The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-11-05
Some Facts For Christian Expansion
lists.
]. d. BUNDY.
(Raleigh Christian Advocate.)


To those Christian brethren who argue
that God is in the present war OF the
United tates with the Philippines, ana
that he is using this country as ms
agent to Christianize those people ana
those of Cuba aud Porto Rico, the fol
lowing facts are commended for consld-
eration. In the whole year of 1898 the
United States sent Cuba malt and other
liquors to the value Of $40, 769, and
during the first five months of 1899,
sent our beloved Cuba liquor valued
at $472,272, and also Porto Rico, III
1898, S3,66S against $191, 422 in the
first five months of 1899, and to the
Philippines, in 1898, 1897, against $780,
S33 in the first five months of 1889.
The Filipinos have a horror OF intox-
icating drinks, and wouldn't allow them
sold in their towns. Soon after our men
got possession of Manila, their capital
city, the sale of Intoxicating liquors be-
gan, and now there are 300 saloons
there. If a control of less than two
years shows such a result of corrupting
influence of this country on those people,
what the future holds III store our good
Lord only knows.
The destiny of those people, regarded
apart from all other considerations, they
had just as well go to hell as heathens
as to go as drunkards. But how about
our responsibility as a nation? AS be-
tween two evils and two responsibilities
to be met, wouldn't it be better for this
nation to let them take their chances as
heathens than seal their eternal doom
by making them drunkards? And
wouldn't it be more Christlike for this
nation to spend it's millions in support
Of missionaries and schools to Christian
ize them, rather than In support of
drunken soldiers to teach them body and
soulrkilling habits? Lit is a war of spoil
and barbaric cruelty ut the behest of
money kings and sharks. The advance
ment of Christ's kingdom is remotely
foreign to the minds of those behind
their tool, this accommodating National
Administration. If SO, why doesn't the
President enforce the law of Congress
forhidding the canteen among soldiers
Simply because through their lawyer,
the Attorney General, Griggs, the whis-
key kings said this law must be annull-
ed so we can establish our trade in the
nations new possessions through the eS-
angle of the American soldier as our
agent. The President does not disregard
their request, and permits the law to be
rendered null and void by an outrageous
legal opinion, an insult to the name of
Christianity What is the result? Bish-
op Thorburn, of the Methodist Episco-
pal Church, writes that he meets drunk
on American soldiers everywhere he goes
in Manila 1t is also said that the Unit
cd States Government often permits its
soldiers to get credit at the canteens for
an amount equal to one-half of their
months pay before it is due. No wonder
that when an American was asked by a
cultured native, SIS this the civilization
you bring u.s." he could only main
tain a Inundated silence. So the Amer
lean soldier is, perhaps. unconsciously
performing his part well.
If this he the kind OF civilization this
country is TO give these people, they win
be better off without it. ! have always
been and ann STILL in favor of foreign
missions. but the tide of corruption,
which the covetous Of this country are
sending to those people, makes me see
the need of home missions in new
light. Until the fountain be cleansed,
its issues can only be corrupt