The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-05-24
CONQUEST WARS.
John Sherman Opposed to Mon
archical Gain.
Any Further Fighting Not
Worth the Powder.
LEFT THE CABINET
Because He Could Not 1nd0rse
Administration Plan.
Philippines Offer Us No Kind or
Encouragement.
rGath in Pittsburg Dispatch.1


John Sherman, who has been in the past
accused of changing his politics for pop
ular opinion, but in his retiring years
shows a stiff adhesion to the tradition
and practice of his life. He was OF
Democratic antecedents, both his father
and grandfather being Madisonian in
their politics.
1 had seen the secretary riding around
Washington in his coupe, and thought
he had the natural look of that public
man I had so often sketched. So
called at his house Friday night and
found him sitting in his library, as ac-
cessible as ever. His sickness has not
so much changed his face-Whlch bears
the resemblance to Voltaire that it has
had for a long while-as it has affected
the elasticity of his mind. Never
passionate man, though sometimes pet
ulant, he now expresses himself with
a mild force, and does not raise his voice
even when his utterances are positive
while there is a mild encouragement
of our endeavOrs in Cuba" he said, L
see not the slightest sense in our long
excursion of 10000 miles to the Phllp-
pine islands. There we have no ac-
Quaintance or affinitieS, or anything
which gives promise of a happy solution
of a most foolish undertaking. Old as
1 am, 1 would be willing to take a
stand against our expeditions and sac
rifices in those far away islands, which
do not promise anything material or
moral to reimburse US. They are near
ly half way around the world from us.
The climate is deadly. The natives
show they do not want us by the cour-
age with which they fight us. They
are making a strong fight
Some think. Mr. sherman, that there
is no way now but to go on, and that
to turn back would be a disgrace?"
L do not think so. We cannot too
soon retrieve a profound mistake.
Those Philippine islands never were
the Spaniards out of Cuba. When we
attacked their fleet out there and de-
stroyed it we should have come away
L fear that perseverance in this mis-
take will hurt the Republican party
seriously. 1 was willing, when in the
cabinet, to drive the Spanish out of
Cuba There 1 agreed with the presi-
dent. I remained in the cabinet till
the May following my appointment. or
about fourteen months The Spanish
fleet was soon destroyed in Cuba, and
that really concluded the war The
military operations afterward were of
small magnitude compared with the
number of Spanish soldiery left there.
That victory, however, altered the
plans of the president, or made him a
convert to what he had previously OPP
posed-namely, any extended sovereign
ty over the Spanish possessions.
Il had followed the president in at
lacking the Spanish. He then changed
his policy, and did not consult me, and
resigned from the cabinet.
Il do not take umbrage at the presi-
dent for offending me, but for overlook
ing my office was secretary of state,
ard he did not consult me about his new
plans. He consulted Mr.. Hay"
''Day?"
yes, Mr.. Day. I attended the cabi-
net meetings, and participated in the
debates and business of my department.
The president, however, brought this
gentleman to Washington and transact
ed the state and foreign affairs through
him who was my subordinate Their
policy was not formulated nor declared,
but drifted along, following the military
successes, and my views upon mon
archical acquisition of foreign lands and
colonies had been known to the presi-
dent. When he took another policy he
went past me-
"The pressure for the Chinese trade
may have caused the president to want
to acquire the Philippines?'
Il do not think those islands have any
connection with getting the trade of
China. They are just in the opposite
course. England has had many oppor-
tunities to pick them up, as she has
picked up other Spanish possessions, but
seems never to have thought it worth
her while.
NEVER ANY GOOD TO SPAIN.
1.-The Philippines have been no help
to Spain in developing her own country
and keeping out of foreign trouble. The
Philippine natives had about taken
those islands from Spain when we went
there, and we appeared to the natives
in the light of a faithful ally. Now we
are fighting the natives as if we were
the Spanish. The Chinese trade we can
have by arrangement with the Rus
slams and the English. We are, in fact,
right upon the Pacific ocean, and our
natural base of trade with China is
from California and Washington state.
How can that trade be helped by form
ing another base away beyond China?"
England and Germany have adven-
tured with great decision very lately in
those regions2'
THAT is all right for England said
Mr.. Sherman: ''she is an iEsular nation,
without extension at home, and her
trade is far away. But we are cOter-
minouS from ocean to ocean, and have
a solid country, of which some of the
best portions are incomplete in coloniz-
alton. The states between the Missouri
and the Pacific were getting along fine
~, and had been taken into the union.
and as far away as Washington state
several cities had grown up of larger
population than Ohio cities had at the
close of the rebellion.
THE wealth we are taking out of our
own country now to fling after those
Philippine islands is fabulous. We
have taken away the miners and the
agriculturistS to subdue the Philippine
natives. Depend upon it, the other ma
tions do not envy us, but think US fool
ish! Above all we are not monarchi-
cal people, but republican people. We
should stand by our own lines and con-
tinue the example of our country in
| stead of becoming another England or
Germany, using up our young men and
our treasure to get foothold in I'M
| healthy and unproductive lands"
Mr.. Sherman said. concerning Presi-
dent Mckinley, that he wondered how
A man of his general want of public
| ideas or public policy had become presi-
| dent in the first place.
He was a congressman that we had
| to hold up and assist said Mr.. Sher-
| man. There was nothing in his course
| except trimming to the wants, he
! supposed them to be, of his immediate