The San Francisco call., 1899-07-11

n URING MI Clevelands last term everybody
| was surprised by his discovery OF MI John
II Barrett, and his appointment OF that person
as Minister to Siam. Mr. Barretts experience IN
diplomacy consisted of ineXperience IN Journalism
which honorable profession he had failed to adorn as
reporter for paper in Oregon. He moved on the
land Of the white elephant and longed for great
things Our British brethren have been for years
carefully cultivatng the spirit OF Imperialism in all
American Consus and Ministers in Asia Colonel
DENLY was carefully coached in that line by the Brit
ish Minister in Peing. He had not been there long
until he sent up loud and bitter complaint about the
quarters furnished him to live in The British Min
lister had compound all to himself, and servants IN
livery and raiment that tied honors with the yeAo"
Jacket and peacock feather of old Ii Hung Chang.
Colonel DENLY stayed in Peking twelve years and saw
the British Minister lord it the Celestlals until
he longed to represent empire and take up the
white mans burden of kicking some poor devil
smaller than himself The same influences were
around Diplomat Barrett at Bangkok Ihe EnghSh
newspaper there received him with flourish OF head
lines and Immediately acquired American clrcula-
ton for he sent marked copies to everybody in the
country OF whom he had ever heard. The Bangkok
Times and Barrett were like organ and organ1st tie
settled an Americans claim against ChualOngkorn
for killing an elephant and burning woodPlle The
Times hailed it as diplomatic triumph that would
have reused the envy OF Hastings and Give and that
had made all Asia tremble with fear while not thrilled
with admiration To Mr.. Barrett the Philippine war
was an opportunity Having been taught by his Brit
ish tutors in Siam that the people OF Asia are not to
be treated as human beings, he was tool filed and
fitted TO the British need OF some one to keep the
English imperial policy in countenance. lie has re-
turned to his own his native land, like DENLY, to IN
str,1ct the mere American taxpayer, who only fur
~ 70
killed or rot alive under vertical in his duty to
violate the constitution in order that Barretts and
Denbys may have whole compounds and llverles and
do diplomacy in Asia up to the British standard he
has been and probably still IS raising his voice IN the
Eastern States in favor OF imperialism and IN convey
ance OF gross misinformation about the Philippines.
His representation OF the beauties of a tropical eli
mate and its adaptation to is the result either
OF great ignorance or unbridled mendaclty Races
are found planted by where the physical cond-
tions are adapted to them. Our race was placed IN
the temperate zone, and the tropical races were
planted in the torrid zone. When Mr. Barrett can
point to any estmabe number OF temperate zone peo-
pie born in the third generation in the tropics he may
relieve himself OF suspicion OF being either fool
fasifer.
But it is when he discusses the politics OF imperial
ism that Barrett shines with all the brilancy OF
mud nimbus He declares that we must keep the
Philippines because bought them from Spain, and
must hold them, no matter what may be the objection
OF the people In discussing alternatives he says:
I'VE cannot honorably sell the Philippines, for will
be barterng away 100000 natives, unless they them
selves favor said sale.
That illuminates the Barrett intellect We may make
war on Spain because she governed people against
their consent We bought the Philippines without
consent OF the natives and making devastating
war on them to establish our government over them
without their consent. Yet, cries Barrett, 1T will be
dishonorabe to sell them without their consent. Is
it more dishonorabe to sell than to buy people with
out their consent? Mr. Barrett has last furnished
an imperial standard Of honor 1t is honorable to buy
an unwilling people, to make destructive war upon
them and to answer their cry for mercy with the de-
and for unconditional surrender to call them rebels
because they resist being sold but it would be
dshonorabe to sell them another buyer unless they
are wilng
Long may Barretts diplomatic tongue wag as an
mperialist tocsin!