The record-union., 1899-05-01
Protest Against the Course Of the
Administration.
Resolutions Adopted Which Condemn Its
Policy.

cry, and Cries of Treason
Drowned by Cheers-BishoI
Spa1ding Claims We Gladly
Sacrificed the Lives of Hundreds
of Thousands of Our Soldiers to
Free the Slaves.
CHICAGO, April 30.-Central Music
Hall this afternoon was filled with al
audience gathered to protest against
the course of the Administration with
reference to the Philippines. Once OF
twice the proceedings were interrupted
by protests of those who disagreed with
the sentiments of the speakers.
Professor J. Lawrence Laughlin OF
the University of Chicago, in speaking
of the national policy toward the Fill
pinos. said: There the flag is the en-
blem of tyranny and butchery.
Cries of treason" came from the gal
lery, but the cries We're quickly drowned
by approving cheers.
When Bishop ]. L. Spalding of Peoria
declared that England had never been
a friend of this country" an English
man near the platform cried That's q
lie Without noticing the Interrupt
ton the Bishop continued his address
DR.. Henry Wade Rogers, President OF
the Northwestern University, acted as
Chairman. Besides him the speakers
were Professor Laughlin, Bishop Spald-
ing, J. Lloyd Jones, Edwin Burrill
Smith, Sdgmund Zeister and Miss Jane
Adams.
The following resolutions were
adopted:
1.-The frank expression of honest con-
victions upon great questions of pub
lie policy is vital to the wealth and
even to the preservation of representa-
tive government. Such expression is
therefore the sacred duty of American
citizens.
I'VE hold that the policy known as
imperialism is hostile to liberty and
tends to militarism, an evil from which
it has been our glory to be free. We
regret that it is now necessary in the
land of Washington and Lincoln to re-
affirm that all men, of whatever race or
color, are entitled to life, liberty and
the pursuit Of happiness. We still
maintain that Governments derive their
just Powers from the consent of the
governed We insist that the forcible
subjugation of a purchased people is
criminal aggression and open disloy-
atty to the distinctive principles of our
Government
I'VE honor our soldiers and sailors
in the Philippine Islands for their I'M
ftI1a h,-7x \
with the whole nation for the American
lives that have been sacrificed Their
duty was obedience to orders; our duty
is diligent inquiry and fearless protest.
We hold that our own Government Gre
ated the conditions which have brought
about the sacrifice.
we earnestly condemn the policy of
the present national Administrati in
the Philippines. 1t is the spirit of &c
that our Government is striving to ex-
tlnguish in those islands; we denounce
the attempt and demand its abandon
ment. We deplore and resent the
of the Filipinos as needless
horror; deep dishonor to our nation.
I'VE protest against the extension of
American empire by Spanish methods
and demand the immediate cessation of
the war against liberty, begun by Spain
and continued by us. We believe that
a foolish pride is the chief obstacle to a
speedy settlement of all difficulties. AS
Mr.. Gladstone said to England. We are
strong enough to cast aside all con-
sideration of false shame. walking in
the plain and simple ways Of right and
Justice
our Government should at once an
nounce to the Filipinos its purpose to
grant them under proper guarantees of
order the independence for which they
have so long fought, and should seek by
methods to secure this indie
pendence by the common consent of ma
lions. 1t is to-day as true of the Fill
pinos as 1t was a year ago of the
Cubans, that they are and of right
ought to be free and Independent +"
President Rogers in his address said
he had faith in the sincerity of Presi-
dent Mckinley He said the President
had declared that he desired to be gov
erned by the wishes of the people. in
cealing with the Philippines. This
being the case, he wished expressions of
opinion from both sides. He denied
that those who favor expansion have a
monopoly of patriotism and he denied
that the United States has any moral
right to scoop in the Philippines.
Bishop Spalding of Peoria, Ill. said. in
part
we are at present in the midst of q
crisis, in which lack of thought and de-
liberation may lead us far from the
Ideals Wnlch as Americans, we have
most cherished and expose us to evils
of which we scarcely dream. We stand
at the parting of the ways. 1t is not
yet too late to turn from the way which
leads through war and conquest to i'm
perialism. to standing armies, to ALI
ances with foreign Powers and. finally.
to the disruption of the union itself.
1t is not too late, because if is still
possible, probable even, that the Ame-i-
can people will reconsider the whole
question OF the complications in which
our victories over Spain have involve d
us and calling to mind the fact that
they did not enter into this war fa,.
the purpose of becoming an empire. but
for the purpose of helping Others to
throw off the yoke of tyrannicaI imper-
ialism, Will See that to be blind and
led away by success is to be weak and
foolish; or rather, since here the high
est interests OF humanity are at stake.
is to be wicked and criminal. If this
may not be, then the American people
have degenerated, they have lost their
hold upon the historical causes and the
political habits which led to the found