Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-12-20
OUR CANDIDATE IN 1900
Increase Asked in the Army-loO,
600 Men Asked For.

YE0S6 asked IOF an increase OF tuc dT
my to 100000 men, saying in that con-
nection; sThere can be no question |
that at this time and probably for
some in the future, 100000 men will
be none too many to meet the neces-
tiles Of the situation"
In all Difference to the suggestion
Of the Chief Magistrate of the repub-
lie, we ask, what are 1.-THE necessities
Of the situation" to which he refers?
The solemn pledge made, when we
entered the contest with Spain, was
that the war was not waged for con-
quest but for the freedom of griev-
ously oppressed people-solely in the
cause of humanity. We promised that
the war was not to be waged for our
enrichment, that we would assume
its burdens that the Cubans might be
freed from the oppression of Spanish
rule, and that we would rely for our
compensation upon the neighborly
relations we would be enabled to es-
tablish with them.
This was what we protested. Now
1t is proposed that we maintain an
army and navy in the PHILIPPINES, not
only to protect them from outside at
tack, but to keep its people in subjec-
ton to our rule over them. This is
the changed coalition and the neces-
stiles to which the president alludes.
But we are told that the cost of their
government will be charged to the
PHILIPPINES; that is, we deprive them
OF the right of self government and
charge them with Its cost.
A government that derives its power
from the consent of the governed,
does not need a standing army to
hold its subjects in subsection. A
standing army is a constant menace
to a government that rests upon the
consent of the governed and draws
its power from that consent. Any
-country that we must hold from the
people thereof by military force this
country should not want, unless it is
ready to repudiate the theory of the
founders of our republic, that ''all
just government rests upon the con-
sent of the governed"
II In protecting them from outside
oppression we can also favor them
with trade relations not given to 9TH
or tropical countries, thereby confer
ring upon them freedom and pros
perity they have.never hitherto enjoy
ed, granting them at the same
time local self govern.
ment, will have a tendency to
bring them, voluntarily, into govern.
ment relations with our country and
would induce them to seek member
ship in federal union.
The democratic party ought to op
pose the government of Cuba, Porto
Rico or the PHILIPPINES by military
force for the purpose of enabling 8
few spectators to exp lott it's people
and rob them of their substance as
was done by Spain by military force.
The regular army of the United
States has been about $4,000 on 6
peace footing, and its cost average.
Gas, 100000 year-$l, 900 year each
One hundred thousand men sent t.
the PHILIPPINES and supported ther,
would cost not less than $1,000 each
annua ", which would entail cos
of $3.50, zoo, 600 year upon the United
States. In addition to this there vii
be additional naval costs which will
become necessary to transport then
there. and to supply the commissary
department of such an army.
II the president were to ask to en-
list 100000 men to be armed will
picks, shovels and wheel-barrows
with the usual complement of mule
and carts, not to exceed the numbe
of beasts of burden need
ed for such an army in the field, an,
set them to building railroads to b
owned and operated by the govern
ment in the interest of the people, o
in making the canal needed to opel
water communication with the AT
lantic and the Pacific, could the mel
be enlisted for such service at tn
compensation offered for shootin.
Spaniards, or even at less than $500
year to each individual. And
recommendation of that characte
from the president would inspire tn,
corporations and the trusts of ever,
name and nature with horrid fea
OF its paternalism, and a horrid night
mare of fear would startle the corpo1
ations that profit from plumber o
that garner from fields they have no
sown. To enlist huge army in fe,
days it needs the Fascination
of war instead of the drudgery Q
daily toll.