Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1899-11-08
BAENSCH ON THE ISSUE
Recalls the Filipino Treaty and
Opposes Annexation.
"GERMAN VOTE. IS REASONABLE.

"GEkMAN VOTE" Is kEASUNABLE.
lie Expects Congress to Be Generous to the
tors with Nerye-The Teachers state
Powwow VIII Be Held Immediately
After Christmas.
Madison, Wis, Nov. 7.-sEmil
Baensch, the lawyer of Manitowoc. is
perhaps as representative a German.
American as Wisconsin numbers. The
Milwaukee men are not to be forgot
ten, but Mr.. Baersch was lieutenant
governor for four years c95'9S) and
cut his opponents majority for CON
gress by 1900 under Cleveland in 1892.
Mr.. Baensch is AZ years of age, a prod
uct of the State University, an editor
QSS1'S3) and has held all sorts of of
fees, civil, military and social, up In
his section. Some have conceived that
If German unrest is real and contin-
ued on the question of Expansion" it
might be good politics to nominate him
as the Republican candidate for COVER
nor. Wherever this honest and sensi-
bic German-American has been en-
trusted with authority he has proved
himself discreet and efficient. 1t oc-
Cured to me that his views would be
interesting and instructive at this
point, and in response to questions the
following statements were made by ex-
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Baensch:
Differ Like Everybody Else.
1.-THE Germans in Wisconsin are Ike
other American citizens-they differ in
their political views. The larger third
is Democratic, the ext in size Repub-
lican and the smaller independent.
There are at present fifteen Republi-
can newspapers in the state, as
against sever ten years ago. The In
dependents muster an equal and the
Democrats a larger number. Among
the Independents are the oldest and
largest journals, and which have uf
late years supported the Republican
ticket. So that. during this decade,
the current has been running our way.
Il believe the German press in this
state fairly represents the sentiments
of its readers. This belief is based
upon a personal acquaintance with
and knowledge of the editors. When
they assert that their constituents are
opposed to the annexation of the Phil
ippines, then such opposition must
have strongly manifested itself and be
quite prevalent among the people.
Whether Democratic spell binders can
direct this sentiment against the Re-
publican party in general is problem
atical. l doubt. however. If Their their
skill a friction it to the heat which
burned u fingers in 80, or rouse it
to that firm purpose which bowled
nVpV fhnir nyxyta no t.ty in zoe kerry"
1.-THE why's and the wherefores of
this opposition ! know not. but pre-
sumo it springs from motives similar
to those which cause other citizens to
enter their protest. And, as read
the record, ] believe they are right in
their position.
The Treaty Recalled.
"The treaty of peace coded to the
United States the future control. dis
position and government of the Philip-
pine islands, Why, instead of a coal
ing station, we took the whole job lot,
has never been explained by your com.
missioners. But it was done and we
had to make the best of it. Yet so OBJ
~jectionable was this feature that it
was only by the most strenuous efforts
and the most potent influences, aided
at the critical moment by Filipino
shots, that the treaty was ratified by
a narrow margin.
"And not then until 1t was agreed
to pass a resolution constituting the
treaty.
This resolution. adopted Feb. IA.
1899, may be somewhat vague as to
what will be done. but it is clear and
explicit as TO what shall not be done.
1t expressly states that by the rati.
hcation of the treaty of peace with
Spain it is not intended TO incorporate
the inhabitants of the Philippine ISL
ands in'o citizenship of the United
States; nor is it intended to perma-
nently annex said islands as an in
tegral part OF the United States"
Imperialism IA Bugbear.
Nothing can be palmer. Why, then
harrow up this phantom of imperial
ism which no one fears? Why prate
about manifest destiny when the
only manifestations emanate from our
own desires? We have officially de-
elared our policy as opposed to incor-
poration and annexation. There is
nothing left but details, practical gov
ernmental affairs, serious and difficult.
1t is true, but not coming up to the
statute of a foreign policy Because
a certain faction of the people we are
trying to benefit have been misled by
Adventures, gives no excuse for
changing h programme we have
mapped out and announced to the
world. AS to these naughty children
there can be but one course, and that
is to whip them, and whip them with
neatness and dispatch.
"If we stand by the treaty of peace,
as construed by the body which passed
it, the Philippine question will no long
er be a disturbing factor. If Mr.. Bry-
an were to attempt to criticise the de-
tails of the governmental machinery
TO be given the Filipinos. involving
questions of law rather than of poll.
tics, he would find a dry subject and
few listeners.
Congress Can BE Trusted.
ut is to be regretted that so much
hue and cry is being raised OH this
subject. 1t brings to mind the words
of President Mckinley, when, speak
Jag of the unrest among our people on
account of the atrocities in Cuba, he
said: Issues wholly external to our
own body polite engross attention and
stand in the way of that close devotion
to domestic advancement that becomes
n self-contained commonwealth whose
primal maxim has been the avoidance
of all foreign entanglements.'
81 believe we can safely trust con
gress to adhere to its expressed policy,
which. by it's action, became and is
now the supreme law of the land.
believe congress will enrich the pages
of the worlds history with an instance
of national generosity unparalleled
which will give additional proof of our
ability to spread the gospel of liberty
and equality by the talisman of peace
and the force of example"
Once a year the teachers of the state
meet in annual convention and this
year the meeting is held in Milwaukee
just after Christmas-Dec. 81, IS and
20.
Heretofore the attendance of teach.
ers outside of Milwaukee has not been
satisfactory, the entire number last
year being but ass. This year it is
hoped to bring out more. The pretty
courtesy of a banquet which the facul,
ty of the state university has been In
the habit of GIVING tho taaaharS will be