Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-07-11
The National Duty" DeIusion.

The argument of duty to civilization,
Christianity, and progress, as the reas-
on for American occupation and pos
session of the Philippine Islands, is a
most palpable case of assembling on
the part of the government of the
United States.
Every day it is becoming more evil
dent that although there are two mo-
tives impelling our governmental au-
thorities in the conquest of the Phil
ppines, neither of them bears the re-
hottest relation to duty. These two
motives are imperialism and CONNER
cialism. Imperialism is the desire for
great national power; commercialism,
the desire for great gain.
Imperialism is represented by the
army and navy, and the military spirit
which is clamoring for their increase.
OF what use is an army or navy I'M
less there some one to conquer? 1t is
not hard to discover the reason for the
imperial policy of the government,
even If it can be shown that the peo-
pie are not in favor of it.
1t can hardly be denied that our
boosted government of, for, and by the
people, is at the present time very
largely controlled and influenced in a
very great and dangerous measure, by
monied powers, whose sentiments,
possession of wealth, and material in
terests, have so distorted their con-
sciences that to them all men are not
born free and with equal rights. The
government is not now 'srun" "for the
people, of the people, and by the peo-
ple." The functions OF government
are used in the interest of wealth,
corporate power, and the politicians.
The present condition of the people,
the great mass of working people, ma
terially and industrially, is proof en-
ough of this. Further, the govern
ment represents the policy of the sin
gle gold money standard, which is sim
ply one of the schemes of money i'm
perialism. 1t favors the contraction
of the peoples money, the placing OF
the money power in the hands of a few,
which will increase the wealth of the
wealthy and the poverty of the poor.
1t represents policies favorable tc
trusts and corporations, the increase
OF military power, the absolutism Of
the Federal courts, and the monopoly
of industries and the country's pro.
ducts.
The discussion of how this kind Of
government obtained power in free
country, with supposed universal sui.
frage, is for another time. But are
not these the facts?
Commercialism is represented by the
great capitalists, who control the GOV
ernment policies, who see in the pos
session of the islands by the United
States, great opportunities for CREATE
wealth. The country is wonderful,
productive, and if rightly taken ad
vantage of it may be made the medi
UNI for the floating of bonds ane
stocks, which expansion" will make
necessary, and the establishment Of
mammoth corporate concerns to alb
sorb great profits from the natura
products of the country and the in.
dustry of its people. The opening uI
OF these islands to commercialism is
not intended to offer opportunities to
small Industries and farming enter.
prise. There is no contemplation OF
intention OF making the country a
refuge and an opportunity for the poor
man. tbs simply to furnish oppor-
tunities to add wealth to wealth.
There has never been any considera.
tion of the possibilities of the country
for settlement, which shall furnish tc
every man who desires a portion OF
Gods earth, which is his natural right
but which has been stolen from him
by wealth and power, while he has
been lulled to sleep by false arguments
and promises. The commercial mis-
siOnary who wants to educate the
Philippine laborer into the same sad
yanced" and "highn condition of free
dom and equality that the American
workingman now occupies, is a start