The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-10-17

OENOAH OOhEOtNOs
Hshed this constitution for the United
States Of America The resulting govern
from without. an Expression not
government, something far better
even than good government Yet at this
the United States employed to destroy
seIf-government in the Philippines in a
vain effort to bestOw from without good
government upon their people.
THE administration seeks to complete
the destruction of self-government in the
Philippines before the American people
can pass Judgment upon its course. 1t
seems to be thought that with the death
by American hands OF the first attempt
at self government in Asia all opposition
here with cease This is a huge mistake
Much as We abhOr the war of criminal
aggression in the Philippines, greatly
as we regret that the blood of the FIJI
pinOs is on American hands, we more
deeply resent the betrayal of American
institutions at home The real firing line
is not in the suburbs of Manila It is
here The enemy IS OF our own household
He comes to US prating of loyalty and
uttering fine phrases about benevolent as
simiIatlon, priceless principle and holsted
'.The attempt of 1861 was merely to di-
vide the country. That of 1893 is to de-
stroy its most cherished ideals, to make
shipwreck of what has made it distinc-
ruthless slaughter of the Filipinos shall
end next month or next year IS but an
incident IN a contest that must go on I'M
til the declaration of Independence and
the constitution OF the United states are
rescued from the n1lre OF Inll1tarIsnl- IN
this contest We shall, neither ask or give
quarter. Those who have betrayed the
FUNDAMENTAL principles OF our DeIng as q
nation must be driven from public life.
This is the supreme issue Those who
would dispute about exchanges and mere
measures of value while the house burns
training for a century of a great people,
the aspirations for liberty of a vast inTni-
those who in the delirfum of conquest
seek to destroy the character of our in
situations
The. self-assumed powers which Mr..
Mckinley claims in the Spanish Islands
which is TO remain representative. Des-
potic power has appeared at Washington
GRITTY These hostile forces are as old as
history They can not exist together We
may still choose between them
Those who have called this conference
believe that everv effort should now be
made to rouse and organize the oppOsi-
ties to Mr.. McKinIev's revoIitionarv f1oI-
icy. We hope that this conference will
the country to organize anti-imperiaI istic
leagues and committees of correspond
the holding of liberty meetings and the
largest possible circulation of liberty
publications Some time prior to the po-
liticaI conventions of next year, perhaps
on Washington's birthday a larger CON
ference should be held to determine in
the light of the then situation how the
erect in the campaign of next year.
The committee on organiza ton of the
conference was appointed as follows:
George c. Mercer, Philadelphia; Frank H.
Louis r Enrich, Colorado Springs, Col,
and Paul F. Coste, St Louis.
Owing to the illness of his wife George
s. Boutwell, could not be present. but a
letter from him was read as follows;
Boston. Mass, Oct. IL, 1899
-Gentlemen: 1 am compelled by Mrs.
Boutwels long and continued illness to
put aside and at once all thought OF &C
ceding to your request to me to be present
perfalists to be held at Chicago the 18th
day of the present month
Massachusetts will be represented in
the conference, but the state has already
so declared its opinion that its further
party has denounced the war in the Phil
ippines, and the Republican party has re-
ident and it has traversed his policy by
demanding peace and recognition of the
the president is seeking to subdue to his
viii Ill.,, a., sa,-s-,, -,o,-+s ~, vrbiot thu
conference may declare its opinions and
announce its policy with entire freedom
4 The president should be held re-
sponsible for the war in the Philippines
pendfture of treasure incurred in its pros
- The conference in the name of the
Anu-Imperialists of the country. should
announce It's purpose 70 oppose ms re-
the election Of members OF congress VINO
may sustain his policy.
g The conference may declare its IN
tention to oppose the reelection OF any
member of congress who may sustain an
prosecution Of the war On thse points
there should be compromise, no con-
cessiOnS-
Thus far the president alone is re-
spOnsible- Should congress endorse and
sustain his policy We can carry the con-
test into the states and districts for the
purpose Of unseaung the men who may
have supported and sanctioned the doings
of the president
AT present we are not in cooperation
with any political party. Let US reserve
and preserve our right of action and our
freedom of action in the presidential cleo
ton Of 1900 until that contest has been or
ganfzed coupled with the understanding
that it is our purpose to contribute to the
defeat of any party that demands the
subjugation of the Philippine Islands Our
republic thus far and certainly since the
18th amendment was adopted, has rested
upon two great propositions The equal
fty of men in the states and the equality
of states in the union The presidents
policy IS abandonment of both OF
these propositions and the substitution
of the British empire We demand peace
in the Philippine islands and the Oppor-
tunity for the exercise Of the right of self
government in Cuba, Porto Rico and in
the Philippine islands. and the only means
by which our country can be saved from
q disgracefu1 abandonment of the princi-
pies on which the republic has rested for
a long century and a degrading accep-
lance Of wars and policies which we have