Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-02-04
SHADOWS OF IMPERIALISM.

SdADONC , Or 1mI ERlAIlSn.
Congress in It's declaration of war
against Spain last year said Tine
people OF CUBA are and ought 10 be free
and Independent" The news dis.
patches from Havana January "a say
General Rabi, with 1900 insurgents,
has taken 20 the mills iu Santa Clara IL
defiance OF American authority. They
will be followed by force of United
States cavalry and persisIently pursued.
Rabi is q full-blooded Guartanams
Indian and hard fighter. The same
general method will De observed by the
American forces as has been followed
in dealing with the Indians on the
plains and mountsias Of the west"
rbe Manila dispatch of the same day
said "Aguiuaido's authority is geu
orally recognized. Every available male
is being recruited, aud arms depots ere
being established at large towns. There
are 10000 Fiiiplnos under arms"
a Washington dispatch Of the same
date says There are three factors in
Tue Philippine situation which are fore
ing the President to action. Fist, Aguiu-
4ldo's hostile attitude and the coostant
srowth of his army; second, the danger
Of smallpox on board tbe transports,
8hich are the prisons of M!lier's expedi
ion TO Illoilc; hird the dauger CT :ecog-
Jii ion of the Philippine republic 10y
foreign governments, especially Ger
many and Spain" Ia the local news
columns of tne San Francisco Press ct
,he same date appeared the petition OF
six hundred parents of volunteers IN
.ae First California regiment, now IN
the Philippines, asking tie President
to send them home, which declares:
Aud whereas long detention in Il
tropical climate is undermining the
health and spirits Of many of our hest
young men who gave their services to
their country when hostilities were
actually pending, to be called home is
the most frleDt wish of almost every
enlisted man in said regiment
The purpose for which var was do
clared was completed with the Spanish
surrender.
The above news of one day is al ez-
hibit of what hiss followed our abandon
ment of that purpose to enter upon
career Of Conquest.
The object Of the Cuban revolution
was independence Of the Cubans. The
object OF the Philippine revolution was
Independence Of the Fllipinos. The
Porto r cans did rot revolt aud had no
desire to change from Spanish SOW
ereiguty.
We have assumed to them ell the
attitude of conqueror and not thai OF
deliverer. Perhaps at this moment
our troops are in the mountains Of
Santa Clara province siaughtering the
patriot band Of Rlbi, or being slaught-
cred. We have stepped into Spain'5
shoes III Hayaua aud Manila and have
taken up her fight against the aspira
lions of the people for independence
and nationality.
Rabi has done in Cuba just what
Maceo and Gomez did, has adopted the
same military tactics which he aud
they used against Spain. When Spain
was the victim of their methods pa
triotic passion was torn TO tatters In
Congress and in the press of this
country in ascribiag to their acts the
dighest motives that can actuate the
lovers of liberty, and they were ranked
with Washington Now Rabi's resort
10 the mountains is called, in the dis
patch, "brigandsge," and it is added
chat we propose ito show what United
States soldiers can do to suppress it,"
The Cubaus seem to have unchanged
King Log fer King Stork.
Over all hovers the declaration that
"the President feels he cannot wait
much longer upon the Senate. lnsuuc-
tions will be sent TO Admiral Dewey
and General Otis to either Withdraw
Miiler's expedition or to assert the su
premacy OF the United States, peace
ably if possible, forcibly if necessary"
The constitution says; The Con-
gress shall have power to declare
war;" Has it declared war against the
Cubans and the Filipinos? They
each have organized governments and
military force equipped with arms.
What right has the President to de
clare war against either?
Going to the speeches made by Platt
aud other imperialists, his suthority is
discovered in their declaration that the
constitution of the United States ap-
plies ouly to the States Of the United
States. This misapplication of a die
tum of Mr.. Webster is used by the
imperialists to cover the use of auto
cratic power by the President outside
of the States of the United States.
That is to say, within the Union he is
constitutional President; outside, under
policy of conquest and imperialism,
he is an Oriental despot. He is Presi-
dent at home, but Emperor in Cuba
and the Philippines.
If Rabi is followed into the noun
tains of Santa Clara, and force is used
in the Philippines, we will have crossed
the Rubicon, and in that dark future
that stretches from the farther shore
are the sighs aud tears of many times
six hundred parents praying that their
sons be saved from the destruction
wrought by tropical climste.-[Sau
Francisco Call.
The smallest things may exert tae great
est influence DeWiits Little Early hissls
are unequalled for overcoming constipation
Il