Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-09-21
A NOTABLE EXCEPTION.
Richard OIney Has Not Joined tho
Democratic Pessimists.

Democratic Pessimists.
Since Judge Parker and the Demo
cratic party have chosen 70 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 well to
recall that there is at least one Demo
crat who has not joined ia his party's
pessimstic walls.
Richard Olney, the choice of the
Massachusetts Democracy for President
at st. Louis, Attorney General and Sec
rotary of State during Cleyeland's 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 its
fat is law upon the subjects to which
it confines its interpostion," is a Demo
crat who has something stronger than
diluted ass's milk in his veins.
In an article printed in the Atlantic
Monthly for March, 1900, on the
Growth of Our Foreign Policy" Rich
ard 0lney 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 eounsels that
the United States shall live for and
within itself alone, Mr.. Olney boldly
proclaimed that such policy had 'tend-
ed to belittle the national character"
and has ''led to a species of provincial
ism and to narrow views of our duties
and functions as a nation.''
Do -, % n
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-
Comment of the isolation policy to the
time when this country and Spain went
to war over Cuba"
Nor can there be any seriO question
but Mr.. Olney is right.
And in this connection it was that
Cleveland's virile Secretary of State
said, 1.-The United States has come out
of its shell and ceased to be a hermit
among nations. naturally and properly"
He also emphasized the necessity for
preparation to cope with larger respon-
sihlities in these terms:
at goes wftha-t saying that the United
States cannot plGy the part in the worlds
affairs ii has jus. assumed without equip
ping itself for the part with all the in
strumentallties necessary to make its viii
felt, whether through pacific intercourse
and negotiation 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.
The equipment required for our new
international role must not be discussed
need will be forced upon us by facts the
logic OF which will be irresistlbe-and
however slow to move or indisposed to face
the facts, the national government must
sooner or later provide for it."
There was much morn 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 10 maintain them by
force.
The nation which goes about with
nothing but an olive branch in its mouth
jim other words, without increasing its
expenditures for coast defenses, for ships
and guns, for men and arms-cannot ex-
peet It's voice will be needed, In the
councils of nations. Every dollar the
United States is spending on its army
and navy to-day is an insurance against
war and national dish0noT.