Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-05-06
TO WADE THROUGH SLAUGHTER
TO a THRONE.

Certain citizens OF Chicago propose
to hold public meeting in that city for
The purpose of protesting against the
continuance OF the war in the Philip
pines. For the purpose. that is. of pro-
testing against the putting down of n
rebellion against the United States.
For the purpose OF protesting against
the assertion of the rights and author
ity OF the United States. For the pur-
pose of advising that the United states
humiliate and dshonOr itself by yield
ing TO rebels in arms instead of over
coming them.-N. i. Sun.
Then the Philippines are subjects or
citizens Of the United States. Where is
power given the United States 10 have
and hold "subjects?" What principle
of American freedom is not against the
whole theory and practice OF Sub
1ects?' And how and by what means
did these Philippines become sub
jects"' Strictly in accordance with
American doctrine and example. these
people were in revolt against Spain,
lighting for liberty and independence
when our fleet under Dewey went TO
Manila TO fight Spain in the war we
had declared against her The natives
Mt once became our allies against
Spain. and, a : Aguinaldo claims, they
understood that we were their allies
against the same common enemy. To
urge our trick purchase of Spain's bo-
gus "sovcrcignty" as title under
which we can or must rule the Philip
pines is nonsense: and under Alneri-
can profession ami precedent tf7-rr -
nothing but what condemns the whole
proceedings Of seizure and subjection
undertaken in these far Asiatlc islands.
Impossible on any American principle
to conquer and subjueatc distant pro-
Vinces and govern their people as sub
jccts, without their consent. even this
administration regulates these Ma
lays as either present or prospective
citizens. How then. being neither citi-
zens OF our Republic. nor rightful sub
jects to it, in any sense compatible with
our own tenure of freedom and indie
pendcnce,- can these Philippines
be rebels 10 US. on their native hca Their.
with Republic Of their own free and
Independent. with full power to levy
war. especially in defence Of liberty,
home and hearth? How dare we cues
! ton their rights IS men, invade them
and butcher and oprross them. under
our name, our constitution and our
| naG?
There is no rebellion against the
United States in the Philippine Archi-
pelago. Her people never entered into
relations with this government that
would make them owe allegiance to it,;
nor could Spain transfer to us a bogus
allegiance due her, which they had Ut =
terly repudlated. resisted and put to
flight. The United States have no rights
in those islands, nor any authority not
consented TO by their people. The hu
initiation and dshonor of this govern-
mcnt and people are in the ATTEMPTS
OF this administration to degrade this
Republic TO n career Of conquest ana
subjugatlon; OF an enemy. instead Of
Il champion. of human liberty; OF n
buccaneer and pirate among nations: OF
a renegade and apostate. renouncing
Christianity and humanity, to enable
| some miscreant
ITO wade through slaughter to n
| throne,
And shut the gates Of mercy on man
kind"
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