The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-11-04
HON. J. R. THAYER
AT MILFORD.
CONTINUED From Page One.)

L
dental to this war, to be conducted
upon these philanthropic lines, it be-
came proper and necessary to cripple
our adversary and destroy the fleet of
Spain stationed in the harbor of Ma
Mia, menace to the people of the
Philippine islands, a people who had
been for a longer time even than the
Cubans, struggling against the as
suned sovereignty of Spain over them,
and for liberty very like that which
the Cubans were striving for. In the
attempt, which was crowned with such
a glorious victory for Admiral Dewey,
the Philippines gave us much-needed
and highly appreciated assistance.
Now thus far what had the Philip
pines In all reason a right to expect?
Was it that as soon as our army and
navy had secured victory over the
Spanish their guns should be trained
upon those who had been our allies?
Note the next step in this brief his
tory After the fall of Manila Aguinal
do sent one of his aide-de-c camps to Gen.
Merritt with request for an interview,
but Gen. Merritt was too busy to grant
it.
WHEN OUR PEACE NEGOTIATIONS
with Spain began, representatives from
the Philippines asked for an audience
to solicit consideration of their rights,
but the doors were closed to them in
Washington as we'll as in Paris, and be-
hind those closed doors the scheme was
Matched to deprive the people of the
Philippine islands Of their long sought
for independence from foreign rule, and
to leave them the subjects of another
foreign ruler, and that ruler was to be
AIl1nIfnln
proudly proclaimed to the world that
the war with Spain was a war for the
liberation of humanity. How changed
are the acts of this administration from
the declaration of the president, and
what a commentary is this upon the
spirit of those who fought at Lexington
and Concord bridge!
President Mckinley assured the world
in 1898 that by some mysterious process
of benevolent assimilation the military
commander at Manila extended or at
tempted to extend the military govern
ment of the United States over the
whole archipelago, and the Philippines
were politely informed that if they re-
fused to submit they would be COM
PEELED to. They did refuse and the
slaughter began, and it has been going
on ever since, and when it will cease
God in His wisdom only can tell, but
may we all hope and pray at an early
date. There are people who say we had
a right to the possession of the islands,
that he had purchased the sovereignty
of these islands from Spain for twenty
millions of money. Will some one please
inform the public what we received for
our twenty millions OF money? Nom
inally it was the sovereignty over the
Philippines, but actually and in fact
Spain had no sovereignty over the
Philippine islands except perhaps few
miles around Manila, and that sove-
reignty, such as it was, was maintained
constantly and entirely at the point of
the bayonet, by the Spanish forces. It
is well known that the ten millions Of
people who inhabit those islands never
recognized the sovereignty of Spain ex-
cept, perhaps, by compulsion in the
cities of Manila and Luzon and the
towns Immediately around them.
These are some of the facts briefly
stated which existed at the time of the
war against the Philippines. Those of
us who are opposed to the institution
and promotion of this war for conquest
and dominion over these unwilling peo-
pie are characterized by those nearest
the president, from Hanna to Theodore
Roosevelt, as doughfaces and copper
heads.
But it will require something more
potent and more convincing than the
assertion of Theodore Roosevelt to
convince the people of this country
that those who oppose the policy of
this war administration toward the
Philippines are disloyal,
UNPATRIoTIC OR TRAITORS.
But what is to come after the battles
are fought and the victories won, as
they surely will be sooner or later, and
may God grant that it may be the
sooner. A colonial policy for g. time
will be adopted, and certain privileges
vouchsafed to those people of local self
government, but those privileges will
be very restricted, of no practical mo-
ment. This is the preconceived plan.
1t has been suggested that the plan
which Gen. Otis has instituted for the
government of some of the small towns
in Lu2on should be adopted after our
conquest over the entire Philippine
islands, in which plan the civil author
ity is always subject to the military
You will seldom find person who
claims to be in favor of the presidents
war policy who does not sustain his DO
sition by beginning with an apology.
He is sorry we ever got into this war,
but being in it we must fight it out to
the bitter end, as there is no other al
Tentative, and with ar assurance born
of ignorance asks what other course
can be pursued, as if the question was
unansWerable. What can be done is
very simple and just. The administra-
ton can assure the Philippines that
just as soon as they Will lay down
their arms and discontinue this dread
full conflict and agree upon proper
terms of peace they shall be at liberty
to declare their independence and ser
up their own republican form of gov
eminent, and when they shall show
that they are capable of self-govern-
ment our forces will be withdrawn
from their midst In short. answer
them that we are not to compel them
to accept our dominion over them
against their will and pleasure. If this
is done not another gun will be fired
nor another human life sacrificed. and
we shall then have shown ourselves
consistent and granted to this people
the same that we have conferred upon
the Cubans, and instead of belittljne or
humiliating ourselves we shall merit
and receive the greater increased hon
or and distinction among the powers of
the world.
TRUSTS.
There has been continuous struggle
for many years between the interests of
capital on the one hand and labor on
the other. Labor has claimed that it
did not get its just recognition, and that
so far as legislation has had any effect
it has been directed in behalf of capital
and employers. Without stopping to
comment upon the question further
than to call attention to it, wish to
say that in the event Of this nation
forceably controlling the Philippines,
either as eolonists, territories, or ad-
hitting them as states, a more deadly
blow will be struck to the intelligent.