Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1899-11-28
A HOLLOW MOCKERY.

Tho selfish and criminal policy i'm
perialism cares no more for the valu-
able American lives that it is sacri-
ficlng IN the Philippines than for che
money Of the American taxpayers
that it is spending in the effort to
crush out tho liberties Of the Fill
pinos. The price which we have al
ready paid for that policy ia a costly
and bloody one, and the horror and
the burden Of it are slowly but surely
making themselves felt throughout
the length and breadth of the country
The Philippine war, i'll fact, is be.
ginning tc come home to many thous-
ands OF persons and to give practical
point and application to the argu-
ments used against it. 1t has been
most trutbfuly eaid that the killing
OF hundred Filipinos could not
make up for the loss Of such life as
that OF the brave and dashrng Major
John A. Logan, who fell in the
charge at San Jacinto a few days ago.
The regret which ls excited by his
death is intensified by the fact that
that his life was not only sacrificed
needlessly, but willfuny, by the policy
which has forced the country into a
war Of criminal aggression.
He and hundreds Of other brave
and generous young men who have
been killed or died in this war for
empire, would have been alive today,
but for the ruthless spirit, as cruel to
the Americans as it is relentless and
unjust to the Filipinos, which has
pursued it's ambitions purpose re-
gardless Of consequences to friend or
foe. To tell the mourners, who weep
at home, as President Mckinley tells
Mrs. Logan, in his message OF condo.
lencc, that it is some consolation to
them to know that their friends "died
for their country on the field OF hon.
or" is to add bitterness to the sting
OF death by the hollow mockery of
pretense. Have the gallant men who
offered up their lives in the Philip.
pines died for their country in the
truest and fullest sense Of that term?
Have they not rather been sacrificed
by the Presidents policy OF conquest
and annexation, incorporating rs pa
triotism and benevolent assimilation?
In what respect is the country the
better off for the death of these men?
From what danger has it been saved:
what advantage or glory has it gain
ed by their loss? Is it not, in fact,
the worse off for the loss, thrown
away in greedy grasping for land to
which we have no right? Or do the
American lives and wounded hearts
and blighted homes count for no more
in the scheme OF imperialism than the
Filipinos, purchased at 80 much a
head and now in the process Of being
hunted into subjugation? Would it
not be nearer the mark for President
Mckinley to cay in offering his SYM
pathy to the stricken relatives O: fall
en- American soldiers: at may be
some consolation to you to know that
your friends died for my policy Of
Imperialism and in support OF my eff
forts to suppress the liberties of a
people with whom we had no right
full quarrel, 1t used to be consider.
sweet and glorious thing to die for
ones country. But 1t is much sweet.
or and more glorious to die for Nc
Kinley.' We are afraid that Mr.. Nc
kinley in his role as comforter will
not be able to carry consolation into
the homes which his policy has be-
reaved and over which it has cast the
lasting shadow OF observation-disclosures
Sun,