Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1898-11-25
ALL IN OPPOSITION.
MOVEMENT AIMED TO DESTROY THE
EXPANSION IDEA.

Edward Atkinson Presides at Organizers
Meeting-An Address to the People
Andrew Carnegie Sent $1,000 to Promote
object Omcers Elected.
An adjourned meeting of the organ
izers of the movement against the an
nexaton of the Philippines was held in
this city yesterday afternoon, says the
Boston Globe.
| A constitution was adopted, officers
were elected and an address was issued
to the people of the United States, urg-
ing prompt cooperation in getting sigma
lures to protest against the annexa-
ton of the Philippines.
Edward Atkinson presided. Before
the meeting he received a telegram from
Andrew Carnegie that he had sent him
a check for $1,000 for the use of the
movement. Funds have already been
subscribed literally.
The address is as follows:
GA true republic of free men must
rest upon the principles that all its citi-
zens are equal under the law, that a gov
eminent derives its just powers from the
consent of the governed, and that there
|
ton. These principles abandoned, re-
public exists but in name and its people
lose their rights as free men.
"Planting itself upon these lasting
truths, the people of the United States
solemnly declared in their constitution
that the citizens of each state should
have the privilege and immunities of
citizens of the several states, that all
persons born or naturalized in the Uni
ted States and subject to its jurisdiction
should be citizens of the United States
and the several states, and that the
rights of none should be abridged on
account of race, color or previous con-
dltion of servtude.
1.-The constitution gives to the United
States no more than to the Individual,
no right to hold slaves or vassals, and
recognizes no distinction between classes
of citizens, one with full rights as free
men, and another as subjects governed
by military force.
"We are in full sympathy with the
heroic struggle for liberty of the people
of the Spanish islands, and, therefore,
we protest against depriving them Of
Only by recognizing their rights as free
men are all their interests protected.
"EXpansiOn by natural growth in thin
ly settled, contiguous territory acquired
by purchase for the expressed purpose
of ultimate statehood cannot be con-
founded with nor made analogous to
foreign territory conquered by war and
wrested by force from a weak enemy.
A beaten foe has no right to transfer
people whose consent has not been asked,
and free republic has no right to hold
in subsection people so transferred.
"No American until today has disputed
these propositions; 1t remains for the
new Imperialism to set up the law Of
might and to place commercial gain and
a false philanthropy above the sound
principles upon which the republic was
based. In defense of its position it has
already urged the fallacy of the declara-
ton of independence and proclaimed a
wisdom superior to that of the trainers
of the constitution.
GAS solemnly as a people could, we
announced the war to be wholly for
humanity and freedom, without a
thought, desire or purpose of gain to
ourselves. All that we sought has been
accomplished In Cuba's liberation. Shall
we now prove false to our declaration
and seize by force islands thousands of
miles away, whose peoples have not de-
sired our presence and whose Will we
have not asked?
"Whatever islands we take must be
; ! halJ IN 10, tlo
: public. Either course is dangerous to
the physical and moral safety of the ma.
ton, inconsistent with our professions,
and must result in foreign complications
r which Will lmperil and delay the settle,
) ment of pressing financial, labor and adj
ministrative questions at home.
Impressed with the Importance OF
these views, and recalling the declara
ton of the president that the war with
Spain could never degenerate into war
of conquest, we have deferred action I'M
3 til 1t has become apparent that pressure
: was being brought upon the president tc
t convince him that public opinion demands
: the inclusion of alien territory and
. great masses of alien people into the
territory of the United States.
"We stand by the presidents declara
ton, and in order to give evidence of the
opposition to foreign expansion policy
by vast body of our people have or
ganized an anti-imperialist league upon
the following general plan:
"First-The center of the movement
to be at Washington, with local secre
tary there for executive work.
"Second-Committees of correspond
ence to conduct the work in such manner
/ as to bring together the united efforts Of
men of repute throughout the country
without regard to party, to deal with the
subject in all its aspects, as follows:
r 81. The moral lniquity of converting 6
! xuar for humanity into a war of oOuouast