Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1899-04-07

We have also succeeded in destroying
many millions of dollars of the property
of our late allies, as also many millions
of our own.
Ii would be curious in this connec-
ton to have reprinted several of the
proclamations of King George to the
Americans at the time of our revolution,
when against great odds for nearly eight
years we fought for and at last won
our independence.
AS against this action of our govern
ment, the associated press dispatches of
Wednesday make mention of large
mass meeting held in the fremont Tenn
pie, Boston, in opposition to this policy
of conquest. From the Burlington Free
Press we clip the following account of
this gathering:
The principal speech of the evening was
made by ex secretary of the Treasury Geo.
S. Boutwell,, in the course of which he said
al have set before myself two main objects
in the address have prepared for this occa-
sion.
| al have marshaled portion of the evil
dencc that is Mt my command which proves,
or tends to prove, that the president has en-
tered Systematically upon colonial policy
| in imitation of the colonial policy of Great
| Britain. -Four great events for which the
president is responsible in his Office are rec
onciliablc with each other upon one theory
only, and they all tend to one cOnclusion-an
| American colonial system. First | mention
the protocol of August II, 1898; second, the
treaty Mt Paris Dec. 10, 1888. Then the pro-
clamation to the Philippines of Jan. s. 1892
| a ND q y D1IgntiDn
president is now carrying on in the Philip
pine islands upon his sole responsibility and
without authority of law.
"President McKnley's policy of n colonial
system for America is TO he the distinguish
| ing feature of the administration, and on that
! policy we Join issue"
| Mr.. boutwell, declared he did not dispute
! the right of the United states under the con-
stitution to acquire territory but insisted that
our form of government ain each and every
one of its attributes proceeds upon the idea
! that the people, acting as communities, are
! to govern themselves.
"rhe president occupies the position in
reference to the Philippines that Russia occu-
pied i'm regard to Poland, and II position kin
bred to the position occupied to Hungary in
1siS, when Kossuth was carrying on contest
| in behalf of self-government in which all
| America symp ithiZed.
! .'What sort of a government is the presi-
dent setting up i'm the Philippines? The
answer must be this: A military govern
mcut set up over people VIII have been sub
dued or are to be subdued by military pow
cr. The president asserts purpose to use
all the powers ever -claiincd by any dcspot.
! In fine there is no middle ground in princi
pie between the rcpuhicanism of the dcclar
alton Of American Independence and the
b~oadcst claims that were ever put forth by
the ear of Russia"
Mr.. Boutwell, then reviewed the steps
whereby the president has developed The pol
! lev attributed to him by the speaker, and in
conclusion said: at is the purpose of the
president to seize and mold the philippines
/ by the strong hand of cOnquest-tO s1bingate
or eNterminate the natives and there are in
dications that the two events may coincide
with respect to time. The Filipinos might
| plead for opportunity TO exercise the right of
self government-self goyernment-noh hing
more If the president would accept the
teachings of the declaration of independence
we would be at peace. The seizure of the
Philippine islands by rs is an Eng ish yolicy.
In accepting England's policy in the East we
accept her sovereignty"
Resolutions were adopted denouncing the
policy of the administration in the Philip
pine islands.