The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-01
CRY AGAINST IMPERIALISM.
HOLD ALOOF FROM ENGLAND SAYS
BISHOP STNULDING.

VITA an Audience 60 Protest
Against the Admini~traticn's Poll
Cs--ItcSoIutsCnS Adopted Against
the Extension Of Empire by span
fSh Netiodz-Bishup Spaulding the
Speaker of the OcenSion--I rged
sympathy Cor The Filipinos.
Chicago. April 5o-Centrai Music Han
was this afternoon diicd wlth an audience
gathered 81 protest against The course of
the administration with reference 10 the
Philippine Islands.
once or twice the proceedings were IN
terrupted by the protests o. those who dis
agreed with the sentiments of the speak
ers.
The following resolutions were adoWed;
The frank expression Of honest convic-
lions upon great questions of public policy
Is vital to the health and oven TO the
preservation of representative government.
Such expression is, therefore, the sacred
duty of American citizens.
We hold that the policy known as i'm
perialism is hostile to liberty and tends
10 mihtarism, an evil from which II mas
been our glory to &c free We regret that
ii is now necessary in the land of Washing
of whatever race or color, are entitled TO
life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
We still maintain that governments de-
rive their just powers from the consent of
the governed. We insist that the forcib!e
subjugaton of a purchased people Is
criminal aggression" and open disloyalty
TO the distinctive principles of our govern
ment
We honor our soldiers and sailors in the
Philippine Islands for their unquestioned
bravery; and We mourn with the whole
nation for the American lives that have
been sacrificed. Their duty was obedience
to orders; our duty is diligent inquiry and
fearless protest. We hold that our own
government created the conditions which
have brough about the sacrifice.
Administration Condemned.
We earnestly condemn the policy of the
present national administration in the
Philippines. 1t is the spirit of '76 that our
government is striving to eXtinguish in
those Islands; we denounce the attempt
and demand IT'S abandonment We deplore
and resent the slaughter of the Filipinos
as a needless horror, a deep dishonor to
our nation
We protest against the extension of
American empire by Spanish methods,
and demand the immediate cessation of
the war against liberty begun by Spain
foolish pride is the chief obstacle to
speedy settlement of all difficulties. AS
Mr.. Gladstone said to England, 1--WE are
strong enough 80 20 cast aside all con-
sheraton of false shame walking
in the plain and simple ways of right and
Justice" Our government should al once
announce to the FiHpinos its purpose to
grant them under proper guarantees of
order the independence for which they
have so long fought, and should seek by
diplomatic methods to secure this hide
pendence by the common consent of
nations. Ii is to-day as true of the Fill
pinos as IL was year ago of the Cubans
that they "are and of right ought to be
free and independent
Bishop spauIding's Speech.
Bishop Spaulding of Peoria, ILL.,, was
the main speaker of the occasion. The fol-
lowing are exracts from his speech:
1--WE are. at present in the midst of a
crisis. in which lack of thought and de-
liberation may lead us far from the ideals
which, as Americans, we have most cher
ished and expose us to evils of which we
scarcely dream. We stand at the parting
of the ways. 1t is not yet too late to turn
from the way which leads through war
and conquest to Imperialism, 20 standing
armies, to alliances with foreign Powers
and finally TO the disruption of the union
ltSell. II Is not 100 idlti DtCdus6 IL ~
still possible, probable even, that the
American people will reconsider the whole
question of the complications in which our
victories over Spain have involved us, and
calling TO mind the fact that they did not
enter into this war for the purpose of be-
coming an empire, but for the purpose Of
helping Others to throw off the yoke of a
tyrannical imperialism, will see that to
be blinded and led away by success is to
he nd h.
the highest interests of humanity are at
stake, is TO be wicked and criminal. If
this may not be. then the American peo-
pie have degenerated they have lost their
hold upon the historical causes and the
political habits which led to the founding
of our institutions and to the marvellous
growth and prosperity of our country.
1--WE shall not believe that the gain of
few naval battles over a weak and I'M
prepared foe have power to throw us into
such enthusiasm or such madness as to
turn us permanently from the principles
and policies 20 which we owe our ma
tional existence, our life and liberty; or
that destiny, the divinity of fatalists and
materialists can weaken our faith in the
God of justice, righteousness and love, who
scorn and thrust far away those who,
having a giants strength, use it TO op-
press or destroy the weak and ignorant.
Where Is Our sympathy
I'VE have never looked upon ourselves
as predestined to subdue the earth, to
compel other nations with sword and he'll
to accept our rule; we have always be,
leved in human rights, in freedom ana
opportunity, in education and religion. and
we have invited all men to come and en-
joy these blessings in this half a world
which God has given us, but We have
never dreamed that they We're articles TO
be exported and thrust down unwilling
threats at the point of the bayonet. We
have sympathized with all oppressed peo.
ples-with Ireland, Greece, Armenia. Cuba.
To emancipate the slave we gladly sacrl-
feed the lives of hundreds of thousands
of our soldiers. And now the American
soldier, who should never shoulder a gun
except i'm righteous cause, is sent 10 OOC
miles across the ocean 10 shoot
men whose real crime is that
they wish to be free, wish 20
govern themselves. To say that
they are unfit for freedom is to put forth
The plea of the tyrant in all ages and
everywhere. The enemies of liberty have