Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1904-10-13
DEMOCRATIC IMPERIALISM. +"


The Richmond Times.Dispatch in it's
issue of the 9th ult. had an editorial un-
der the above head. Its object is to draw
an unfavorable and unfair distinction be-
tween what it is pleased to call expan-
sion under jefferson and imperialism I'M
der Roosevelt. We produce in another
column the greater portion of the edito.
rial of our Richmond contemporary, that
our readers may see how ridiculous a
Democratic paper can make itself in the
presentation of facts and the drawing of
conclusions.
We do not deny the fact as stated by
our contemporary with regard to the mag
nitude of the territorial expansion caused
by the louisiana purchase; but we DO dis
pute the reasons it assigns on the part OF
President Jefferson for acquiring that
territory. We also deny that be believed
that he was invested with constitutional
authority to make the purchase.
MIR. Jefferson never dreamed Of the
utilization of the Trans-M Mississippi States
as we now find them. His chief purpose
was to secure New Orleans and the Flori-
das; and it was for that purpose lie sent
Mr.. Monroe to France to treat with the
First Consul, Napoleon Bonaparte. He
wanted New Orleans, which was the gate
or water outlet for those States that we're
east of the Mississippi river and bordering
npon it or its tributaries. Every instruc-
ton given by Mr.. jefferson to Mr.. Living
ston, our regular representative, and to
MIR. Monroe, our special or extraordinary
representative at Paris, shows that the
President was influenced chiefly, II not ell
tirely, by commercial spirit. THIS is the
spirit which modern Democrats, Who pre-
sumo to call themselves Je6ersonian, affect
10 despise.
Our Richmond contemporary, either
Intentionally or unwittingy, would make
lite readers believe that Mr.. Jefferson ex-
ercised, or thought he was exercising, con-
stitusonal authority in making the Louis
lana purchase. The Times Dispatch ought
to know, if it does not know, that Mr..
jefferson was a strict constructionist, and
announced to Congress and the world that
he had deliberately violated the Constitu-
ton in making the purchase and the
treaty on which it was based.
The Times-D Dispatch would also have its
readers believe that he would not have
been willing to acquire Louisiana in any
other than peacable way, by purchase.
But the fact is that Mr.. jefferson declared
his purpose of taking New Orleans and the
Floridas by armed force, If he could not
secure them peacefully by purchase.
See what an unfair and untrue position
our Richmond contemporary has taken.
Mr.. jefferson was moved by commercial
spirit, he knowingly and deliberately vio-
! lated The Constitution according to bis
own construction) and he threatened to
take territory by armed force from a
Heretofore friendly power. That is
democratic Expansion" and a good, an
honorable, patriotic action.
The Democrats have been making a
great cutlery about government without
the consent of the people governed. Was
the consent of the people living within
the Louisiana purchase ever asked for or
obtained? Is it not fact that the citi-
gems of New Orleans and all the French
inhabitants of the territory purchased OBJ
iected to the requirement by the United
States and protested against being made
citizens of this government? Is it not also
true that the people Of New Orleans were
for long time controlled by territorial
government as we are now controlling
Manila aud Porto Rico, and that the port
Of New Orleans was treated as foreign
port of entry? But these things we're done
by Mr.. jefferson, and they are treated as
Democratic expansion. Similar things
done by Mr. Mckinley and Mr.. ROOse-
welt in connection with the Philippines
and Panama are 'imperialism," accord
ing to Democratic teaching