Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1899-08-04
THE WAR IN IDAHO.
RAMPANT IMPERIALISM AT
HOME AND ABROAD.
Military Dictatorship Exists In idaho as
Well rs In Cuba, Porto Rico and the
Philippines - We Are Sowing the
Whirlwind.

| The American empire Is now in the
experimental stage. Queen Victoria's
legal title, conferred by act Of parlia-
ment, is Queen of Great Britain and
Ireland, and Empress of India" Vic
toria's queenship of Ireland is based
solely upon force. The people Of Ire
land would not for one moment rec
ognize her authority were it not back
ed up by an overwhelming array Of
British bayonets. Victoria is empress
Of India solely because huge hired
army of white, brown and black men
are always ready to shoot anybody
who objects. None of the people OF
India would vote to elect Victoria, or
any other English woman, empress Of
their country.
Such Is English imperialism. 1t Is
not supported by the real patriots OF
England, but the schemers, usurers and
fools are practically strong enough to
maintain the policy. 1t is designed
for the purpose of robbng the people
of Ireland and India for the benefit Of
a few money kings in London. The
result will be the enslavement of the
English masses as we'll as the masses
of Ireland and India.
American imperialists, with head
quarters in Wall street. say the United
States must follow in the blood-stained
footprints of Great Britain. We must
have colonies where military govern
ment will be administered by soldiers,
responsible only to the ex-officio COM
Mander-in-chief of the army and navy,
the president of the United States. The
bayonets of an enlarged standing army
are to be used to extort usury for Wall
ttreet from the inhabitants of the east
ern and western islands, and also, like
the bayonets of other military powers,
they are to be used to enforce pluto
cratic tyranny upon American work
ingmen.
The latter Is what the new Ameri-
can standing army is doing under
command Of General Merriam directly,
and President Mckinley indirectly.
Without any warrant of law the Unit
ed States army has imprisoned the
principal citizens of an Idaho county,
to the number of $50, in a vile stock
ade 60x70 feet in size, and has kept
them there for weeks without allowing
them to consult with their attorneys,
families or friends, denying them the
benefit of habeas corpus; denying
them decent food, shelter, medical at
tendance and the possibility of clean
illness.
All of these horrors for weeks have
been perpetrated by General Merriam
and the regular negro soldiers under
his command upon the miners. Mer-
chants, preachers. and county officials
Of an Idaho county and because the
Mullan Mirror protested, it's editor was
Jailed, its type confiscated and the pa
per suppressed.
Thus the new Imperialism and the
new standing army operate at home,
and he who objects is called copper
head and traitor, because they claim
nothing must be said against the pres
ident's policies while he is engaged in
war in the Philippines. The presiden.
can do no wrong, say the imperialists.
Today military dictator's whip,
with William Mckinley as the sole re-
sponsible Dictator exists in Cuba, Por-
to Rico, one county in Idaho and the
small strip of territory in the Philip
pine islands now occupied by the Unit
ed States army. Does any one claim
that any form of government except
military despotsm exists in any of the
territory named? If so, what and
where?
When the American people become
thoroughly accustomed to the military
rule of our fellow men in Porto Rico,
Cuba and the Philippines, for the pur-
pose Of extorting Wall streets usury
from them; when we become reconciled
to government censorship of mails and
telegraph at home and abroad; when
the people applaud the introduction of
martial law for the benefit of such cor
porations as the Standard Oil company.
who know no law themselves; then
the time shall be ripe for the introduce
ton in congress of a resolution declar-
ing William McKinley's title to be
president of the United States and
Emperor of the East and West indies"
Why not? Is not that what he act
ually is? Has he not absolute power
over life and death, property and liD-
erty and public speech in those islands.
so far as it is in the power of the army
and navy to enforce his DEGREES?
And that is not the worst of it. The
worst of it is that the same absolute
power is being enforced by regular
army bayonets in Idaho. 1t may be |
any other state next, and you and I |
may speedily learn how Cubans and !
Filipinos feel under military despot-
ism.
PERCY PEPOON.