Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-08-31
UNCLE SAM is NO GUTTER,


Populist and Democratic conventions
in Kansas, and the expressions Of the
press and politicians Of the allied
forces show that they take the stand
that the United States should with.
draw its soldiers and sailors from the
Philippines and let the islands go to
Aguinaldo or to his satanic majesty,
Laying aside for the moment all
considerations Of national growth,
increase of commerce and extension
OF markets for American products
the proposition becomes simple one:
Shall the United States give up in
the face of an armed enemy? The
war was begun by the Fiipinos with
the avowed purpose of driving the
American troops from Manila. 1t
was begun before the ratification of
the treaty with Spain and in the face
Of the declaration by the United
States that the future government Of
the Philippines should be a subject to
be settled by agreement of America
with the inhabitants Of the islands
This war has been waged on the part
of Agunaldo with cruelty and bar
barlsm, They pretend to represent
the people of the islands, but the best
evidence is that they do not From
the time Aguinaldo put on gold coll
lar and declared himself dictator
down TO the time he stopped running
long enough to a a9,inate his prln-
clpal general, there has been nothing
to show that he is fitted TO form II
government or that the people he TED
were worthy of being entrusted with
government, the preservation of or
der and the security OF life ant prop
erty Aside from hgirsounaing
proclamation, aud dec aratlons chat
he was receiving aid from u large eIe-
ment in the United States, Agunaldo,
who is the whole thing, has not dis
played an cstmabc qualify or an a.
dication that his reign would be any
thing more than IN era Of p,und'r
and bloc lshed.
These facts are agreed upon by all
authorities, by our own genera S, by
Dewey, by Funston, by our news
paper correspondents, BY American
and European reports and lastly but
most convincingy by the letters from
the boys in the Twentieth Kansas
who know whereof they speak,
From the holr Dewey destroyed the
Spanish fleet in Manila bay the re-
sponsibility for life and property in
the Philippines has been borne by
Dewey's country. We could not avoid
IT, We cannot throw ii off except
eowardly and by drawing upon our
selves the denuncIation of the civil
lied world. We are as responsible ut
Manila as at Havana and the world
holds us as security in both eases
We interviewed in Cuba because Of
Spanish cruelty and mismanagcmcnt
and yet it is proposed to turn over the
Philippines to u greater cruelty, To
worse mismanagenent than was ever
charged against WeyIer, the butcher
That is the proposition, Shall we
maintain our purpose OF establishing
peace and preventing despotic misrule
or shall we declare this to have been
only pretention and leave the Phil.
ppines TO the mercy OF the Tagals,
described by our soldier boys as
vicious and treacherousP
This is not question OF "cxpan-
sion" but question as to whether or
not the United States is TO repudiale
its avowcd object OF beginning the
war with Spain because it has met
with opposition. The lines are very
drawn in this issue. ais Uncle Sam a
auittvrT The Demo. Populists say he
ia III c Kepublcaus say he IN not.