PROGRESS TOWARD IMPERIALISM.
By G.
THERE never has been an imperial government without some kind of state religion. So the tendency toward imperialism in a republic is always accompanied by the tendency toward church-and-state union. The United States Government is no exception to this principle. Militarism is the quintessence of imperialism, as is also a state religion; and during the Civil War the spirit of militarism was imbibed so freely by the people, both North and South, that it has been instilled into the minds of the children ever since. During the war, when militarism received its great impetus, there was organized the National Reform Association, whose aim is such a religious control of the state as to become practically a national religion. The influence of this movement has grown till there is now a so-called "Christian lobby" permanently maintained in the national capital, whose managers boast of their influence in Congressional legislation. Their influence is of such force as to be able to send their "bureau" documents through the mails under the free franks of certain Congressmen. In view of these conditions, it may be asked, Is the Republic tending toward imperialism?—Yes, so much so that in the last presidential campaign anti-imperialism as a leading plank in some party platforms was deemed essential. Furthermore the present Secretary of War, who is now in the Philippines, has publicly admitted the existence of an imperial party. In a recent speech in Manila, referring to the disposition of the islands by this government, Secretary Taft said the people of the United States were divided on the subject, and stated that "there is a considerable number who have the real imperialistic idea of extending the influence of America, by purchase and conquest, in the Orient, enlarging the power of the American Government for the purpose of controlling the Pacific and securing the largest possible share of the Orient trade, yet undeveloped." The "imperialistic idea" always is the subjugation of other peoples wherever possible, and the aggrandizement of self. When this spirit and the spirit of political religion are in evidence, there is manifest progress toward imperialistic government.