The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-02-24
FRAUDULENT appeal TO PROVI-
DENCE

N further consideration OF our previous COM
ments upon the efforts of the expans1onists to per
vert the after-dinner speech of President Mckinley
at Boston into a claim that unforeseen contingencies
have thrust upon providentlal mission forc1by
to transform the conglomerated savages OF the Phil
ppines into American citizens or American sub
ects, we observe that in the face OF our official
declarations, the only plausible ground upon which
the conquest OF the Philippines could have been
placed without palpable hypocrisy, change
OF sentiment wrought by the great victory of Com
modore Dewey With nations as with individuals,
unexpected opportunities sometimes produce revolt
tonary consequences. We could not acquire Asiatic
dependencies or Asatic territory without discarding
constitution and revertng to schemes OF govern
ment against which ancestors successfully re-
belled nor without breaking the pledges we had vol
unfairly made But history has the faculty of repro
duction, and, entire nation cannot be indicted
for treason, if with practical unanimlty we prefer I'M
periasm to democracy Asiatic to an American
republic we can deride the warning and follow the
example OF Rome In that event. however, integrity
within ourselves and manhood toward the yearning
millions of humanity must lead squarely to admit
the fact and thiny to disguise retrogression
under spurious humanitarianism and pretended
reliance upon Providence 1t is within our power
unless the people should assert their might, and the
sleeping giant of America should quickly STAY the
false prophets of destiny to enguf the sovereignty of
man in spheres of influence" bodily to thrust it
through "open door.
Thus, and thus only can share the brutality, the
glory and the profit that other nations shaped upon
the models we once repudiated, have acquired in at
least two quarters of the globe through their armies
their navies and their colonial administrations. And
having abandoned the theory of the Monroe doctrine
by the annexation of Hawaii need not limit Our
sacrifice the altar of Divine Right to Asia, but
perfect it by welcoming imperialism this CONT
nent The transformation, however, that would
clothe the genius of liberty either side of the
republic with the cast-of garments of monarchy and
replace her inviting smile by warning
should be completed and admitted in the face of
day It is an illusion and sham that would be soon
exposed to stand for Americanism in Washington
within the consecrated limits of our Union and for
| the absolutism of Caesar or Napoleon everywhere
else. We cannot worship God and Mammon We
cannot through superior ornaments conscientiously
force ourselves upon the Filipinos and quench their
dream of independence in the flood of newborn
| American imperialism while either concurrently or
afterward we preach of government by consent, re-
stricted constitutional smplicities, maintained
without class distinctions, and in which the military
| is subordnated to the civil power.
I The expansionsts have evidently msconceived the
dent and have not reckoned with the people, either
through the authority they have granted and limited
or the sovereignty they have reserved.