The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-12-29

put others into this hell, pa, or only
those who try to put themselves there?
Both, my son, both. Why, Johnny,
when our revolutionary forefathers
were fighting for independence, the
eloquent Chatham said in the house
OF lords-I learned what he said when
| was a boy like you: IF were an
American, as l am an Englishman,
while foreign troop was landed in
my country, ! would never lay down
my arms! Never! Never! Never!
| Was Chatham traitor, pa?
traitor, my child? No. indeed!
| He was one of the noblest of heroes
| because he dared to stand up and, in
the very face of King George, take the
part of the Americans across the sea
who were struggling for liberty and
independence. Don't you ever let me
hear you call such man as that
traitor again, or I'll traitor you with
strap.
The boy was silent for a minute or
two. Then he ventured to ask an
other question.
at that time supporters of George
Washington?
NO, my son; many. of them We're to-
rles, especially those who were emf
nent for their wealth, Responsibility
and piety. Then the people who lived
in Canada did not take part with the
colonies which declared their in
dependence of Great Britain. Then
there were French settlements in the
south which had nothing to do with
the revolutionary war. Then the In
dams, of course, hired out to Great
Britain, like the savages they were.
But was George Washington right,
pa, and those who fought on his side?
Certainly, my son. It was a glori-
GUS cause they fought, bled and died
for-the cause of free government.
That is what our flag stands for; and
whenever you see the flag, my son,
you should say to yourself: THAT is
the only flag in the world that stands
for freedom
But didn't We use to have slavery
in this country, pa?
Yes, my son; but that is now all
done away with, and our flag floats
over the land of the brave and the
home of the free''
DO we have polygamy here, pa? Is
polygamy good thing to have about
the house, pa? What is polygamy, pa?
Why, you little fool, polygamy
means having many wives. 1t is an
awful wicked thing. No, we don't
have it in this country, except out in
Utah, among the wicked Mormons, and
1t has got to be rooted out of there.
Me and your mother signed a petition
today against letting that old polyga-
mist, Roberts, take seat in the
United States senate. He should be
shipped out of the country, for ours is
Christian country and wants no
polygamists on our sell or under our
flag.
Say, pa, arc yon an anti-impcria!ist?
An anti-imperialist? What put that
into your fool head? Don't ask such
fool questions. Why, anti-imperialists
are traitors! believe in supporting
the government
What is the government, pa?
why, Mckinley, of course; he's pres
ident.
Is Mckinley tyrant, pa?
What makes you ask such fool uues-
tons? No, he's not tyrant. He's a
Methodist.
But, pa, If tyrant is "a ruler whose
authority rests not on the consent Of
the governed, but on arbitrary power
or mere brute force" and if the Fill
plnos have never consented to have
Mckinley govern them, why isn't Nc
kinley tyrant? And why isn't re-
sistance to Mckinley obedience to
God?
Oh, you make me tired! Why, those
F1llpinos don't know what's good for
them. President Mckinley only wants
to bestow upon them benevolent as
similation and good government.
But, pa, didn't Kinley himself say
that "forcible annexation is criminal
aggression?
Yes, but that was more than year
ago. Besides, that referred to Cuba.
and not the Philippine islands.
But, pa
Shut up, or I'll "but" you!
The inquisitive boy was silent for
about five minutes. Then he began
again.
Say, pa, didn't George the Third
say he wanted to give good govern
ment to the colonists-better than
their chiefs" could give them?
Yes, but they wanted to govern
themselves.
Well, pa, don't the Filipinos want to
govern themselves?
Yes, but they're not Americans.
Then Aguinaldo only represents nor
ton of the Filipinos.
Yes, pa, but didn't you say that
many rich, respectable and pious peo-
pie were tories and We're not support
ers OF George Washington?
Oh, that's different! Don't ask such
fool questions.
Say. pa
Well, what is it? Don't "say. pa" me
much more.
Well. pa, If the anti-imperialists
take the part Of those across the sea
who are struggling for liberty and in
dependence" why aren't they heroes,
same as Lord Chatham was?
Oh, because!
Well, pa, II our flag floats over the
harem OF the sultan of Sulu, and over
his scarem or whatever it is where he
keeps his slaves. does it stand for free
dom and no polygamy there? And
why, pa. isn't slavery just as wicked