River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-09-22
A NOTABLE EXCEPTION.
Richard O1ney Has Not Joined the
Democratic Pessimists.

democratic 1eSS1m1SCSs
Since Judge Parker and the Demo
cratic party have chosen to make an
issue Of the aggressive and progressive
activities of the Republican party which
in the span of one generation have plac-
ed the United States in the van of the
worlds civilization, it may be we'll to
recall that there is at least one Demo-
crat who has not joined in his party
pessimistic walls.
Richard Olney, the choice of the
Massachusetts Democracy for President
at st. Louis, Attorney General and Sec
rotary of State during Clevelands sec
ond term and author of the ringing
phrase in support of the Monroe doctrine
To-day the United States is practical
ly sovereign on this continent, and it's
fiat is law upon the subjects to which
it confines its interposition," is a Demo
crat who has something stronger than
diluted ASS milk in his veins.
In an article printed in the Atlantic
Monthly for March, 1900, on the
Growth of Our Foreign Policy" Rich
ard Olney anticipated and confuted al
most every pitiful plea for national stag
| nation and dishonor uttered by Judge
Parker in the two instances when he has
ventured to open his mouth. Where
the Democratic candidate counsels that
the United States shall live for and
within itself alone, Mr.. Olney boldly
proclaimed that such a policy had "tend-
ed to belittle the national character"
| and has sled to species of provincial
| ism and to narrow views of our duties
| and functions as a nation"
Where Judge Parker in his unfamil-
iarity with the meaning Of the phrase,
due to his seclusion from the world at
| Esopus, proclaims that the United
States became a world power over a
century ago." Mr.. Olney, with broader
knowledge Of the world, says that His
torians will probably assign the aban-
donment of the isolation policy to the
| time when this country and Spain went
to war over Cuba"
Nor can there be any serious question
but Mr. Olney is right.
And in this connection it was that
Clevelands virile Secretary of State
said, ''The United States has come out
| Of its she'll and ceased to be a hermit
| among nations, naturally and properly
He also emphasized the necessity for
preparation to cope with larger respon-
sibilities in these terms:
''It goes without saying that the United
states cannot play the part in the world S
affairs 1t has just assumed without equip
ping itself for the part with all the in
strum entalities necessary to make its will
felt whether through pacific intercourse
and negotiation or through force We can
not assert ourselves as a power whose
interests and sympathies are as wide as
civilization without assuming obligations
corresponding to the claim.
1.-THE equipment required for our new
international role must not be discussed
at any length. We must have 1.-THE
need will be forced upon US by facts the
logic of which will be irresistible-and
the facts, the national government must
sooner or later provide for it"
There was much more to the same
effect, every word ringing with sterling
and enlightened appreciation of the
American determination to meet the OBJ
| legations of our expanding national OPP
portunities. Without failing to recog-
nize that the triumphs of peace are the
true objective of a republic, Mr.. Olney
grasped the eternal truth that peace and
liberty and progress can only be insured
by full provision to maintain them by
force.
The nation which goes about with
nothing but an olive branch in its mouth
in other words, without increasing it's
expenditures for coast defenses, for ships
and guns, for men and arms-cannot ex-
pect it's voice will be needed, in the
councils of nations. Every dollar the
United States is spending on it's army
and navy to-day is an insurance against
war and national dishonor.