The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-06-24
IN THE DIRECT LINE OF DANGER

THAT the decision of the supreme
court of the United States withholding
the right Of trial by jury from our
Philippine possessions points along
the line of danger must be the conclu-
sion of thoughtful men. 1t marks a
clean distinction between the past and
the present policy of United States
dealings with territorial acquisitions
and defines sharply the difference be-
tween empire and American territories.
1t potently stimulates the radical i'm
perialism of the republican admins
tratiOn at this time of Oriental ex-
plosiveness when the interests of the
powers are converging and naturally
and in reality conflicting, whatever
may be the ostensible agreements"
between the parties.
The decision of the supreme court
would seem to announce that the
United States is about to play the
great part which Theodore Roose-
welt deems worth playing by lusty
young nation; and that we shall not
be bound down or hampered in our
career Of conquest and territorial ag-
grandizement by any obligations to re-
gard all men as free and equal. Colo
uies which we find along the imperial
path are slaves to official will.
1t announces that we are an empire
and points to the legitimate opportuni
ty of empire. 1t announces the as
sumption of empires scepter and the
vast obligation of the citizenry at home
consequent upon holding aloft that ev-
er-advancing scepter.
1t is an expression of an aggressive
hess almost Russian. 1t stiffens the
harsh and militant attitude into which
two republican administrations, and
notably that of the strenuous, war
loving and ambitious Mr.. Roosevelt,
have thrust this country. In former
years we rested secure in its implied
ern domination was all we sought. 1t
violates without any reaSOn-Save
that which can be made out of the
motive of a government or a govern
ments envious desire-the very spirit
of the exalted Monroe doctrine, be-
hind which we have grown great and
attained the highest happiness known
| to a nation.
More than anything else it empha
sizes the dangers in the direction Of
;; Roosevelt free to further Imperialism
| in the troubled eastern zone with the
zest of protagonist. 1t should cause
! the people of this country to stop short
and reflect upon the possibilities of the
domain by the man whose veins thrill
with the impulse of militarism and
whose mouth almost daily fills with
phrases of war; the man who only
few days ago wrote the Cuban letter"
the man who on Memorial day at Get
tysburg sang like a war-poet in such
lurid lines as those which described
the charge-'the great charge surged
up the slope only to break on the sum-
failure
May not the people observe that, if
- no
constitution at the foundation of past
national eXperience-may be thus con-
strued by the supreme court, an exc
cutive of the Roosevelt stamp would
| be likely further to construe it in the
direction Of his aggression, if indeed
| he should have occasion to regard it
at all? And with a congress in sympa
| thy with expansion and aggrandize-
ment what but the trials and
| spoken can be the outcome? The SUI
preme courts Filipino decision appears
| to be in line with the destiny of which
Mr.. Roosevelt conceives himself to be
| the agent and in which alone, in his
| opinion, nations greatness can con-
sist. The decision is a reaching out
for the great future which is ours. Mr..
Roosevelt has averred. if we are brave
enough for the ordeal.
IEnhI N0TTnEC