The Saint Paul globe., 1899-02-12

Its intention was the ultimate independence
of dhe islands, but none Of them could be
passed Under these circumstances who
could blame the Filipino for striking
another blow for his freedom before his new
taskrnaster should have him too securely
chrottled and bound? Thus We gave abundant
provocation for the unfortunate conflict on
Feb. B. 1899. which marks the saddest day
the republic of america has yet seen. Every
drop Of blood that we cause to be shed in
that unholy CONFLICT will be a stain upon our
nag that all the coming generations cannot
erase. 1t Is enough to cause the Goddess Of
Liberty to lower her flaming torch, turn her
face to the broad Atlantic and mingle her
tears with the briny Deep
We closed the eighteenth century with a
new motto for the world: Liberty or
Death" That motto has been caught up by
nations around the world until 1t has become
dear to the hearts of men even in the lowest
grades of civilization. We entered into the
war with Spain at the close Of the nineteenth
century with still better motto Give my
brother liberty or give me death" In that
motto and our acts to enforce 1t We touched
a point in the scale Of civilization never be-
fore known to men, Greater love hath no
man than this that man should lay down
at the door of nations as at individuals. but
once. This was Americas opportunity
Meyer before had a nation entered into such
righteous cause. But we are not angels
yet. The astonishing victories OF our arms
on land and sea staggered our judgments and
made us drunk with exultation. Well might
We pray with the poet
Lord be with us yet
Lest we forget, lest we forget"
Have We not already forgotten the high
standard we set only one year ago? Being
seized seized. by that infamous curse Of the race,
greed for gain" bearing In this case the
subtle appellation of Expansion OF COM
merce We are proposing to reverse the great
doctrine OF the constitution and Declaration
n l66Yn n-,d II,
in the Philippines without the consent of the
governed, and by force, and deny that those
people are endowed by their Creator with any
lnalienable rights, among which are life. lib
erty and the pursuit Of happiness. Il that
be our new doctrine, and we propose to shed
blood to establish 1t. we had better put a
black border around the flag, drape Liberty
hall in mourning and go weep by the tomb Of
Patrick Henry. No more can We preach the
great doctrines that have been dear to mil
lions. The Fourth OF July will cease to be q
national holiday. and we should go sink old
liberty bell down by the Maine.
NO. no. my readers; this perilous doctrine
cannot. 1t must not, 1t shall not prevail. The
doctrine of 'Expansion," which means the
conquest and permanent retention, against
their wills, of foreign peoples Is poisonous
to OUT institutions and must perish In it's in
fancy. It is also safe to say that the Ameri-
can people will never indorse such doc
trine. Then If the American people be not
in favor Of the permanent retention Of the
Philippines, against their will, why in the
name Of all that Is fair and just do we not
give them the same assurances of ultimate
independence that VIE have given to Cuba?
II We. had done that long ago there would
have been no battle last Sunday, and II we
do it now the people Of the islands will doubt
less come in and help US to establish law,
order and stable government, like the splen-
did work being done In Cuba Then, retain
ing coaling station on one OF the islands,
We can Withdraw our forces As permanent
guard we can mako an amendment to the
Monroe doctrine that the aggressiors OF any
foreign power upon those islands will be oon-
sidered an unfriendly act by the United
States, "A. o. H.
Minneapolis Feb. .. 1899.