The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-08-13
THE REACTIONS OF conquest.

AT a time when the greatest of republics is in
creaslng its armament and army to conquer our re-
cent allies, whose sole ofense is desire to be free
ana independent the reactions of conquest as shown
LII the history OF peoples furnish matter for thought
for those of citizens who from pride of marty r
the old barbaric lust for conquest approye where
they do not applaud, the surprising movements of
national policy The law of mechanics that gives to
the reactions Of force effect equal to that applied
holds good in the activities of men, No people ever
yet made conquest0f the lands persons of another
that escaped a reactonary effect if not in kind at
least in degree. All history is repeta with ilusrra
tons of this.
Ii may be stated, a general proposition that
where mere physical force has conquered people of
superior mentality the reaction has shown In the In
telectual conquest of the conqueror and where the
conquerfng people have been superior in mental
power the reaction appeared in lowered moral tone
among the cOnquerors Rome swept over Greece and
mastered the people, and Grecan art literature and
mythology swept back over Rome and conquered her
thought Rome sent her armies westward and made
herself mistress Of the savage tribes of Gaul and ao
sorbed from them their fefocity and brutality Egypt
made the Hebrews captive and was in turn con-
quered by their ideas. The Northern tribes of bar
bar1ans poured down upon Rome and occupied the
land, only to be conquered in turn by Roman
thought. England made herself mistress of India
and Indian spirituality and philosophy are invading
modifying and cOnQuerng the religious thought of
the entire Western world.
How can this country, should it succeed in over
poWeIlng the Fiipinos hope to escape the reaction
that has the immutability of law? What have the
Fiipinos in art literature morals or religion snerior
to our that will make the reflex action beneficial
TO usE Reaction there must be- but will be for or
good Or our hurt? Whether we take the descriptions
given by those partial to them hostile where will
we find anything to indicate that the reaction rpor
us, as people, will give us upft in any manner? Ts
there not that in all that shows that the reaction
must be demOralizing? 1t will be better for US md
our future and our chldrens futures if put aside
the gamor Of pride the passion of conquest the lust
OF power and look seriously upon the moral aspects
of this adventure into which the nation has been so
suddenly and causelessly plunged
We need not reason from general principles or pro-
cedents to reach the conclusion that hurt only will
come to us. We already perceive the reactfve
tendency. Where in it all, since the day when the
decree went out that commanders should cease
to treat the FpinOs allies is there the SEM
blance of moral idea? Where in the dreary course
of events, has it appeared that the one vital
question, Is it right? has been asked. How else
than baleful can be the effort of one people, who
have written into their fundamental law the proposf
ton that all men are born equal and that all gov
eminent rests upon the consent of the governed to
conquer another people engaged in struggle COR
their right to say what shall be their government?
What in our concept of justice of government must
be the reaction of such glaring inconsistency? What
must be it's effect upon the youth of our land com
ing on to its guidance? Is this not to thoughtful men
and women the chief offense committed by this ad-
ministration, not against the Filipinos so much as
against and our descendants?