The labor world., 1899-05-06
\ OCTOR what is your opinion OF
our war with the Filipinos?

OClOh NudL Is YOUR OpIulOl VI
IL our war with the Filipinos?
It is an incident of the war with
Spain. We took up the cause of Cuba
as a work of humanity with no
thought of the PHILIPPINES. Mckinley
warded the war off as long. as posi-
BILE. He dreaded it's far-reaching con-
sequences, but the hot headed anti
imperialists of today drove him into
it, and in the course of settlement the
PHILIPPINE Islands came into our pos
session.
Yes, but wouldn't it have been bet
ter when Dewey had destroyed the
Spanish feet at Manila for him to
have left Manila at that time and
turned the Islands over to the natives
It must be borne in mind that a
large share of the natives are unciv-
ilized. In fact, portions of the native
inhabitants on the PHILIPPINES are a
most barbarous and savage people,
actually killing and feasting upon un-
fortunate: seamen and others who may
be cast upon those islands.
The natives in and about Manila
are yet upon the plane of bow and ar
row warfare until very recently. They
are very uncertain in character. When
our war with Spain ended and the
Spanish troops left the Islands, a
large number Of Spanish, American,
English, German, French and people
of other nationalities with large prop
erty interests at stake, were at the
mercy of the natives. These natives
had long been waiting for the oppor-
tunity to get possession of Manila
and with their savage nature, gen.
eral massacre of the white people and
confscation of all their property
would have been the probable result
Under those circumstances it be-
came necessary that our military ALL
thorities protect the white people in
Manila, and we did what every civil
lied nation should have done under
the circumstances. We simply pro-
ceded to establish order and protection
for every inhabitant.
At this juncture the natives made
an onslaught on our army; turned
traitors to those who had come to aid
them. Had they been successful in
their assaults upon us the destruc-
tion of property and the slaughter of
people in Manila would have been
what follows when you let loose an
uncivilized, angry mob seeking re-
venge.
We were thrown upon the defensive
and that has been our condition from
the time the Filipinos first turned
upon us. Our government has not
theleast thought of injur1ng the ma
tives of the PHILIPPINE Islands. Our
hope is only to carry free schools and
to them.
That may be true, but is it right to
proceed to govern that people without
their consent?
All history shows that a large por-
ton of the inhabitants on earth are
governed without their consent. An
cient history is replete with accounts
of stronger nations conquering the
weaker. 1t has ever been so; it will
ever be so. The stronger must rule.
The fittest will survive.
The fathers Of the anti-imperialists
in New England landed on our shores
and proceeded to take the country
from the Indians without the consent
of the governed.
We have expanded from little New
England southwark to the gulf of
Mexico, and northward to Behring
Strait. We have, for a century, been
expanding over new lands and eNer-
cising authority over their peoples
without the consent of the governed.
We will continue this expansion.
As far back as we can recollect one
of the copies in our writing books
was, "kipgdoms and crowns will ul-
timately fall" That is destiny. AS
civilization advances a republican gov
ernment must prevail. 1t Should be
the mission Of the United States to
carry /; higher civilization to all peo-
pie. What ar. we on earth for?
Yes, but do you think it is best to
shoot civilization into them?
TIal may be necessary at times.