The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-10-06

our state, taxation, government of
communities, and local dictatorship.
On all these questions the Democratic
party has the right to congratulate it
self. It's course has been an honor
able one--one that commends 1t to all
lovers Of liberty, men who hold coun-
try and principles above place, men
who have not allowed their patriotism
to be warped either by proffered deco
rations or love and thirst for wealth
For many years the appeal had gone
forth from Cuba begging the help of the
civilized world to free her from the
yoke of tyranny, the exactions of bru-
tai power, until that great beacon of
light, that torch of liberty to which
the downtrodden world are wont to
look, took up the cause of the op-
pressed and demanded of naughty
Spain to halt. The brutality, the tyr
anies the horrors that for years had
been perpetrated by Spain against the
Cubans appealed to the hearts and
conscience Of the people of the United
States. The cry went up to save those
who could not save themselves, and
solely and only for the cause of hu-
manity, the people Of the United
States, in response to the cries of that
oppressed race, shook off the lethargy
A0dI lOT years udu DOuuu luSm anu
rescued those supplicants.
The present administration, swayed
as it has been from its beginning, by
Sordid interests, refused to listen to
the appeals from without and the pc
Gitions from within the United States.
Public sentiment. fast CrystalliZing ir
respective Of parties, demanded, and
the administration, with reluctance,
was compelled to act. Was compelled,
We say. by legislators, by the direct
representatives of the people in con-
gress assembled. The men who placed
interest before principles hurried to
the front, besieged congress and
threatened If war was declared, they
said, it would upset our people, our
business interests; that it was not our
quarrel-let Cuba take care of itself;
we had no right to interfere that
everything was all right in our coun-
try and this might bring us into col
lision with some foreign power; that
the war would drag on for Is or 20
years that possibly there could be no
settlement OF the affair Thus were
heart, conscience and principles to be
pushed aside and the cry of greed, av-
arice, to stop any effort on our part to
rescue the distressed.
The Democratic press, Democrats in
the house of congress and in the senate
took part in the debate. Party lines
were broken. but the voice of senti-
ment overwhelmed selfshness, and
Spain was overthrown. No honest
man, no reading man, but what knows
that the Democratic party and DEM
0cratic press did all it could to sustain
the administration. Every effort was
made to uphold the hands of the presi-
dent, acting for the people. Partisan
ship was lost sight Of; loyalty, patriot
ism, conscience, took its place Yet
polluted politicians and selfish men
dare make this an issue at this time
The war with Spain was soon over.
So swift and sure had been the blows
Of the American soldier and sailor, the
shaCkles that for so many years had
bound the people Of Cuba were bro
ken; the sun of liberty burst forth for
them; peace was proclaimed; hOsan-
mas went up all over our land; Gods
will had been done. Spain was crush
ed, the war was overall was accom-
plished No, gentlemen, not all. Greed
had not yet played its full hand. Ava
rice, always alert was again to take
part In our settlement with Spain
we agreed to pay 100000, 900, they to
cede us their rights in the orient. They
had no rights to Cede. Whatever they
diately the war with Spain closed, i'm
mediately the politicians proceeded to
taKe conrol. troops were nurrIeo 10
Manila,
Since the war with Spain what has
been the history of the Philippines?
Our war was against Spain, for the
redress Of grievances, and not against
the Philippine islanders, for conquest.
When Spain was vanquished we
hauled down her flag, and ours then
noated in friendship. On Manila bay
and its shores it should have been
thenceforward the symbol Of liberia
tion in the land we had invaded in
hostility to Spain alone. The natives
were our friends. Their recognized
leader had returned to the islands by
invitation of the United States, and
had been assisted to organize military
force, and established a camp at Cav
tte. He had summoned his people to
the support of the United States mill
tary occupation in a proclamation, as
suTing them that the American flag
meant liberty and independence for
them. He organized a civil govern
ment. Not only were these proceed
ings not objected to, but he was ad-
dressed by General Anderson, our
chief commanding officer, as the com
mdnueT OF tne military IOfCeS OF the
Philippine Islands and asked to fur
nish map of the adjacent country for
the use OF General Merritt, soon TO ar
rive. He cheerfully complied. The
amicable relations continued until
General Merritt, fresh from the White
House az Washington, took command
and made an order establishing mil"
ftary line which was to separate our
troops and the FiIipinos into two hos
tile camps and forbidding the entrance
within our lines OF any of Aguinaldo's s
command. This order was the com
mencement Of hostilities.
Why This Cruel War?
Why the status was thus suddenly
changed, with the full approval of the
president, and that. too, while con-
gress was in session, has never been
explained. The constitution and the
treaty both lodge in congress the sole
power to determine what shall be the
policy OF our government toward the
Philippines, The presidents war upon
them is in derogation of their rightfu
power, That body has not yet decided
whether the United States should as
sumo sovereignty over them or leave