Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1899-12-08
IN. souTA DAKOTA. FRIDAY. DECEMBER 8, 1899.

SAN l0Ns oOO1T1 0VNS -
IA MEETING OF PATRIOTS.
Edwin Smith Scathingly Arraigns
Mckinley as Having Betrayed
American Liberty in Pur-
suit Of Empire
At the recent meeting Of prominent
men Of all parties in Chicago to give ex-
pressions to their views against Ameri-
can imperialism in the Philippines,
some of the ablest men of the nation
spoke.
The meeting was called to order in
Central Music hall by Temporary Char
man Edwin Burritt Smith Of Chicago.
SMITHS ELOQUENT SPEECH.
'.It is my pleasure to bid you well
come to this conference on behalf of
/ those who suggest it and in the name of
the great host of Chicago men and
women to whom the Declaration Of
Independence and the Constitution Of
the United States have not yet become
1 Nursery rhymes. The situation is too
grave and the occasion too important
for any extended words of welcome I
proceed at once, by request Of the com
mittee Of arrangements, briefly to state
the situation and suggest what we be-
ieve this conference may properly at
this time undertake.
| 1t is now some eighteen months
since Mr.. Mckinley, with professions of
reluctance, deliberately changed a
simply naval position before Manila in
to complex military situation on Ash
attic soil. The army of occupation was
not sent to protect the naval force under
Admiral Dewey. It was not sent to
support declaration that the Filipinos
as we'll as the Cubans are and of right
out to free and independent. It was
sent to defend flag hoisted without
right on foreign soil Tt was sent to
transform a war of liberation in the west
ern hemisphere into a war of conquest
in Asiain a word to commence "a war
of criminal aggression Men recruited
lto'fght for liberty in Cuba were sent to
fight against liberty in the Philippines.
Mr.. Mckinley thus transformed war
for humanity in Cuba into war Of in
humanity in the east.
i .'.The vital defect in this policy fies in
Tits purpose to extend American sove-
rignty by force over alien and fully oc-
cupied territory, Here lies the sharp
|distinction between our openly avowed
1policy Cuba and Mr.. McKinley's long
carefully yelled purpose;in the Philip
pines. It was this that made him
break faith with invited and accepted
allies. 1t was this that caused him
again and again to spurn and reject the
many overturns from the leader Of the
Filipinos. It was this that led him to
brand as rebels a vast population that
never owed allegiance to the United
States It was for this that he declared
and continues cruel war which he
may stop at any moment. It was for
this that he has vainly sought to bribe
Aguinaldo to betray the cause of his
people. It was for this that he has re-
established polygamy and slavery under
the American flag. His purpose to make
the Philippines permanent possession
Of the United States is the root of the
difficulty. That purpose realized, the
character of American institutions is
destroyed; that purpose foiled, the way
out is alike easy and honorable.
1.-THE acknowledged obligation Of all
loyal citizens support the government
in times of great national peril is urged
to quell opposition toa merely volunteer
policy, which is still without defenders
on it's merits. Thus dangerous pre-
cedent is in process of establishment.
If an administration may ignore the
issues upon which it was chosen, de-
liberately create condition of war
on the face of the globe, de-
bauch the civil service to obtain spoils
with which to promote the adventure,
and demand of all citizens suspension
of judgement and unanimous support
while it chooses to continue the fight
ing, we shall soon enjoy the blessings
Of chronic warfare. If this is allowed to
go unrebuked, if it is permitted to sue
csed, 1t will soon become our daily
bread
The founders of the American com
m onwealth claimed only representative
authority. It was We, the people of
the United States. who ordained and
es s5ablished this constitution for the
United States of America The re-
sulting government was a self lf-achieve-
ment, u growth from within, not a
benefactioD from without, an expression
not a source of authority. The result