The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-12-19

Our obligation was not to make a
peace with Spain that would remand
or continue the Filipinos to a condi-
ton of servitude under the bad rule
ofs Spain. Freed from Spain there is
no doubt that in truth and equity our
obligation ceased. A thoughtful writ
er in that able monthly, "Self-Culture,' -
published at Akron, Ohio, says:
so far as we were concerned it was
for them to try their hand at govern
ment and abide the result as did our
neighbors, Mexico and the Spanish
South American colonies. 1t internal
disorder should have followed. We
might recall our Chicago and Cleve-
land riots and extend to them our fra
ernal sympathy and appreciative
good WILL"
How striking the contrast in the
great war for second independence on
the part Of the south. Happily it was
a necessary struggle for the mainte-
nance of all hat is lear to a free
mans heart. No true southron could
possibly hesitate after the war of in
vasion began to wish the utmost sue
cor to h armies of the Confederacy.
All felt that their IL was just; that
a brave and resolute people were peril
ling all-life, property, ease, comfort
in defence of invaded rights and priyi-
leges and of the priceless blessings Of
civil and religious liberty. The south
thought and believed hat great and
seemingly insurmountable as Were the
difficulties and dangers, hat at last
through heroic endurance and I'M
blanching valor of her unsurpassed
soldiery liberty and independence
would be secured.
You have seen doubtless no little
said in the organs of imperialism, we
rejoice to now mainly confined to
the great section that warred so bit
terly and destructively and savagely
upon the south, that it is the part of
patriotism and duty to kill and cap
ture and hold the hundreds of islands
in the far away Pacific ocean 10000
miles away from our own shores. The
expansion idea has taken possession of
a great many selfish patriots in the
north, who, like the medieval Senator
Frye, of Maine, q relict of antiquity
living out of his time, believe that it
is the duty of the United States to cap
ture and hold TIE Philippines because
they were so rich and valuable, and
important for northern interests, or
words to hat effect. Others go with
the un-American idea of foreign con-
quests with a needless ardOr, not look
ing ahead to see what effect all this
will have upon the future of the Unit
ed States, and how their very institu-
tons and government may be seriously,
radically affected by this departure.
The same c~onsiderate writer in Self
Culture" concludes with this, which
we commend to rejecting minds:
There may be sound reasons for our
governments so-called imperialistic
policy which is rapidly committing this
republic to a career of costly militar-
ism. If there are such reasons, by all
means let them be given to the public.
But let the deceitful cry of duty and
of honor cease. 1t tends to silence pro-
test and to quiet consciences disturbed
by tales of glorious slaughter of our
misguided foes. If our cOurSe can be
indicated by mans reason addressed
to man, let us have this justification,
to whose logical force we must all
yield. But let us have an end to this
cOwardly shrinking behind the plea
that we are helplessly bound to 'desti-
and blindly guided, we know not
whittier by the hands of a bloodthirsty
god"