Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-09-20
Spain surrendered to the unitetd states

| tyranny Immediately following our
declaration Of war, the American con-
gress solemnly proclaimed to the world
that the United States hereby dis
claims any disposition 10 exercise SOW
ereignty, jurisdiction or control over
said island. except for paciflcation
thereof, and. asserts its determination
when that is accomplished to leave the
government and control of the island to
Its people" That disclaimer breathed
the spirit of '76. 1t respected the fed
| eral constitution and reaffirmed the
Monroe doctrine. 1t was an expression
of national devotion to human liberty
without precedence in the annals of
history. 1t was inspiration to the OPP
pressed of every color, race and cline
to demand the privileges of self gov:
eminent. To have said then that 1t ap-
piled only to Cuba and not to other
Spanish possessions would have been
mockery of our pretentions. To say so
| now, is to turn backsthe wheels OF time.
II the Cuban resolution was an hon
est expression of our Intentions, how
can We justify our refusal to extend
like treatment TO the Filipinos? From
the standpoint of an American, the
Fhilippine war Is without justification
In law or morals. 1t is contrary to our
traditions and institutions, and in con-
AAASS sNAth Liz RiIiClpIGS lOr WHICH tue
revolution, rebellion and Cuban wars
We're fought For us to contend that
the f1ilpinos are in rebellion Is to as
sert the sentiment of George the Third
when he sent the redcoats to slaughter
the troops of Washington, but less ten
able, because the colonies had ac-
knowledged British sovereignty, while
the Fflipinos declared the independence
OF The archipelago before Bunker Hill
was baptized in freedoms blood and
are now but continuing their struggle
for liberty against another and more
powerful, If less righteous foe PresI-
dent Mckinley has never announced
his policy towards the Philippines, and
upon that question the republican state
platform Is as silent as the grave,
William Mckinley, in his dual capac-
lily OF president and commander-in-
chief of the army, is carrying on the
Philippine war without authority OF
congress- He Is wholly responsible and
we must determine his policy accord
ingly. The fact that Judge Day was
appointed chairman of the peace COM
mission and Minister Hay was recalled
from the court of st. James and made
secretary of state, thus forming an con-
fidential cable between London and
Paris by way of Washington, and that
soon afterwards the peace commission
which had been instructed to demand
coaling station only, forced from Spain
the cession of the Philippine group,
that the president about that time ask
ed for standing army of one hundred
thousand men, and following this but
before hostilities had been commenced,
Agoncillo. as an emissary from Ag-
uinaldo, was denied audience at Wash
ington. that England soon placed EN-
peror William in the false attitude of
an enemy of the United States in Sa-
moa; that the administration has al
ways refused to treat with Aguinaldo
on the basis of the Cuban resolution;
that when Aguinaldo sent an officer to
General Otis, protesting that he had
not authorized an attack on our forces
and proposed a neutral zone to prevent
further hostilities, General Otis replied
that 1.-The fighting had begun and must
go on to the grim end;' that grim
war" still goes on with the ravages
of death to our brave boys and the de-
tails to the press and mails censored
by an incompetent general In command
of the American army. who, unable TO
retain his conquered territory. is now
fighting lest he shall be driven into the
Pacific ocean; with such a record, is
there any possible doubt but that the
presidents Philippine policy is colo
NAL empire, militarism and English
alliance? Is not such policy destined
to advance the prophecy of the venera-
Bile republican, Senator Hoar, who said,
THE downfall of the United States will
date from the administration of Will
>liam Mckinley"
Imperialism involves not only the ac-
QUESTION of remote territory by con-
quest, but a denial that governments
derive their Just powers from the con-
sent of the governed. Never before has
this question been squarely presented
to cur people, and now only because the
president has usurped The powers of
congress and disregards the constitu-
ton. The acquisition and permanent
retention of the Philippines means COL
onial expansion in it's most radical
form. The Philippine islands are more
than seven thousand miles distant, To-
Gated in a tropical climate and in Ash
ostic waters, inhabited by an alien race
which, for more than century, has
waged war for self government. and
now repels our invasion with the
Mauser rifles we placed in their hands
when they We're our allies against the
Spanish army. We forced the cession
Of the islands as condition precedent
TO peace with Spain, and are now STAY
Ing the Filipinos to establish our au-
thority over them. Imperialism, mill
tarism and alliance are dependent upon
eacn osnerr they develop together and
1t Is as certain that we have them all,
as it>is that we have any one of them.
The volunteer army is born of love of
country. 1t is the product of demo-
cracy. Great standing armies are
creatures of monarchs and the destroy
ars of self-government. Militarism and
democracy are Incompatible. The as
tendency of the army bodies evil for the
republic. II is the weapon of the pow
erful and menace to the weak. 1t
Is the entering wedge of imperialism
and the forerunner of foreign entangle-
ments. Existing conditions make 1t APP
parent that at this time there is an
alliance between the United States and
Great Britain. and denounce it as un-
American. 1t is in conflict with the in
SEPARATIONS, aspirations and cosmopoli-
tan character of our country. We are
not an Ansl0-Saxon race. 1t is a mis-
homer. AS the boys who followed Hob
son into the bay of Santiago were de-
scendents of Germany, Ireland, Bohe-
mia and Scandinavia, so are our people |
the best blood of all the nations of the
world. In that very fact rests our Sc |
curity that. hereafter as heretofore,
peace and plenty will abide with us for
ever. We have nothing of unkindness
for the Englishman, but we do suspect |
the Court of ST. James. England never
did and England never will serve an
other country, but from Interior mo- |,
tives She has been our unrelenting |