The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-07-14

TWELVE PAGES
INDEPENDENCE DAY.

We Americans are not the only people
who have their GLORIOUS Fourth"-ther
day of declared independence. We
achieved ours. and are today enjoying its
blessings. Has our own success inspired
in us that love OF liberty that should cause
us to properly appreciate the struggles of
others in their efforts to obtain this price
less jewel? The present status of public
affairs in this country would imply that
it has not. and that we are today very
far from applying the golden rule.
Who is there that read In yesterday
papers an account OF the independence
day speech of Aguineldo that did not. in
some degree al least, sylnpathize with this
little Filipino and his expressions of love
for liberty and native land?. The bright
and plucky little Filipino is right when
he says that the democratic party In this
country does not indorse Mr.. Mckinley
IN his war in the Philippines; and, be 1t
said to their credit, there are men In Mr..
McKinley's own party who are greatly at
variance with him in this matter. Hon
George S. Boutwell,. ex governor ard ex-
United States senator from Massachusetts,
sometimes called. and 1t appears very
aptly, too. the 'old man eloquent made
speech before the Clan-na Gael In Bos-
ton on the Fourth, from which the follow
ing extracts are taken:
We are engaged in war which no one
defends which no one can defend as n lust
and righteous war. Its supporters IRE apollo
gists. laying the responsibility for the war
a
ity. is 1t an answer or only guilty preteSt
when we say that Tor $50, 900 We have pu-
chased from Spain the title TO the Philippine
Islands, and herewith the right, through war
and slaughter, 10 subiugate 100000 human
beings who never injured u.s. and who aes
Only for the right TO manage their own anors
"a right sncrei rs the lght TO eXistl
For the execution OF this uuhoY purpose
call IS now pending for the enlistment OF
$4,000. soon to be $4,000 and then 100000. Of
the youth OF the country, whose destiny II will
be to either fall in battle or to perish by
disease, or to return broken in health to
become The recipients OF pensions to be paid
from the labor of those who may have to
remain at home. This sacrifice of men and
this waste IF money and the aonseuucnt bur
der OF taxation through generations are not
moro to be regretted than the humiliation
TO which the country is now subjected in the
abandonment of the Republic and the accept
anee Of Engllna as our guide and model in
anoirs of government
Justice and peace are possibilities In n re-
public. Justice and peace are impossibilties
In an empire Imperialism aud republican
ism are impossible In the same government.
The greatest crime which the world can ever
know the greatest crime which mankind can
commit. Is the inauguration OF war for the
coberest of territory and the subjugation of
peoples, with the incident and inevitable sac
riiee of human life.
The founders of this government preferred
repuhlicanism and peace to Imperialism and
war. President Mckinley and his supporters
are. engaged in an effort to revise their work
issue.
Could language be more eloquent or
truths more potentY II is a peculiar CO.
incident that while ARuinaldo was plead.
Ing so earnestly for liberty thousands of
niles from us this "old man eloquent" was
so sensibly criticising the American ad-
m!n'stration at home for It's course to-
ward him.
The sense of right and justice are deep
laid In the human heart, and will some
times burst the bands asunder desplte all
earthly opposition.