas has fall
en- far short of the disgraceful fact.
The head of the Republican party in
this country, the chief executive of the
United States, has been prepared to
stand by and to act upon the doctrine
that if we want something possessed
by a weaker nation we should take it,
using whatever degree of force may be
necessary.
So rapid and so thorough has been
the corrupting influence of the expert
ences through which we have lately
passed, it would have been impossible
for any man in high place to have adj
vanced such an idea as this prior to
the war with Spain and our career in
the Philippines and to have remained
in the United States without political
ostracism and personal degradation.
Whatever else this country has stood
for, it's political system has meant an
absolute and abhorrent reputation of
the idea of territorial ACKNOWLEDGMENT
by force of arms. We have stood for
freedom and independence and the
rights of other peoples to govern them-
selves as they saw fit. We have stood
for the security of other states against
aggression. Our principles, our policy
and our pride have all been enlisted no
less in keeping our own hands off the
property of others than in restraining
our less high rincip1ed and more
predatory neighbors.
And now this shame has fallen upon
us. We desire to build canal across
the isthmus of Panama The territory
- belonged to another republic, a friend
ly state with whom our relations have
always been cordial, and whose rights
we are bound in a special way by
treaty to protect against all corners,
We may believe that it was of no less
interest to Colombia than to the United
States that this canal should be con-
structed. A man may also believe that
he could make far better use of his
neighbours fortune than that neighbor
can make of it for himself. The justi-
feation for seizure in one case il
exactly as great or as little as in the
other. The man or the nation that
would justify or commit such an act
has joined the noble army of highway
men.
Nothing more amazing has ever, hap
pened in the history of the United
States. Nothing could be more indica-
= tive of the decay Of that American
2. spirit that has made and kept us great
than the adoption of such policy by
our highest authority, and its accept