The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-11-03
The PeriIs of imperialism
Continued From First Pageo
rral with this republic.


quarrel with this republic. +ho,
'.Everv sensible man knows tnat
there is not one Of those powers NJ
entertains the slightest Ided ,,. VI
tacking rs. that they will readlly conf
nv, In, u,batever we can decentiy
ask for and that if we are 10 nave
any conflict with any one OF them we
oho1l hove 10 bring it on ourselves py
unendura BILE prOVocatloi ~ ne ,.,l,,,
reason is that, aside from WHAT Hlolal
love. of peace they may cherlSil' tney
can hardly afford to nave serious
et,ureoIe with so resourceful ana per-
4t,,1i7,,,o an autagonistic as this re-
,bIin in view of the posslbilit" or
5a1garous complications at home.
Tha world Sees in Them Threat.
oOnr absolute safety from foreign
AGGRESSION, as every reasonable per-
son will ADMIT, being thus assured,
NAV ask my sober minded country
men for what purpose large armie>
ond hie naVieS-the characteristic tool
and favorite ornament of empire-may
he wanted by us. Being entirely I'M
necessary for defense. is the greatest
navy i'm the world. or any big navy,
the cost of construction and ma.nten-
ance of which will run into the hun
dreds of millions, needed or intended
the building and maintenance thereof
is a. wanton waste of the DeOD.eS
money wicked and objectionable. Rut
liz it is designed for any other pur-
pose, what is that purpose? the
world abroad will but too probably
see i'm il design of aggressive move
ments on our part. This would have
a most unfortunate effect. Whethcf
we entertain such plans or not-and
I am confident a large majority OF
the American people 10 not entertain
them-the world will always be dis
trustful of our professions of peace
able disposition. However smooth or
speech may be | favor peace congress
es and arbitration courts. the world
will see in the building of large ma
vies. utterly unnecessary for defense.
transformation of the old Republican
peace power into an empire preparlns
for war. The inevitable result Will
be an additional element of appre-
hension and disquiet among nations.
This republic movement, instead OF
leading in humane projects.
Il ask you now with all soberness
is it not for peace, Well-beng anu
happiness Of our people ana lof the
preservation Of our free institutions
10 which we owe SO much of our
growth i'm comfort. wealth and power
that, instead of ndulging our anDi-
ton in and adventurous policy or en-
pire ana dominion over foreign coun-
tries and alien populations; instead or
spuandering our substance in wholly
unnecessary war establishments at
immense costs; instead of sacrificing
me great conservat We principles and
high ideals we inherited from the fa-
theirs to the false glitter of imperial
| greatness which at all periods OF hu-
| man history has marked the decay
| and perditiOn ofArepublics; instead OF
! provoking the distruct of all mankind
| by the display Of armed force on every
| poss BILE occasion, which haise I sus-
picion of vague and hazardous
schemes Of restless ambition durking
! i'm the background-We should return
| to the principles and ideals which dur
! Ing the first century of our natonal
| existence have proved so just ana
| ienificent, so that government OF the
| PEOPLE. by the people and for the peo-
! nle may not perish from the earth
| Should we not devote our material
| as we'll as mental resources to the
building up of our great country,
| which is capable Of Infinitely greater
| development than it has so far attain
| ed and TO the solution of the pollucal
and social problems which surge upon
lbs? Should we not cultivate peace
! and friendship with all nations. scrup-
uiously respecting their rights, as well
as their legitimate feelings, spreading
| our commerce al lover the world, not
! at the lannon's mouth, but by intelli-
| gent and Industrious striving for SUI
| reriority in friendly competition as to
| the quality and proportionate price
of our goods? BY SO doing we should
present to the world the inspiring ex-
ample of a truly free people, peace
able and orderly self-respecting and
! happy in their freedom and prosper
! ity."