The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-06-03

Seattle, June :. -.
To ths Editor: ! have Rad with much
Interest your editorial In yesterdays issue
headed Our Country, WRIGHT or Wrong.
especially tn following declarations:
.-Tne time for deliberation II before war
b undertaken; the dine for criticism ooes
feds itself compelled to resort 70 arms.
there must be no faltertng. When peo.
pie take up the sword IN defense OF 2
Sor.s q .co .ss o. are = e =
ceasful unless they inscrtbe upon their
banners. Our Country. Right OF Wronk.
When tho enemy b ready 70 return
Ia dispute b the time 70 be naaxnantmous
and patient. When the disputes with the
enemy are ended Il y not only not TN
proper. but often wise; to review s... re 3
those In authority. II II wise. because II
mistakes have been made, q repetition may
be prevented: errors OF Judgment may be
corrected and the utmost advantage drawn
from the lessons Of experience"
Now, I have very little criticism to offer
to the above sentiment or to the greater
part Of the eloquent Grafton OF our fellow
citizen. Mr.. Hughes. but It has occurred to
me that before war was declared against
Spain there was long and patient delibera-
ton. and AFTER war was declared against
Spain and until peace was declared, and
the war with Spain was ended. there was .
unanimity all over these United States
such as WAS never known In any country
ON the face Of the earth. So far ~ the
prosecution Of that war against Spain and
for the purposes for which that war was
declared. there was scarcely a dissenting
voice; the American people were practical.
~ Of one mind. Never was an executive
50 unanimously upheld In any country as
was President Mckinley. with money. men
and everything necessary to prosecute a
war. 20 long as that war against SOain
continued. but has not the war against
Spain long since ended? Has not Spain
submitted? Has not peace been declared
between the United States and Spain?
Have not the objects for which we went to
war with Spain been accomplished and at
tanned? Has not Spain relinQuished all
sovereignty over these islands? Did we
not declare to the world that 1t was not
war of aggression, not war for conquest
of territory?
II President Mckinley can lawfully wage
war against the Ffiipinos and subjugate
them after Spain has submitted, without
the authority OF congress. why can he not.
when the Filipincs submit, then proceed
to hunt other nations to conquer? Where
Is this thing to end? Many citizens Of this
country seriously doubt the propriety Of
the war in the Philippines since the dec.
laratfcn Of peace between the United States
and Spain, and it will not silence objection
or prevent free discussion OF the propriety
thereof by calling those who object unpat-
rtotic Such men as Senator'S Dpan Mason.
Congressman johnson and thousands CT
others never heretofore were looked upon
as unpatrioiic. and these, with thousands
of citizens not adherents OF the Republic
an party. doubt the Justice and prooriety
Of subjugating the F1lipincs. and the pro-
priety OF entering upon this unknown sea
OF expansion. This inclination to compare
our present citizens. who doubt this poll
Icy. to the copperheads of 1s6l-55 is not
argument and will not silence honest con-
victions on governmental questions, and
only shows a want OF real argument to
sustain such policy. May we not next
see an effort to subjugate Cuba? The
scheme already has advocates, and then
We will have the spectacle Of having gone
to war with Spain to iiberafe these peoples
and then proceeded to subjugate them to
our form Of government Respectfully.
]. N. CARSON.