The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1899-03-23
The Real Side OF Expansion

EDITOR HERALD: From time to time
the news has come to us of the death of
some of the men at Manila. As We read
these names-strangers to us and I'M
known, we forget that they have friends.
brothers, sisters, loving mother; and
laying aside the paper with the com.
ment, Another sacrifice on the country's
altar to liberty" the name is forgotten
and never again mentioned except as a
part of that grand total who, beginning
at Lexington, have freely offered their
lives to establish and perpetuate our in
situations. But in community like this,
in which each one of the little contribu-
ton We have given in answer to our
presidents call is known to each and ev-
cry one of us, the death OF one of the
fairest and most promising OF that little
band deserves more than a passing COM
ment. II demands that we know the
cause for which he has given his life.
Early last spring, when the country
was claDoring to answer the call of hui
mainly from Cuba, and to avenge the
Maine, these men were among the first TO
offer their services to effect that object.
Their offer was accepted, but before their
services could be utilized the work was
gloriously accomplished by those who
were nearer the scene of operations.
But now, with the purpose for which
they enlisted fully accomplished, We find
them fighting, not the Spaniards, but the
victims of Spanish oppression. Why
are they doing this? 1t must be fer one
or the other of these objects: Either to
launch this nation on career Of land
grabbing conquest and imperialism or
else to force upon the Filipinos in few
months at the point of the bayonet tina,
civilization which the evolution of 300
years has given us. The first of these
conditions is upheld by the advocates of
expansion, but denied and disclaimed by
the chief executive and the greater mass OF
the people. The latter object must there
fore be the one aimed at by those who
are directing our boys at Manila. To
civilize and christianize these people is
noble and God-imposed task. and one
which in short time would be accomp-
lished by us. But to attempt it by hur-
ling upon them the power which crushed
Spain; to carry civilization to them at
the head of our charging columns to
give them christianity in the shape of
shells from our victorious gunboats-is
placing this country in such a condition
that when the elation of battle is gone
and we have time to ponder and reflect,
we will find q chapter in our history that
will overshadow some of the brightest
now written there.
To think that one who had 80 high a
mission to perform among US, his fellow
townsmen, who seemed set apart and
above us, and yet was one of us. has
given his life in such cause, makes our
grief only deeper. Vet we can console
ourselves with the thought that the cause
for which Ralph VanBuskirk has fallen
casts no dishonor on him. He did not
know it; how could he, when we here
scarcely realize its futility?
He is gone, but his memory is not. 1t
is with US yet. BY that memory let us,
the living, strive to turn back again the
pendulum of public opinion that our gov
eminent may withdraw from this posi-
ton, and grief like ours may not again
come to this community or to others.
F. A. HATFIELD.