The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-01
STILL ABUSING CAPITAL.

In his recent TRADE against the President
Representative Johnson had a good deal to
say Of the money combine which he de-
clarcd had controlled the Presidents Phil
ippine policy. He characterized 1t as "the
spirit of American greed which cares moth
ing for the spirit of American liberty" He
charged the President with having surren-
dered 10 the demands of the selfish capt.
talists of the country" Proceeding, he said:
These are the gentlemen who furnished
the money for his nomination and election.
and who. L doubt not. have pledged MN a
denomination and a reelection. These are
the gentlemen WfO are already graSplng art
CT special PRIVILEGES in the Philippines. in
Cuba, and in Porto Rico. 1t was. / imagine,
for their especial benefit that the President
created his advisory board TO the War De
partment. composed OF three American citi-
zens, their object heing TO farm out valua-
bic privileges and immunities which should
belong TO the people Of those islands them
selves. And what do these gentlemen pro-
pose? To amass colossal fortunes in the
islands by virtue of their franchises and
upon the cheap labor of the native popgla3
its lodging place in the pockets OF the Amer
lean people.
Mr. Eugene V. Debs. in his speech in this
city Monday night, took the same view. in
sisting that the acquisition OF our new pos
sessions was only the result Of the work Of
capitalists and corporations.
If we did not have in this country all
forms of de1nagogy and Misrepresentation
for political effect we should say it is amaz-
ing that any man can be so blinded by pref
udice or passion as to make such asser-
tons as those above quoted. 1t can only
be accounted for on the theory that some
men substitute the money power for an
overruhng Providence and see in capital
lists and corporations the divinity that shapes
all our ends. The acquisition of Porto Rico
and the Philippines was the natural and in
evitable result of the war with Spain, and
if there ever was an event in our history
which the money power and the capitalists
and corporations of the country had no hand
In bringing about it was thai war. Capital
is always opposed to war as it was in this
case. though when the war began no class OF
citizens surpassed the capitalists in the
promptness and effectiveness of their sup
port. While it was universally regarded as
a wal for humanity and before any person
dreamed that we would acquire new terri
tory by it, the capitalists and corporations
OF the country were conspicuous by their
support of the government. The insinuation
that they were actuated by selfish and mer-
cenary motives is without any foundation
in fact and a gratuitous insult to a large
class OF American citizens. If the Presi-
dents Philippine policy is dictated by the
capitalists. how does it happen tina Mr..
Carnegie, one of the richest men in the
country. is also the most violent anti-ex-
parsionist? VIII Messrs. johnson and Debs
say it is because he did not get in on the
ground floor? How does it happen, further,
that Mr.. German, one of the few million
aires in the Senate. is leading the opposition
to annexation of the Philippines? The
Johnson-Debs contention is pure rubbish.
The capitalists and corporations of the coun-
try have had no more to do with shaping the
Presidents policy than they did with caus-
ing the recent cold weather. Those who
make such assertions have yet to learn that
a majority of the American people are not
fools and that they regard tho persistent
abuse of capital as one Of the most con-
temptible forms of demagogy.