Iron County register., 1899-03-02

On the 18th instant the navy of the
United States bombarded the town of
Iloilo. the seat of the Viscayan confed-
Grafton on the island Of Panay, in the
Philippine archipelago. and captured
the town in the name OF the United
| States. The soldiers that landed on
that island were the first Americans to
visit the island. We had no soldiers
there prior 10 the bombardnent. The
island had government Of its own
composed of natives, the Spanish au-
thorities having abdicated some time
ago. No complaints were received by
our government at Washington against
the government of this island from any
source whatever. There were no com
plants that order did not prevail upon
the island. On the contrary. it was
known TO all the world tha: peace and
order reigned upon the island, and
that those in authority denied the right
OF the United States to interfere in
their affairs. It was further known
that they resented all demands made
upon them by our navy; they refused
to permit soldiers of the United States
to land upon their soil while bearing
arms, but made no objection to their
landing in the capacity of Americans
divested of the implements OF war.
The conduct of President Mckinley
in sending our navy to lombard the
city OF Iloilo and wagiug a war of con-
quest against the peaceful Inhabitants
of the island of Panay and capturing
the capital of the Viscayan Confedera-
tion is a gross violation of the author
ity vested in him under the Constitu-
ton. Congress has not yet declared
war against the government and peo-
pie of the island of Panay.
This island is one of the twelve hun
dred or more islands in the archipel-
ago. 1t is distant about three hundred
miles from Manila. The Spaniards
had evacuated the island and every
thing was progressing orderly and to
the satisfaction of the one million or
more Inhabitants thereof when the
American feet appeared in their wat
ers and demanded the surrender Of the
island which was resolutely refused.
The treaty of peace with Spain had
cans made their demands for the sur
render of Iloilo and their demand re-
fused. Our fleet remained in their
harbor two weeks until after the treaty
of peace was ratified by the Senate be-
fore they undertook the reduction of
the city.
The work of attacking these peacea-
bic and unofending people and forcing
them into subsection to a military gov
ernor OF the United States is worthy of
a Cesar or a Napoleon and wholly un-
American. If such an outrage can be
committed by the President of the
United States against people residing
on the opposite side of the earth. and
be condoned and acquiesced in by the
American people, our pretense to be
a free people ourselves is a hollow
mockery, delusion and a snare. III
the plain people do not bestir them
selves and place the stamp of condem-
nation upon this act OF Imperialism we
are well along on the way 10 empire
and the republic viii not long survive.
Can any further evidence be wanted
of the design and determination OF our
'.rulers?" President Mckinley is now
into his hands a large permanent
standing army. An infamous measure
known as the Hull bill has already
passed the House of Representatives.
The Republican members of the Senate
committee on military affairs have re-
ported the bill TO the Senate, and 1t
win have the support of the Repubii- |
can members of that body generally. |
Senator Cockren on behalf Of the
Democratic members of the Senate
committee has introduced bill to in
crease the army to sixty-two thousand !
until 1901, two years from the date of
the passage of the bill. and to further
permit thirty-fve thousand additional
soldiers TO be recruited from the in
habitants of the islands that have come
into our possession. This measure !
provides for an abundant army for all /
purposes and all exigencies tha. have
vet been disclosed. The term of en-
listment win run beyond President Nc j
Kinley's term Of Office. What then |
does this usurper OF power mean By in
sisting upon larger and permanent !
army7 Americans bewarai We are
on dangerous ground. Eternal vigi- /
lance Is the price OF liberty. SiIuer
Knight Hatchmass.