The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-10-18
CRUSADE AGAINST
IMPERIALISM
Anti-ExpanSioniStS Hold Meeting
in Chicago.
1on nrIrOATrO AnrOrMI
so DELEGATES PRESENT
Boutwell, of Massachusetts, Reads Inter-
! esting Letter Before the Conven-
tion-The President Should
Be Held Responsible.

1ulcdSO, OCtODtI - hS OppOSitiOii "a
the anti-expansionists to the subjugation
of the Philippines took tangible form today
in the meeting Of about 16O delegates from
different parts of the country to launch
crusade against the policy of the admins
tration in the Philippines.
The meeting was called to order in Gen.
trail Music hall by Temporary Chairman
Edwin Burritt Smith, of Chicago.
MIR. Smith spoke in part as follows:
sit is my pleasure to bid you welcome to
this conference ON behalf of those who
suggested 1t 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 Nursery Rhymes
ut is now some eighteen months since
Mr.. Mckinley, with professions of reluct-
ance, deliberately changed a simple naval
position before Manila into complete mill
tary situation on Asiatic soil. The army Of
occupation was not sent to protect the
naval force under Admiral Dewey. 1t was
not sent to support a declaration that tine
Filipinos as well as the Cubans are and of
right ought to be free and independent.
1t was sent to defend a flag hoisted with
out right on a foreign soil. 1t was sent to
transform a war of liberation in the west
ern hemisphere into one of conquest. to
commence war of criminal aggression
Men recruited to fight for liberty in Cuba
were sent to fight against liberty in the
Philippines. Mr.. Mckinley thus trans
formed a war for humanity in Cuba into
war of inhumanity in the east.
1.-The vital defect In this policy lies in its
IN
force over alien and fully occupied terri
tory.
"The administration has sought by its
every act to commit the country ito policy
of annexation.
The acknowledged obligation of all loyal
citizens to support the government in times
of great national peril is urged TO quell op-
position to merely volunteer policy which
is still without defenders on its merits.
1T is assumed by those who have rushed
to Mr. McKinley's defense that 1t is for the
United States to give good government to
the Islands of which we have deprived
Spain. Some of us have come to regard
American civilization as meaning something
other than military edicts even in quest
of benevolent ends
1.-The founders of the American common
wealth claimed only representative au-
thority.
1.-THE administration seeks to complete the
destruction of self-government in the Phil
ippines before the American people cam
pass judgment upon its course.
''The attempt of 1861 was merely to divide
the country. That of 1899 is to destroy its
most cherished ideals, to make shipwreck
of what has made 1t distinctive among the
nations.
'"rhe self-assumed powers which Mr.. Nc
Kinley claims in the Spanish islands cannot
be exercised by a government which is to
remain representative.
'"rhose who have called this conference
believe that every effort should now be
made to arouse and organize the opposi-
ton, which Is known to exist In all parties,
to Mr. McKinley's revolutionary policy
The committee on organization of the
conference was appointed as follows: Geo.
c. Mercer, Philadelphia; Frank Scott Chi
cago; Dana Estes, Boston; Louis R. Enrich,
Colorado Springs, Col, and Paul F. Cos
TEN, st. Louis.
Hon. George S. Boutwell,, of Massachu-
sets, in letter read before the meeting,
among other things, said:
There are several points upon which the
conference may declare its opinions and
announce it's policy with entire freedom
and with much power.
1.-THE president should be held responsible
for the war in the Philippines and for the
sacrifice of life and the expenditure of
treasure incurred in its prosecution.
"The conference, in the name of the anti
imperialsts of the country, should an
nounce Its purpose to oppose his reelection
and its further purpose to oppose the cleo
ton of members of congress who may sus-
tain his policy.
1.-THE conference may declare its intention
to oppose the reelection of any members
of congress who may sustain an appropria-
tion of men or money for the prosecution
of the war On these points there should
be no compromise, no concessions.
'Thus far the president alone Is RESPONSE
BILE. Should congress endorse and sustain
his policy we can then carry the contest
into the states and districts for the purpose
of unseating the men who may have sup
ported and sanctioned the doings of the
president.
"At present we are not in cooperation
with any political party. Let us reserve
and preserve our right of action and our
freedom of action in the presidential cleo
tion of 1900, until that contest has been
organized, coupled with the understanding
that it is our purpose to contribute to the
defeat of any party that demands the SUBJ
jugation of the Philippine islands,"
Following the reading of the Boutwell,
letter, the conference adjourned until to-
morrow.
MEUNIER RECOVERING