Washington sentinel., 1899-06-10
Ex-senator German

Ex-senator German
has followed our request to come
out against imperialism. He con.
siders militarism and trusts the
main issues OF the coming cam
paign. Silver, whilst not entirely
forgotten, must take second
place. Nothing can be done in
behalf OF silver legislation before
the passage of at least six years, as
the Senate will be opposed during
that time to such legislation, and
no matter who is President, moth
ing can possibly be done in that
direction. In addition we cannot
elect a man with the silver issue
in the foreground. The German
and Irish adopted citizens are ut
terly opposed to such legislation,
1t will again defeat the Dem ocratic
ticket.
Very truthfully Mr. German
says, "all this trouble could have
been averted if the peace treaty
had been amended. We could
have sent our peace commissioners
back to meet .he Spanish ENJOYS,
with instructions to release the
whole OF the Philippine Islands,
save Manila and sufficient territory
contiguous thereto, tor naval and
coaling station. Ii this had been
done we would not today see this
bogus white elephant. There
would have been little loss OF
human blood and but small expen-
diture OF public money.
"Ii President Mckinley had
been OF the same mind alter re-
turning from his Omaha trip as he
was when he left Washington Otis
would not be calling for more
troops, there would have been no
endless rebellion in sight, and the
United States would have been
content with possession OF naval
and coaling base. II the peace en-
voys had been free to carry out
their original instructions, de-
mand the cession OF Manila and
sufficient contiguous territory Tor
a naval and coaling base'-ii they
had been left to conduct the nego-
tiations without being shackled by
further instructions, the peace
treaty would not have provided for
the acquisition OF the entire archi-
pelago, and Otis might be enjoy
ing the summer breezes from the
Atlantic or the tempered blasts
from the Adirondacks instead Of
being chained to the tropics, shoot
ing liberty into the Filipinos."
But the fact that Mr.. Cor
man should advise continuance
ofwhat ne calls an unjust war land
which could have been avoided
but for the imperialistic policy Of
the Administrator on the ground
that it is now too late to withdraw,
is an actual admission that imperi-
alism cannot be arrested. The
advice OF Mr.. German to give
Otis all the men he wants, TO in
struct him to force fighting, and
TO give him all the money he
needs-or, in other words, con-
tinue the slaughter, spend mil
lions for an unjust conquest, and
establish great standing army tor
years to come and thereby lay the
foundation of imperialism. We
cannot see in this policy any diff
ference between that Of Mckinley
and Mr.. German.
We want peace. II we return to
American principles of self-gov.
ernment, allow the Filiplnos to
govern themselves, and take all the
coaling stations and commercial
advantages we desire. there will
be peace at once and expenditure
Of treasure and blood will be stop
ped forthwith. IF Mr. German is
against imperialism as he claims,
he must be for peace and against
the Mckinley war.
1t is not necessary, because Nc
Kinley has begun the war, that we
must now continue it. On the
contrary, the unjust and unneces-
sary war, as Mr.. German has
shown so ably, must be stopped by
the Democrats. This is Demo
cratic policy, and no other will put
the Democratic party in power
again.