Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1899-08-25
REVIEW OF THE WAR.
ANTI lMPERlALIST LEAGUE ISSUES A
STATEMENT.

sponsibility for the Philippine Job
Calls Upon All in sympathy to Unite for
Freedom and Independence.
The Anti-Imperiallst League was form
ed at Boston in the month of Nov
ember, 1898. 1t was the first organized
protest against the peralistic- colonial
policy on which President Mckinley was
then entering.
From the tone of the press 1t was to
have been assumed that the country was
prepared to tolerate and, finally, that 1t
would be compelled or induced to accept
the new policy, and thus to follow
England and to cooperate with England
! In the subiugation of the world to what
Is called Anglo.Saxon civilization.
In the few months that have passed
great changes have taken place. Anti
imperialist leagues have been formed in
Chicago, Cincinnati, PHILADELPHIA, San
Francisco, Detroit vt. Louis, Portland,
Ore, New York, Washington, and in
other cities and towns In many parts OF
the country.
These organizations, as whole, con-
tain an array Of names such as has not
been brought together In support of a
common cause since the signing of the
declaration of independence. That cause
is the declaration of independence
and the preservation of the great truths
therein announced, with their application
to the affairs of America and of the
world
The issue is again made up. The
republicanism of our fathers is assaled
by the doctrines of imperialism as they
were maintained by George III. The
country is comprehending the issue. A
vigorous and powerful portion of the
press, religious, secular, Independent,
and industrial, is giving full support to
the anti-imperialstic policy. 1t is not
known to us that the presidents policy
has one supporter In the press devoted to
the interests of agriculture.
The war in the Philippines is not
defended by any one upon the ground of
wisdom or right or Justice. OF bold and
manly defence on the basis of Justice we
hear nothing. We are asked to accept
an exculpatory analogy between our
conduct in the Philippines and our treat
ment of the Indians on the changing
frontier from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
If the analogy must be accepted it may
be said that our treatment of the Indians
cannot be dignified and made precedent
or defence for like policy in foreign
lands.
This league is now carrying on the
contest, and it will continue to carry on
the contest, upon the idea and in the
belief that the United States-that the
president Of the United States, especially
is responsible for the war, and that
President Mckinley, at any moment, or
the United States, acting through him
or through successor, can bring the
war to an end. 1t is our purpose to aid
in bringing the war to an end, and. in
advance, we reject any and every scheme
of compromise.
We are gratified, and we'll may the
country be elated, by the fact that the
laboring populations, with singular
unanmity, have resoved against the un-
American policy of the administration.
All that men can have at stake they now
have at stake in the issue that Is before
them. Their own right to self-govern-
ment is involved In the claim to self
government now made by 100000
artisans and land-workers In the Philip.
pine islands. The annexation of those
Islands to the United States, in what
ever form it may come, whether as
states or as colonies, means free and full
competition by the American laborer, of
every trade and condition, with the un-
derpaid and half clad workers of the
| tropics.
Henceforth the plain people, on whom
Lincoln relied-American born many :;
others immigrants from Ireland, from
Germany, from the Scandinavian states
are to enter upon the task of saving
the republic. OF their disposition we
are already well informed, and of their
capacity we are not in doubt.
In presence of the evidence before us
our aim is not so much to secure a
verdict against the administration as 10
obtain a dominating judgement which
shall stand as controlling precedent for
the guidance of the republic in all time
future.
In general, it may be said that events
rather than men have been our teachers
and henceforth, even if the country
should disregard principles, events Will
become our masters.
We have carried on a campaign of a
year, Including the winter months, In
the Philippine Islands, and a disastrous
campaign 1t has been. A force of 10000
| men has been wasted as an army for an
, aggressive movement, and the remnant
| Is now limited to the environs of the six
, or ten cities and towns that we are able
J to occupy.
J The war goes on, the public debt in
creases rapidly, the tax gatherer demand;
{ daily contributions from every household
for the support of the war, and for the
same purpose he collects a percentage
D., upon every business transaction and
? upon every Industry of the country.
But, outweighing all other events Il
tha demand for ON arnu Of Q0 0A0 nj