The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-12-13

accorded its people at the earliest pos
sible moment consistent with safety a
assured success, will have an importan
bearing upon the solution of this cues
ton and portends the success of the pri
mary mission for which the war wit
, Spain was undertaken.
The A. F. Of L. in unmistakable tone
opposed the annexatio of Hawaii in tn
following terms:
Whereas, There is at present pendin,
in the United States senate treaty pro
/ viding for the annexation Of the Ha
waiian Islands;
- Resolved, That annexation would b,
tantamount to the admission Of a slave
state, the representatives of which would
necessarily work and vote for the en-
slavement of labor in general;
Resolved, BY the American Fedora
ton Of Labor that we disapprove of an
nexation;
Resolved, That we urge the United
States senate to reject the treaty fol
annexation, and to take such other steps
as may be necessary to maintain AMIGA
bic relations with Hawaii
THE annexation treaty was rejected by
the senate. AS a war measure, however,
The Sandwich Islands, with their con-
tract slave laborers. contract slave laws
and all that they portend, are now the
possessions of the United States.
Porto Rico, invaded as a war measure,
with its seni-nude people has been con-
quered and taken as a possession.
AT Manila, of the Philippine Islands,
where the Spanish fleet was annihilated,
! and with it Spanish authority. we found
! the most advanced of the semi-savages,
barbarians, Malays, Negritos, Chinese
and others of the same calibre, in revo-
! lutionary combat against Spanish author
ity. We are confronted with the awful
spectacle of our republic, founded and for
a century and a quarter successfully ex-
listing, upon the basis of the principle
| that governments derive their just powers
! from the consent of the governed; our
great republic of America, face to face
with the insurgents of Manila, seeking
by the force of arms to compel their sub
mission; recognizing that their cause
would he forlorn hope against the
mighty power of our arms, sullenly yield
ing to superior force.
81 take it that when the A F. of L.
declared against the wisdom of annexing
Hawaii it was based upon the nigh prin-
ciple Of American republican institutions,
as well as a fear of the dangers with
which the tolers of our country would
be threatened by coolie slave contract
labor
IF our attitude upon that question was
in line with the history, traditions and
principles OF our government, surely we
cannot be wrong when we urge that it
is a greater departure from the institu-
tons of our country and the principles
upon which our government is based to
take by force of aims a people fighting
for independence. II our interests az
wage-earners were endangered by the an
nexation of an island with 1OO,o COO inhab-
itants. how much more is the danger in |
taking a group of islands inhabited by
100000 of people. perhaps nearer the con-
ditiOn of savages and barbarians than
any island possessed by any other civ |
ilized nation on earth.
DESTROYS of avoiding in this report |
lengthy argument, L propose stating as |
succinctly as possible the grounds of our /
opposition to the so-called policy of i'm /
perialism and expansion.
1--WE cannot annex the Philippines with
out a large increase III our standing
army.
"A large standing army IS repugnant to
institutions and a menace to
the liberty of our own people.
"If We annex the Philippines, we shall
have oconquer the Filipinos by the force
of arms, and thereby deny TO them what
we claim for ourselves-the right of self
government.
I'VE shall seek TO conquer by the force
o farms instead of by our own industry,
and superior mentality and civ
ilizauon.
I'VE shall be compelled to open the
gates and admit the Chinese. Malays and
slave laborers who may come from our
new possessions" since the constitution
of the United States forbids the interdic-
ion OF the free entry Of men and their
products between our states and our ter
ritories.
'Our constitution requires the judges
II our federal courts TO make tneir de-
visions general and applicable to all the
states and territories; and The contracts
or the specific enforcement of labor and
he performance of personal service viii
have 10 be interpreted in the
light of these laws. and may become
generally applicable TO the workers OF the
United States. The decision OF the 81
,reme court in the case OF Robertson Y. :
Baldwin rendered last year. paves the :
way for a broader decision on these lines.
md increases the peril
The demand for expansion OF trade l
broad is based upon the idea that we {
TO larger extent than we I
- =
ur people who are workless, ahunge-ed I
md ragged. {
Expansion Of trade abroad has for its c
,asis the contraction OF the s,omachs of e
men. women and children AT nome :
The policy Of imperialism i a decia- a
alton that self-government mas failed. l
nd that the people cannot be trusted;
nat the dollar Is Of more consequences I
han man. and plutocracy and miiitarisn 4
obler than humanity r
The attempt 10 divert the attention OF q
III. people from the Hls from which we I
urer a nome to foreign questions VIII @
an" >
HE strictest attention was accorded ?
resident Gonpers in the delivery OF his T
ddress. which vas received by the dele ,
a;es with much enthusiasm. Al its con- :
fusion recess til O'Clock in the after 7
con was taken. ?
Al the afternoon session a number OF a
ommittees were appointed and the couS.d- 2
ration OF routine business was begun q
REPORTS SUBMITTED.
Treasurer John 3. Lennon submitted lis c
nuual report. showing tots- receipts Of I
,l.5Ss and total disbursements % SIS ls7.
.aving a balance on hand % 8 81 xi,h 7