The Comet

IMPERIALISM.

I have seen it stated that some years ago in New York or other seaport town a paper was started called the Imperialist, the avowed purpose of which was to bring about imperial government in lieu of republican government in this country. As can be readily understood this open, avowed imperialism made small headway, and both the paper and the imperialist party went under, the promoters giving it out that the imperial purpose could be more successfully accomplished through the republican party and in a covert way. The explanation given for the failure of the open, avowed imperial move was the reverence of the people for the Constitution. The imperialists in adopting the republican party as their instrument did not mean that all republican voters and politicians are imperialists, but that the organization could be ultimately used to establish imperial government. They did not mean that President McKinley and his supporters are imperialists - for the president's proneness to consult public opinion is ample proof that he is only an imperialist, limited - but that both he and his supporters could be used to establish an imperial government. It is not and was not the opinion of the open and avowed imperialists that silver democrats, silver republicans and populists could be so used, and we can commend their sound discretion in the matter.

No doubt there are quite a lot of men in this country who - because of wealth and wisdom and for divers other reasons - agree with the millionaire in saying, "damn the people." This class is ably seconded by a much larger number of pig-headed people who vainly imagine that they too are "big folks." These of course, can see small reason why the "common herd" should share with them in the government of the country.

Imperialism is governed by a minority, whether that minority be one man or a million. And the wisdom of the imperialists in choosing the republican party to carry out their plan is seen in the progress already made by that party toward government by a minority. A small minority, made up of money lenders, manufacturers and great commercial and transportation companies, now govern the country through the republican party, as may be seen in the favorable legislation given these classes at the expense of the majority. Indeed for all practical purposes the republican party is a mutual benefit association of these classes to control the government in their own interests. These are "ably seconded" by quite a lot of people who vainly imagine they are prosperous because the classes for whom the government legislates are prosperous. But there is now a marked tendency in the republican party, which, however, is more marked in Cleveland democracy, to turn the government over to a yet smaller minority, the money lenders.

But a new avenue and shorter cut to imperialism has opened up for the imperialist in the expansion mania, using the term 'mania' as an antidote for lunacy in financial discussion. The expansion policy calls for great force in the government because great resistance is to be overcome, as that of the Philippines and Europe. The force resident in our republican government under the Constitution meets all the requirements this side the Monroe Doctrine; only an imperious president and an imperial government can foot the bill of an expansion beyond that doctrine. But a republican government with expansion proclivities may readily get us into trouble beyond the Monroe Doctrine though without the ability to get us out again. Therein is the danger to this people and republican government of the present administration. With republican instincts and habits to lull the people while its expansion proclivities bring up problems which only an imperial government can solve, the present administration serves remarkably well as the transition stage from republican to imperial government. Thus would the President, although not an imperialist, unlimited, serve well the purpose of imperialists, and establish beyond cavil the great, good judgment of selecting the republican party as the means of accomplishing their diabolical purposes. An out and out imperialist party could not have done better and hardly so well.

An expansionist is not now necessarily an imperialist, but must inevitably become one, because only a strong, imperial government can cope with the hornet nest which expansion beyond the Monroe Doctrine sets agoing. No sooner will the administration show its inability to cope with the situation, its visionary schemes are surely developing in and about the Philippines than imperialists will open with a loud cry for a stronger government. And many will then join in the cry who now oppose the whole expansion business; for a stronger government may then be the only salvation for national existence. Thus will imperialists lead on with an unerring, diabolical cunning to their ends.

Expansion not only calls for a large army and navy and an able diplomacy, but also for an imperious President and an imperial government. It is for this reason - if expansion is persisted in - that we claim that McKinley will necessarily rattle in his place. Not that he has not republican instincts to the extent of certain classes, and ability to run a republican government for these classes, but for the very reason that he has these things.