Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-03-16
A QUEER PICTORIAL CONTRAST

Lexington and Bunker Hill will
hang in the historic gallery of the
United States in curious pictorial con-
trast to the event which took place
last Sunday at Manila. We have
bartered for, bought and assumed
possession of islands, whose former
rulers we denounced, quite justly, as
cruel tyrants, without giving the
slightest recognition in the transac-
ton of any rights of the native in
habitants, without even any consulta-
ton with those leaders of the revolt
against Spain whom we had allied
ourselves with In bringing to an end
Spanish control. We were, to very
considerable degree, indebted to
Aguinaldo and his troops for the quick
ripening of that conquest, which is
our sole basis of rights to the Philip
treaty of Paris our chief executive
then issued a proclamation of sover-
eighty over the conquered territory,
which lacked the ratification of the
senate. Is it to be wondered at that,
having been so grossly deceived as to
the honorable intentions of the Unlleu
States, these men who were approach
ing what they had thought was the
termination of long struggle for
liberty like our own, and which had
our approval, were driven to despera
ton when they found their efforts had
but served to bring about change of
masters. OF Aguinaldo, it will be re-
membered, Maj, Bell reported to his
superors, and apparently with judi
clal fairness, that he was poor, I'M
doubtedly honest, natural leader,
held in respect by his people, but
with little education. Whether this
report Is more to be relied on than
that which asserts that he was bought
by the Spaniards for 100000, is not
for us to determine. Until 1t Is as
proved we propose to rely on the de-
liberate statement of a responsible
American officer. But II it is true,
how can we consistently damn Aguin-
aldo while clnging to Sam Adams
The Philippine leader struck a blow
-pitifully weak and ineffective so far
Though we are still to hear from has
possible future allies, ferver and ia
mine)-for the liberties of his country
against an unconstitutional conquest.
The day has passed for all of us to adj
mire the blow of the weak struck in
defense Of liberty; for to some tyr
amy with power is sweet, tasted for
the first time; the unused flavor OF
which is intoXicating,-b there was
day when we all admired such pro-
The American eagle Is moulting; his
original feathers are dropping out, to
be replaced by those or his Roman
klnsman-a very different bird. So
we have slaughtered 1900 rebels w..h
the same liberty-loving guns that
sunk the tyranny OF Spain! 1t was
only step from the noble senti-
ments of the French revolution-the
rights of man." liberty, equality,
fraternity"-to Napoleon, Austerlitz,
Jena; and only few short months
from the first to the second battle of
Manila. We have considered ourselves
1--WE do not say unwarrantably) the
very elect, and above the reach of
temptations common to man; but We
awake to find ourselves also made of
clay. We have what we hold by right
of conquest and at the price OF blood.
We may get more and more posses
sions after the same fashion. But
does that satisfy people which beat
upon its breast continually, standing
in the, temple of moral laws, and
thanking God that It was not as other
men are?-Philadelphia City and
State.