Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1899-02-23

some l fear, seduced by the siren song
of the Goddess of Balak, have made
shipwreck of their faith and Joined
the hosts of the King of Moab.
Politics, we are told, has cut too
large figure in this business. Now,
right there, the nail was hit square on
the head. Politics has run the whole
machine, with Hon. Mark Hanna
feeding it with pitch fork, with the
little fellows around throwing him
the sheaves. Yes, sir. politics is the
cause of the Philippine war now in
progress, and the whole war from be
ginning to end, from start to finish,
has been lun for political purposes,
ends and aims.
The Democrats in Congress, when
called upon by the President, were pa
triotic enough to vote for a $50, ,0OO, 600
emergency fund, and how Was it
spent? In buying lot of old hulks,
number of which were scarcely sea-
worthy, and if the whole lot were put
to sale today, would not bring one
tenth of their cost. Yes, sir, politics,
I-tell you, is indelibly intertwined and
interviewer in both the warp and woof
of the whole business. and ere long the
mailed hand will show itself to the
chagrin of many of those who are now
whooping themselves hoarse over ex-
pans:on, and will not only give them
the headache, but what is worse, the
stomache. "Be sure your right, then
90 ahead" Then, Mr.. Editor, is the
policy of expansion as adopted by the
administration for the best interests
of our people? 1 may be.very short
sighted, but I can see but one class
who are to be benefited, and that is
the office-holders. How is the bust
ness man to be benefited, will trade
with the Philippines be increased? If
they are part of these United States
surely we must treat the people fairly,
and to Go so means that their trade re-
lations with the home country must
be placed upon the same footing as
between tue various states and terri
tories. Does this portend any good
to business people generally? l trow
not.
Will the laboring people be benefit
ted by taking the millions OF dark
skinned people under our wing, who
to a more or less extent must come in
to competition with them? The an
swer comes from thousands of homes
ali over the country, NO.
Are the islands to be settled by our
young men, and are they to take wives
from these dark-skined radcs ?-siI.he.|
very idea is revolving.
Will capital seek Investment thore ?
1t may, but it is very much to be
doubted.
Who then are to be the recipients OF
this great conquest, this Eldorado OF
wealth 4? The office-holders only,
which means millions out of the pock-
cts of the people of this country.
Will we be richer OF happier or
more prosperous ? doubt if single
man can be found to answer in the
As to the Filipinos. they ask only
our good offices, and not our sover-
eighty over them, and surely no good
can come to them by our coercial
measures. And doesn't it sound just
a little strange, that after fighting
Spain tor their freedom, we should,
when the task is accomplished turn
our guns on the people we have help
ed tc free? Is this the boasted free
dom we are so eager to parade before
the world? If so, 1 fancy we must
take a back seat.
Yours, very respectfully,
j. 8. CRAIG.