Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1899-05-04
About tI1e phlIpplnes.
Ep1Ton HrnALp:--

ing that l am not dlsloyal to my
country or its flag, as some OF the
people in and about Marvin think, or
seem to think.
I have said repeatedly and say now
that / am not in sympathy with the
present administration, or it's hnngers-
on, in regard TO the war, or, more
properly speaking, the willful murder
ofthe natives OF the Philippine Islands.
Our ancestors IN the days Of the rev.
olution fought for freedom and lib.
erty, but we have had two factions in
the United States ct all times; those
who love liberty, and those who want
dollars and O certain few TO dictate
and rule the masscs. We at one time
in the past had by sanction OF Ohe
people, the "Monroe doctrine" which
the present war has entirely destroyed.
While I believe il was right to help
the Cubans obtain their liberty from
Spain, / also hold that we have no
rights in the Philippines After
having destroyed the Spanish feet at
Manila our forces should have been
withdrawn after simply obliging
Spain to give us coaling station on
the island Of LUzon. The shackles of
Spanish slavery have been broken
but what is the result? Are we
allowing Cuba to have freedom az
those who helped in the freedom Of
our beloved America allowed us to
enjoy it, We fought for freedom
and gained it through the help of
others or at least with their aid and
then they bid our fair land aleu- and
left us to ourselves Have we by fol-
lowing their noble example left Cuba
to formulate her own government?
No, no, but we have set thumbscrew
on the little island to bring them to
our terms. Is it possible that four
hundred years of missrule end op-
preston was not enough. Did the
Cubans ask us to govern them?
Surely not They asked Us for aid
we gave it and then turned upon
them. Did Lafayette give the Amer
lean people this kind of treatment.
Surely not, he was a gentleman and
patriot
During the latter part Of the year !
1898 Cuban commission composed \
Of the leading spirits Of the insur-
gent government and headed by
0slixto Garcia visited the United ;
States for the purpose of acquainting
congress and the president with the
desires OF the people Of Cuba. I'm I
medIately the question of annexation O
'prang up in the villainous hearts Of a
Iome OF our leading men. They saw Il
he financial advantage to be gained N
" annexing the islands, buying up Il
arge plantations and bringing the g,
PRODUCTS of the same into the United =.
States without paying tariff, which
he same men have been willing to I
impose on other people making them i
heir beasts of burden. However the
GENERAL very quickly put these ideas
o fight by declaring that "the peo. =.
lie of CUBA had implicit faith and =
rusted in the United States to give y"
)uba free and independent govern "
lent as was promised in senate reso- y
ltlons." The general also gave us y
, understand that the Cuban people 8
ERE willing that the Americans 3,
Mould occupy the island at present -
ut that there was no sentiment in o,
lvor Of annexation as had been =,
liked IN this country, but that r
Free Cuba" was the watchword as H'
YER He also gave our people to
Understand that to annex Cubs, force '"
American arms would be necessary. -
here can be no doubt in the mind %
anyone who will give the matter ="
le least thought, as to the present ~
tentions of the head of our gov.
'nment toward Cuba, and as certain %
J we live unless better men at heart
and at the head OF our nation an.
sxation will be the ultimate result.
We boast that we have freed four :,
illiOn slaves in the United States,
hich Is true, but must we tsrnish ~
Q good name Of our nation by buy
& the Philippine Islands and the N
Itives with them (which we have Nv
orally done), and telling them they
ust submit to our ways of life and
We of their revenue or be shot to
sth. Some would-be christian peo.
8 In this country tell me that the pr