Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1899-11-02

when the rebellion closed, the people
by the adoption of an amendment to
the constitution, ratified the position
,aken by Lincoln and declared that
slavery WIS wrong, rot only in free
STATES, bnt in it's entirety. Had the
isiea a. Expressed in my text gained
have been a recognized institution in
every state OF the Unlcr.
But, how does the term apply to
questions uf the present day?
Early in the last year. Spain. by its
inhnman treatment of her subjects in
Cuba, forfeited every right to SYM
pa:hy or kindly consideration; and
finally re'a!,a,,ng fur the sympathy Of
the United States for Cuba. want0nly
DESTROYED war vessel lying peaceful
" in her hartnr
War was declared; and the people,
recognizing that the cause was just
rose AZ one man, with the exception of
a few who feared that trade would be,
nffs cted, and swift retribu.irn over
took the offender. AS guarantee of
the jns'nass uf the cause, it VAS ex-
nresslv and positively asserted. tina;
the war was to he war for humanity;
and not war ut c"rnnest
In the prosecution Of 'i.nt war. there
fell intn 'ha hands If, onr nation Ger.
tain islands and in the final settlement,
the natinn forgetting its assurance
that tho war was not to he one of con.
guest. demanded the cession of those
islands; and Spain, under protest coded
the ialands for consideration OF $780,
600 600.
Now portion of those islands cal
led the Philippines was peopled with o
race, who had for 300 years been under
Spanish domination; but who at that
time were fighting for their indepen.
dence which seemed assured by Dew
ey's victory in Manila bay, but when
the long sought prize was almost with
in his grasp, his hopes were shattered
by q change of masters; and having
been trained for three centuries in
Spanish cruelty and deceit, he very
naturally dlstrusted the new regime,
aud to his inquiry as to the intention
Of this government in regard to him
self, he was virtually answered. "None
of your business, YOU are not concern
cd in this matter" Is it any wonder
that they continued their fight for in
dependence2
Could the representatives of this
country have done less (and been true
men than to have assured those pe0-
pie that in the final adjustment os af-
fairs tbey should have government
of their own? Or at least compatible
with their demonstrated ability to
govern themselves? We think not.
II at any time during the revolution
airy war, France had purchased from
Great Britain her rights to the colonies,
do you think our forefathers would
have quietly passed from the British,
under the French yokeY Not much.
They would have renewed the strug-
Gle. for they were fighting for prin.
ciple: and like the Boston tea party, It
was not the tax to which they objected
hut the principle hidden under the tax
law.
Our fathers had made the bold dec
larati0n that the right to be free was q
DIVINE right, and that too, in the face
of the universally accepted theory that
kings had q DIVINE right to rule, this
kingly right had obtained for ages, and
our forefathers set themselves against
the world when they declared that no
man, OF set Of men had any Fight to
-nle or govern without consent OF
those whom they .'ould govern.
And yet we find the desceri.-. "1
these same sires advocating, Aye; and
precttping too, the principle that be-
cause. We acquired from Spain q title
to the Philippines, we nave right to
rule those people against their wishes.
oh, but says one. "They could not
0overn thomaolvoH ~
How do you know? All Europe
said the same thing of the American
colonies. Is the Filipino less Compel
emit to govern himself than the Chinese,
the Persian, or even the Turk.
But, says another, We must not
haul down the flag, where 1t Is once
planted it must ever float"
Another pretty sentiment, and true,
SO long as that flag is the emblem of
liberty and protection; but whenever
that flag stands conquest OF oppression
then It were better had it never been
raised.
To illustrate; Ipws has 9 lay ARoR
her statute books, which says: Nosa-
loon shall use screens or blinds to OBJ
struct the view. and yet, we have seen
saloons with flags stretched across
their screen doors at the proper height
to shut off the view from the street,
and would ask, Is flag so used an
emblem of peace, liberty and pro:ec-
ton? Does it not rather become the
shield of crime and wrong doing?
Can you not remember when the
American flag floatetl from the walls
of Chspaultepec, and Mexico, over q
vanquished enemy? And was it q dis
grace to lower it when the war was
over? Was not Mexico as much a
legacy of war as are the Philippines?
kYt says yet another, we must not
express opinions until congIess acts
upon these questions, Very good,
perhaps It would be best not to doctor
the sick man until the undertaken had
done his work, but come to think of 1t.
is 1t not fact that in the decision of
these questions, congress is largely in
tluenced by tie expressed opinions
of the people? If not, then congress il
not q fepressh tative body, - .
But says another. "There is no gov
eminent there with which to confer"
Is there any less government there
than in Ci.h.. Wl,ieh Lo a l,non Yr. v,;oe 4