, 1899-03-21
TUESDAY. ARCH 81, 1899.
NO LONGER A DEMOCRAT.

Arthur W. Phillips of Douglas, Wyo.,
formerly editor of the Central Wyo-
ming News. a democratic paper, writes
as follows to the Sun-Leader:
Douglas, WyO., March IL, 1S99.-In
your issue of the 9Th of this month you
chronicled the addition of Ex-Governor
Grant (democrat) of Colorado to the
ranks of the republican party, and that
he gives as his reasons that he does
not believe silver Will be made an i'm
portant issue and that he endorses the
administration of William Mckinley.
Ex-Governor Grant has been a prom
inent political leader. but there are
others" amongst the humble rank and
file of the democratic party, who wish
to pay their respects to the policy of
the president, especially in regard to
the handling of the Philippine .ques-
tion. "a.
The democrats in congress have de-
clared at a caucus on February 81, in
favor of upholding the Filipinos in
their rebellion against the law and au-
thority of this country, and commit the
democratic party to the policy of with
drawing from these possessions and
leaving them to native government(?)
which simply means anarchy. Hav-
ing been myself in some parts of the
orient, my observations have satisfied
me that such people are incapable OF
self-government, and to my mind an
independent Filipino republic is an i'm
possibility, and the idea utterly alb
surd.
But the worst of the resolutions at
this time is that they encourage the
rebels, and as a direct consequences
cause the death of American citizens
and a prolongation of an expensive
a AS the New York World. which
as everyone probably knows, is rabidly
anti-expansion, says: THE oppor-
%tuneness of the resolution may fairly
be questioned. While our soldiers are
engaged in actual conflict with the
Filipinos, and their position-a month
distant from reinforcements-would
be critical but for our naval force I'M
der the incompatible Dewey, there is
nothing for any American to do but to
support them until our flag and our au-
thority shall be respected" General
Wheeler told his political comrades in
the caucus the same, and said the party
would find itself disparaged in the
eyes of the country and of mankind"
The issue between the parties seems
to be the m question of American
or native control of the possessions
won from Spain, all other policies are
swamped. For some years ! edited the
Central Wyoming News at this place,
and as editor and also as chairman OF
the county central committee. have al
ways loyalty supported the democratic
party. But all my ideas of the fitness
of things, gained through years of
travel, and personal acquaintance with
some of the native races of the orient,
revolt at any such notion as that this
great country should turn over the
islands won by Dewey to the tender
mercies of a band of cut-throats COM
posed of half-breed Malays. Any per-
son advocating such a proceeding must
be totally ignorant of the conditions
prevailing amongst the oriental races,
or else indifferent as to the good name
of the United States abroad.
Under the trying circumstances of
the past year President Mckinley has
compelled the respect of the world in
his foreign policy, our sailors and sol
diers have routed the enemy at all
points, and 1t is my earnest desire to
see the stars and stripes remain over
all the territory taken from Spain.
For these reasons l shall join the re-
publican party from this time on, and
hope to be able to influence a few votes
to assist in retaining our oriental pos
sessions, which l hope and believe will
forever remain under the United States
flag. Yours truly,
A. w. PHILLIPS.