Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 July 1900 — What Imperialism Means. [ARTICLE]

What Imperialism Means.

“Some of you laugh to scorn the idea of bloodshed as the result of secession, and jocularly propose to drink all the blood that will ever flow in consequence of it. But let me tell you what is. coming ou the heehs of secession. The time will come when your fathers and husbands, your sous and brothers, will be herded together like sheep and cattle at the point of the bayonet, and your mothers and wives, and sisters and daughters will ask, ’Where are they?' and echo will answer, ‘Where?’ ” Such was the prophetic utterance of General Sam Houston, the hero of San Jacinto, and then Governor of Texas, to a secession meeting at Galveston, while Texas was still iu the Union. It is well worth recalling at this time by those who would belittle the dangers of imperialism, and who do not perceive that the result of that policy would be to turn the United States into a camp of conscripts, and to bring mourning into countless homes for husbands and sons, fathers and brothers, sacrificed in distant lands to the Moloch of empire. Already, it is reported from Washington, the Federal Government is inquiring about the militia of the various States, with the view of raising an army for Asia, and this upon an understanding with other powers, and without Congress, in which the warmaking authority is vested by the Constitution. having been consulted. Pretexts will never lie lacking if once a career of aggression is entered upon. We will have an army of Africa, an army to chastise the Moors, and another, perhaps, to mix up in a quarrel conflict in Europe,‘and so it will go until a draft becomes requisite, and we are side by side with Germany, Austria and France as a nation ruled by a military oligarchy. The Spanish war cost us too much In blood ami treasure for Its dear-bought prizes to be surrendered, and the dignity' of the American name and the rights of American citizens should lie upheld In every part of the world, whether it be Constantinople or Pekin. But conquest for empire only—ln a word. Imperialism—will never be tolerated by the American people.—New York News.