Iron County register., 1899-05-11

1 should be as cheap for the frugal consumer
as for the powerful producer. We send
Iup an appeal-which win be followed by a
| shout of approval from the American eIec-
| torate-for equality in treatment of all,
both rich and poor; and for justice to the
| weak. whether white or brown.
| II have shown that we would have no
more trade by owning the islands than we
would have without them. since our sue
cess in foreign markets depends upon home
| conditions: that the only commercial gains
| by conquest go to the few at the expense
| Of the workingman and the taxpayer; and
that If we could buy more trade at the
expense of human life it would be immoral.
'"They tell that we must go on with
the war until the Filipinos are thoroughly
subjugated. 1t is as if a great bully should
| be allowed to go on beating child until
| the victim is helpless. No, say, stay the
| blows of war until we know that right aims
| the blow. You know, everyone knows,
that If we were to say to the Filipinos that
| our flag is there a symbol of protec-
| tion, that we are there solely to insure to
| them a free and independent government
| war would cease instantly: not another
| life would be sacrificed. But what is really
meant when it is said that the war must
| go on until the natives are crushed, is this:
| We insist upon assuming that we have a
| right, if we please, to govern the Philip
| pines in our way, against their will; that
| we will make them acknowledge that by
! force; hence go on with the war to show
/ that we are big and strong enough to force
| them to be governed against their longings
1 for freedom and independence. Further
war is unnecessary except on the assump-
| tion that we have no intention to give them
| an independent government.
| Approach the problem any way you
| may, it ever harks back to a question
whether it is our policy to subjugate or to
| free the islanders. We are opposed to all
| further war because we are opposed to the
subjugation of the people under a. for
| efgn yoke; we propose a cessation of
| slaughter, because we believe that the
Filipinos are and of right ought TO be
| free and independent under protection by
| the C.Ated States which will save them
| from foreign aggression.
'"They tell there is nothing now to be
| done. Is it nothing to change war to
peace? Is it nothing to stay the horrible
slaughter of natives? Is it nothing to stop
the operations by which our brave fellow
citizens are killed by bullets and by equal
1y deadly disease? The assumption that
the war is inevitable is gratuitous If we
have not promised the natives a free and
independent government try that at once.
That is the crux of the whole matter. So,
when they tell there is nothing now
to be done, I say the principal thing re-
mains to be done-to assure the F'ilipinos
as to the policy of the United States in
regard to their liberty. When Burke was
laundering in the commons for the con-
ciliation of the colonies King George held
that nothing could be done until the Amer
lean coloniStS were subdued. Had King
George granted us local self-government
there would have been no war of the rev.
olution. There was a great deal that King
George might have done that he did not
do. Indeed, there is great deal for the
United States to do, now and at once, in
the Philippines, unless we wish to repeat
the obstinacy Of the house of Hanover.
They tell US we are diSloyal II we do
not agree with any and every policy of
conquest which may be arranged for US
by the government: that we should not
increase the difficulties of a bad situation:
hot -1n 0nf cIooly thn of a
man when he is taking aim. If loyal
soldier saw column of our army defling
down by mistake into the road which led
to disaster would he be more or less loyal
If he held his peace and uttered no word
of warning? If l saw my brother in an
access of passion striking a child should
hold his arm to prevent the heavy blow
which meant horrible and irremediable
murder? Would 1 show more or less love
and loyalty to him by Withholding my dis
suading voice, my preventing arm? Is 1t
dlsloyal to keep our nation in the pain
of honor? We who love our country most
wish most that its flag shall be unstained.
THE president of the United States de-
clared at Atlanta December 10, 1898, that
the flag has been planted in two hem1-
spheres, where it remains the symbol of
liberty and law, of peace and progress.
Who will withdraw from the people over
whom it floats its protecting folds? Who
will, pull it down" In South Carolina Of
ficers of the United States are to-day seek
wife and young babe of the colored post
master. The flag there protects those over
whom it floats. In the Philippines we are
not merely bounding colored natives with
the bloodhounds of slavery days, but muir
dering them with rapid-firing guns-'nig-
ger hunting it is grewsomely expressed.
The flag there does not protect those over
whom it floats. 1t is there the emblem of
tyranny and butchery. Who will rescue
the flag from such desecration? Why, who
else but he who put it there? In the name
cf the humanity for whom we went to war
we call upon him to save our flag from dis
honor. The common sense of the people
knows that the flag cannot be imrle diately
withdrawn, +, but the moral sense of the
people demands that so long as it remains
there it's protecting folds will provide for
white and brown alike a free and inde-
pendent government and assurance from
outside aggression"
Policy AssaiIed In Res0IutioRs.
Resolutions attacking the admins
tration's policy were adopted by the
meeting as follows:
1.-THE frank expression of honest convic-
tions upon great questions of public poll
cy is vital to the health and even to the
preservation of representative govern
ment. Such expression is, therefore, the
sacred duty of American citizens.
I'VE hold that the policy known i'm
perialism is hostile to liberty and tends to-
ward militarism, an evil from which it has
it is now necessary in the land of Wash
ington and Lincoln to reaffirm that all
men, of whatever race or color, are en-
titled to life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness. We still maintain that govern
ments derive their just powers from the
consent of the governed. We insist that
the forcible subjugation of purchased
people is criminal aggression and open
disloyalty to the distinctive principles of
our government.
I'VE honor soldiers and sailors in the
Philippine islands for their unquesticned
bravery and we mourn with the whole ma
tion for the American lives that have been
sacrificed. Their duty was obedience to
orders: our duty is diligent inquiry and
fearless protest. We hold that our gov-
ernment created the conditions which have
brought about the sacrifice.
1--WE earnestly condemn the policy of the
present national administration in the
Philippines. 1t is the spirit of '76 that our
government is striving to extinguish in
those islands; we denounce the attempt
and demand its abandonment. We de-
plore and resent the slaughter of the Fill
pinoS needless horror, a deep dishonor
to our nation.
American empire by Spanish methods and
demand the immediate cessation of the |
war against liberty begun by Spain and
continued by us. We believe that fool
ish pride is the chief obstacle 10 a speedy
settlement of all difficulties. AS Mr.. Glad
stone said to England: we are strong
enough to cast aside all considefa-
tions of false shame walking in
the plain and simple ways of right and
Justice Our government should a once
announce to the Filipinos its purpose to
grant them under proper guarantees OF
order the independence for which they
nave so long fought, and should seek by
diplomatic methods to secure this iEde-