The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-19
TINE VOICE or LABOR.
PrssiAsst 0eopers Takes the Admins
tration To Task.

Prssiasst 0eopers Takes the Admins
tration to Task-
Nj. Gompers. president OF the FEEDER
alton Of Labor. said In part:
All homo to the brave and valiant
soldiers and sailors who. by their tact,
judgment and heroism. planned and ex-
ecuted the war and brought victory to
our arms In q surprisingly brief Pc
riod. None can pay too glowing trib-
utes to the splendid heroism they dis
played.
In the midst Of our rejoicing over the
success OF our arms. IL is well that we
look to the auses that brought on "a
war with Spain and consider the ques
lions which have grown out of II and
the attitude In which we. as a liberty
loving people OF a great republic, should
contemplate IT.
Wal our charge against Spain in her
refusal to give the people of that island
of Cuba freedom and independence use
less? II we admit II We at once confess
h 4 u war with Spain was without
just cause: we confess to a most griev-
Gus wrong committed. Where IL the
spirit of holding out the helping hand
In aid of all people struggling for lib
erty n independence? Where has
hown this great outburst of our SYM
pathy for he self-sacrificing and lib
erty-loving Cubans? Is Il not strange
hat now for the first time we rear that
the Cubans sre MT for self-govern-
ment: that whether they protest against
1t or not they must be dominated by
us. annexed to us or become a depend |
ency OF ours?
Alas! there are some Am~ericans-our
money ma~kers-whose only God is the |
almighty dollar. whose only human or |
divine trinity Is dividend. interest and |
proht-come to the conclusion that IL
al ~2. h. A-l Il
der mercies. their plety and their dew |
iltry can hold full sway. These gentry. |
when there IL a question between lib |
erty n profit, present or prospective. |
throw liberty to the dogs as a |
and ~threadbare thing of the past.
A Wrong In Porto Rico.
II we have INTERVIEWED in behalf OF
Cuba and driven a foreign tyrant from |
her shores. We have at least authority |
for our action by the appeal of the |
Cubans. But what OF the |
Porto Ricans? They have not asked
our intervention; they have not plead
ed TOR action. They were invaded as
q military necessity. They number
800. 900 people and have not been d.
vided by herce conflict. II we give
and independence to Cuba, TO
which she In entitled. is there any justi-
hcation for our enforced conquest and
action In Porto Rico. Hawaii we have
annexed. irrespective Of the wishes OF
her people. who were not asked wheth-
err the constitution under which thew
have recently lived meets with their ap-
prevail. Nor was action In its direct or
Indirect form ever given to them for
The flag Of our country
waves In Hawaii over a people subju-
gated by u superior force In fragrant
OF the consent Of the gov
In the case OF the Philippines.
have the question repeated. only in
! much more aggravated form.
We do not oppose the development of
our Industry. the expansion OF our
commerce. nor the power and influence
which the United States may exert
upon the destinies of the nations OF the
earth. On the contrary. we realize
hat the higher intelligence and stand
srd Of life of the American workers
VIII largely contribute toward attain
ng the highest pinnacle of Industrial |
nd commercial greatness. The flag Of |
'ur republic should float over a free
'eople and must not form a cloak 60 !
Tide slavery. barbarism, d~espotism or ,
tyranny.
America, as we know Il. with its
blessing of peace and stability, must
lot Q e h~aphazarded for an era Of un-
ertainty and oppression and strife.
our flag must be greeted
. the emblem Of peace and as a rebuke
o dishonesty and despotism. We have ]
many problems confronting US at home, ,
1ithout attempting to divert the
thoughts OF our people to foreign com I
lications. IL IL worse than folly. aye. Z
In a crime. TO lull ourselves into the
ancy that we shall escape the duties I
Which We to our people by becom- 4.
ne a nation Of conquerors. disregard =
NJ the lessons Of nearly a century and .
quarter OF national existence as /
n independent. progressive. humane.
nation. We cannot with /
afety to ourselves or Justice to our
keep the workers and the lovers :
Z reform and simple Justice divided. or n
ivert their attention and thus render I