The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1899-01-11
sen thf zeal with (which ] performed

sen the zeal with Which j performed
my duties in connection with the strug-
gle that followed. While our troops were
face TO face with an enemy In the field
there was nothing for patriotism to do
but to support with all earnestness the
administration that had charge Of the
war. Now that a treaty of peace has
been signed am again free 10 say that
I have no apology TO make for my un-
altered conviction that the matter in
controversy might have been settled
by the resources of intelligent diplom-
acy without shedding a drop OF Amer
lean blood. without saddlng the coun-
try with hundreds of millions of new
debt. and without involving this coun-
try in an adventurous and dangerous
policy of expansion by conquests over
territories and peoples with which, and
with whom We have properly nothing
to do.
1T is repeated again and again that
the voice of this people demanded the
war and now insists upon retaining It's
so-caled results. namely. the forcible
control and government of nearly TO-
000,0O0 people who have just the same
right to independent government
as we have ourselves. II this be the
judgment OF the people. Ii has not man.
ifested itself in Michigan. My position
on the subject was, as / have said, per-
fectly well known to our people / new
er hesitated to let them know that i
did not favor what is known as eXpan-
sion or Imperialism al the present time.
The judgment they passed upon me
last November does not seem to be one
of disapproval. and there is no evidence
that the people of other states greatly
differ i'm this regard with those of our
own state. The war was precipitated
by the clamor Of an INSCRIPTIONS press,
which has no higher motive than to Sc
cure material for sensations and means
of increased circulation In this 1t had
the cooperation of equally unscrupu-
lous politicians, who hoped that the ex-
element and hysteria of war would
distract the popular mind from the
abuses of their misgovernment and
from the grievances which our own
people suffered and still suffer. great
er than those which any of SPANS sub
| jects had to complain OF. The reten-
ton of the Philippines as vassal COL
ony, never destined 70 become an in
tegral part of the American system, Is
now proposed and defended as a neces-
sary consequence of an unnecessary
war. and as a foothold for further ad-
ventures on the continent of Asia.
No Argument I'm Defense.
II have not yet heard one valid argu-
| ment in defense Of this ambitious and
dangerous policy. as il is now present
ed for congressional approval.
1t is claimed that there is nothing In
10 fnrni he l.
ton of any foreign lands whatsoever
This may be so. but l can never be-
lieve that the spirit of the constitution
the spirit of our institutions. the genius
Of our people. ever contemplated or
would deliberately tolerate. the pros
pect of acquiring control of territory
densely inhabited by people whom we
must hold in perpetual subsection by
| force of arms WHY should we
endanger. possibly destroy. this mag
nificent destiny by engaging in the
fearful and bloody scramble for distant
possessions on other continents fol
which we have no legitimate use-whicf
can never be the homes of our own
race, and whose population we must
keep as slaves? How much better tC
look forward to the building up Of a
|
nent occupied from gulf to pole by ]
homogeneous. free. self-governing peo-
pie, a race so mighty that for all timt
ii may defy the covetousness OF rivals
This was the dream of our greatest
statesmen, who. in all their brightest
hopes for the future OF this republic
looked upon this a. its manifest destiny
and never tolerated the thought OF be-
coming in our turn the oppressors OF
other peoples
Michigan is proud member of the
sisterhood of states! Her patriotic citi
zens have evidenced at all times a ten
der solicitude for the welfare of ths
Union. whether in war or peace I com
mend this subject, therefore. to your
earnest consideration and the consid
Grafton of the people Of the state, anC
hope that after mature elaboration anc
careful consideration, the voice OF Mich
igan may be heard upon the subject by
means OF a memorial to congress"
MISCELLANEOUS SUBJECTS.