Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-07-29
AGAINST CARPET-BAG IMPERIALISM.
Justice Above Everything.

editor of the Times, Grant City, Mo-:
Bditor Democrat and Journal;
The war now being waged in Cuba was in
aueurated primarily for independence from
Spanish dominion, aud the highest hopes of
those who precipitated the struggle for freedom
was that they might establish republic for
themselves and their posterity. For years they
have maintained the struggle with the same
heroic resolve that inspired our Revolutionary
forefathers, and their trials and hardships have
been infinitely worse. On the side OF the strug-
CLING Cubans is the universal desire for civil
liberty, while on the side of the bloody Span
auls is the fierce purpose to destroy every hope
of independence, to crush out every thought of
its final cousummation, and TO wipe of the face
of the earth the people who dared even to
dream of Cuban republic. The primeval
savagery that characterized the warfare of the
mother country against her dependency so
shocked the people of the United States that
humane sentiment was aroused in behalf of
the fathers, mothers and children of Cuba. 1t
was not sentiment of conquest, but purely a
humane desire 10 have murder, outrage, starv
alton and other dannabie atrocities ended on
the island of Cuba. At the inception of this
sentiment scarcely any one dreamed that the
idea should carry with it conquest and unwar
ransed acquisition of territory on the part of
the interfering power, Had such a sentiment
been openly advocated at the start, 1t world
have been hushed forever In storm of popular
indignation. The popular mind was right on
a.. Lx
and greed, is seeking to defeat the originally
good intentions of our people, who are now
made unwilling actors in new colonial drama
that many of them will wish in the future had
never been played. When congress declared
that "the people of Cuba, ,are and of right ought
to be, free and independent" it met with re-
sponsive amen from every true American heart
because, when fairly construed, II meant re-
public whose future destiny was to be shaped
by the people who had struggled so long and so
hcrocally for the prize Of liberty and indepen-
dence. No purer libatous of blood ever moist
ened The soil in freedoms holy cause than that
which flowed from Cuban veins. Shall those
people now be denied the fruits of their TOLL
suffering and sacrihcc1 The people of the
United States did not interfere in the war be-
tween Spain and Cuba for conquest and gain,
but merely for the sake of humanity, and on
grounds can they justify themselves by declar-
ing at this late day for policy of imperial ag
gression which has for its purpose unwarranted
and unnecessary acquisition OF territory. It
smacks too much of European methods and in
wolves the gravest of diplomatic complications
that must surely grow out of it, To impose.
upon the Cuban people a military proteetoratc'
and reconstruct the government under such
auspices, would be national crime, 1t would
destroy the confidence OF the world in our
boasted fairness in the treatment of our con-
quercd foes and victorious friends. America
for Americans, and Cuba for Cubans is motto
that will evoke assent from millions of hearts
that have tasted the sweet fruits OF civil and
religious liberty, and from millions moie who
have longed for the day that would confer upon
them similar blessings. To deny the Cubans
the right to reconstruct the government OF the
island in accordance with their own ideas
would be TO nullfy all the loss of life, treasure
and effort put forth by them to gain their free
dom. 1t has been the hope of ultimate freedom
that has cheered the Cubans on in the darkest
hours of adversely, and the prospects Of govern
ment by themselves has inspired them to con-
Time straggle that has carried down to death
thousands OF their bravest men, noblest women
and loveliest children. Shall we then ruthless
ly grasp the prize ont of their hands and thus
roh them2 TO do ii will be to belie our pre-
tensions and Justly subject ms to the charge of
Imperialism. President Mckinley must be OPP