The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1899-08-10
EXPANSION or Anti-Expansion2
PRossER. Aug. {, 1899.

antiexpansion, where are we at? "To
be or not to he, that's the question:"
All true Americans must blush for poor
Uncle Sam" when they consider the
position he has taken with regard to the
Philippine islands. Where is the Amer
lean who has not condemned Spain's
treatment Of the islanders for the last
century? What crime have those poor
natives committed either against Soain
or the United States? II they have com
mitted no crime, why are they being
murdered AS they are? All that nation
asks and want is just what We asked and
got in 1888, viz, liberty"
My expansionist friend, 90 back with
me to Valley Forge and witness our fore
fathers there without shoes, clothing or
food, lighting with the father OF our
country for What? Liberty THE
privilege to govern ourselves" Have
the sons OF Washington degenerated and
become English or Spaniards?
Will my expansionist friend tell me
whether We are at war or quelling a re
belion in the Philippine islands? Con.
gress alone can declare war, and l don't
think it declared war in the islands, so
it must be some sort of rebellion; yet
the islands never belonged TO u.s. then
how could anyone rebel? Spain never
conquered them, therefore she could not
sell what was not hers. The republic
cans paid twenty millions for eight mil
lion negroes that is, S2.50 per head, with
a proviso that Uncle Sam would have 10
do his own catching and branding. In
other words, the United States bought
what Spain had been trying to steal.
We have no more right in the Philippines
islands as conq1erors than the hired
Hessians OF England had in the United
States, and not so much, fo' Englan did
really own this country, and We have no
vestge of legal claim on the islands.
There is much 'clap-trap' about the
Stars and Stripes never being lowered
after once being hoisted. If our flag is
where it has no business it is no honor
to have it there. 1t should be brought
home and washed to get the blood stains
of our noble volunteers eradicated from it.
My volunteer friend, did Won enlist TO
| fight Spain or shoot few poor negroes
in the Pacific ocean? | know how you
feel about it. We honor your bravery.
but we deplore the action. Mckinley
has no moral right to spend million
dollars day, without the consent of
congress, in any such disreputahle bust
ness.
read some time ago of a convention
of a few populists in North Yakima, who
passed resolutions endorsing expansion.
| | am forced to brand it as falsehood,
as | saw it in republican paper. |
want to tell my republican paper why,
viz: Every popuiist and socialist is alb
solutely and nnqualifedly against "A large
standing army, and there are none Of
| them such imbecles as not to know
that expansion means at least 100000
of standing army. The republican
paper must have ia ken its cue from the
fact that our broad minated governor,
both at Tacoma and at Colfax, came out
| hat-footed for expansion and thereby
makes Spaniards of US all. l wonder if
he wishes he could unsay those speeches?
If he expects to be the next nominee for
governor apprehend he will find expau-
sion very heavy burden to carry.
Ny expansionist friend is it not selfish
greed which makes your principle in this
| case. ID. NJ. ANGrs.