Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-11-11
Full of Danger.

lib JSdI IDS DCSN ClOWOcO WIFI history and
crowded with glory. 1t is also to my mind,
crowded with danger. The flag of Spain, for
nierly the rroudest power OH earth since the
day OF the Roman empire has gone down in
darkness and in blood before the victorious
navy and army of the United States. The flag
of the United States has arisen in the eastern
sky like new constellation. LIE, us not accept
the duties and responsibilities of this victory in
any temper of vulgar glory, still less of vul-
gar greed of power or gain. The United
States came to these oppressed people, east and
west, as great deliverer. TO deal with this
great occasion by talking about coaling stations
and trade advantages degrades and belittles it..
We have not overthrow Spain, we have not
not periled the precious lives of our SOUS, that
we may add to our possessions, or thai we may
may make money out (f our new relations.
'But yet the first duty OF the American peo-
pie is to themselves, and when say this,
say It i'll no spirit OF selhshness, or of indl-
ference, to the welfare of mankind
son the contrary, believe that the h.les,
service the American people can render to man.
kind and to liberty is to preserve uiislained and
unchanged the republic as it came to us from
true fathers. 1t is by example and not by guns
or by bayonets that the great work OF America
for humanity is to be accomplished And in
my opinion we are i'll a great danyer-a greater
danger than We have encountered since lie PHI
grms landed at Plymouth. The danger is that
we are to be transformed from republic, found
ed OIL the declaration of independence, guided
by the councils of Washington, ilto vulgar,
commonplace empire founded upon phi, steal
force.
81, for one, am not dazzlrd by the example
of England The institutions of England have
enabled her to govern successfully distant col.
ONES and subjects. The United States are
founded, az Mr.. Gladstone pointed out on the
doctrine of equality. If we are to outstrip
England in national power it must be by pur-
suing our OWL path and not by following Ill hers.
at IS said that Porto Rico is already ours
1t may be that Porto Rico is 10 becon,e ours.
But there is now no authority urder the consti-
tutions of the United States to acquire any for
eign territory, save by treaty approved by the
senate, by two-thirds vote, or by All act of
legislation in which the president, the house of
representatives and the senate must unite
at is said that the Philippine islands are al
ready ours by the right Of conquest. For one,
deny this alleged right of conquest. Human
linen, women and children, people-are not
to be worn as spos OF war or prizes it battle
1t maybe that such doctrine finds place in
the ancient and barbarous laws of war, but it
bac, ,>1,o
1t has no place in the code OF morals OF the
people OF the United States. | have stated
elsewhere the conditions which in my Judge
inent warranted the acquisition of Hawaii.
Hawaii came to lis with the consent of her own
government, the only government capable of
maintaining itself there for any considerable
length of time. in the case of the Philippines
we are asked to subject nction and hold it in
subsection. We get them BY conquest aud hold
them by force. In the case Of the Hawaiian
islands we get them by compact made with
their lawful government.
"Some of our good friends have said thought
lessly in their zeal that WHERE the American flag
floats il must stay But surely they cannot
wish to commit the country to that doctrine.
we plah(ed IL Ill the city OF MEXICO. hut no
man demanded that it should stay there. If
the war goes OF we shall plant it on the coast
of anal hut we have 10 esire to hold per.na-
nent dominion there:
Of the Philippine islands become ours, then
under The late decision of the supreme court
every child hereafter born i'll them becomes an
American c,izeu, free to come and free to 90,
Are YOU going to hold them as sublectss ARE
you going to have trained and governing classs