Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-09-16
NO. II.

The expenses of the general government,
heretofore, have been very great, but our in
creased expenses hereafter, made necessary by
the present war, will be still greater. This,
with increasing local taxes and decreasing tar
iff revenue, will, ere long, become burdensorne.
Colonial empire sounds lotty and large
standing army and powerful navy have sort
of awe-inspiring influence on the few foreign
ers who happen to come this way. But, will
that compensate for the additional cost?
Is not the old government, with all its glo-
rious institutions, under which the American
people have grown great and strong, good
enough, after all? Would it not be better to
withdraw our army and navy from Cuba. Porto
Rico and the Philippines, and let the people of
those islands govern and take care of themselves?
We have already sacrificed lives and expend-
ed money enough to satisfy everybody that we
have done our full share as humanitarans in
freeing those people from the yoke of Spain.
Now let us let them manage their own affairs
in their own way, and not sacrifice other thou
sands of young American lives and other mil
lions of money in vain attempt to put on and
wear Spains old shoes.
pERILs OF COLONIAL POLICY.
Spain has been trying this colonial business
in these same islands for many years, and dur
ing the greater part of this time, she has had
wars on her hands therein that have cost the
lives of many of her own young men, to say
nothing of her awful slaughter, sacrifice and
suffering Of the natives.
Now, in view of all these facts, and for many
other good and sufficient reasons, would it not
be the part of prudence and wisdom for the
United States government 10 come home and
devote its time, attention and surplus money to
the development Of our own country? Let us
turn our attention to the peaceful pursuits of
life, enlarge our schools, develop our national
resources, encourage home industries and see
what we can accomplish, without colonies, in
another hundred years. We need not travel all
the way to Cuba, Asia OF the Philippines, es-
corted by the army and navy, to find employ
ment Beyond the Mississippi lies the best, the
richest undeveloped country in the world.
From every hilltop and mountau-peak flies
the American AeSsj DCChOhInS thS IIOiIiSASoo tiu
the unemployed, and guaranteeing protection
TO all who may come.
The climate is healthful, the soil is fertile
and the mountains are full of minerals. To
these rich fields let our young men turn, with
farm implements and mining tools, rather than
than 10 go away to distant disease-stricken
islands in search CT human beings to kill, "for
the sake of humanity"
Humanity begins at home, as the mothers,
to the present war will testify.
The methods of humanity are not subserved
bv war. 1t may sometimes be unavoidable, but
it is always cruel, wicked and barbarous. 1t
belongs to the age of savagery, and the Ameri
can people, with their high standard Of intelli
gence, integrity and enterprise; with churches,
schools, colleges and other institutions of which
all are proud, and with country the resources
and possibilities of which have no limit, ought
to set an example i'll the peaceful pursuits of
life tor the ess-favored people of other coun-
tries.
But we cannot do this by abandoning the sa-
cred principles upon which our government was
founded, and upon which it must stand or fall.
We must be true to ourselves true to others,
true to our government and true to our PROM
ises. SAMUEL J. CRAWFORD.
.--s-1u-an-H---z-@-s