Evening journal., 1899-04-17
STEVENS WILL NOT RETRACT

PERSISTS IN PRAYING THE GOD OF
WAR TO DEFEA~ AMERICAN
TROOPS AT MANILA.
George Frank Stephens. the WEI known
Single Tax leader, has not regret ed tbs
0tternnces he made At the Manhattan
Single Tax dinner in New York on
Thursday night last.
During his speeoh Stephens prayed
thai the United States troops now in the
Philippine Islands might be defeated by
the natives, and In an interview states
that his statement was not made hastily.
Stephens talked freely with a corre-
spondent Saturday about his traitorous
remarks. He said:
THE statement made at the Manhat-
tan Single Tax dinner was not n hasty
or chance one, but one that is the result
of much thought and consideration. Ev-
cry word / uttered intended should be
taken absolutely, as II was spoken. /
maintain that the United States has no
right in the Philippines, and again
state that 1 sincerely hope that the God
Of vengeance Will overwhelmingly defeat
our troops.
Not that l am anxious for any loss
of life. but simply because the United
States is trespassing. The United States
is doing now exactly what the IIesslans
or King George III d9d to our fore
fathers. Does any one blame US for
fighting for our freedom in those days?
'The Flhpinos have just as much right
10 fight for their country as we did for
ours. The United States cannot show
They were purchased from people who
had no right to sell them.
THE assumed right was one Of con-
quest, and they really hal no rlgh,
whatever in the country. much less sci!
it to America. The Fi,pnos are clearly
within their rights in fighting.
THE military despotism at present ex-
erclsed in the Philippine Islands will be
followed by military despotism here af-
ter the present trouble in the Pacific is
at an end The troops Will be used
against workingmen some time in the
near future.
War could have been averted II the
administration had been able to cope
with the problems OF home government
1t Is because they could not do so thai
they declared war with Spain TO covei
up their failings at Washington and
persuade the people of this country thai
they were engaged in a righteous cause
THE Democratic party should take VI
the Imperialism question and fight &
tooth and nah. Let them leave the free
silver issue to take care Of itself an,
conhne their policy to opposition to ex
pansion and imperialism. and follow tn,
true principles laid down by Thomas
jefferson.
There is no need to deny the meaning
Of the statement which was made by an,
in New York on Thursday night. I sha,
attend THE Bryan dinner in New Yorl
tonight. and have been asked TO speal
at the second Bryan dinner on Wednes
day next. which invita- ton 1 have ac
cepted."
George Frank Stephens is YER
well known in this city and throughou
the state. He has frequently spoken fl
advocacy Of Single Tax upon the stree
corners to a large crowd Of listeners.
Some two years ago while attemptin
to address an audience in Dover on IN
public square he was warned by tn
authorities that such utterances woul
not be permitted, as they were seditiou'
and also that he had TO right to speal
according to the town ordinance, in s
public a place. Stephens disputed tn
claim of the authorities and refused I
leave, and in company with c. A. Brott
ers and several more leaders. We're al
rested and locked up in the Dover jai
where he remained a week, being fnall
allowed to depart by the governor, hi
case never being tried. He is membt
of the Executive Board of the Sing
Tax Society of Philadelphia. and was
one time president Of the society. He
sculptor, and was formerly "a demon
strator of anatomy at the Academy
the Fine Arts in Philadelphia.