The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-05-08
OGDEN MAN ON IMPERIALISM.
ro the Editor OF The Herald:

To the Editor of The Herald:
Individual protestations emanating from
citizehs of the community against the
enactment of the bloody tragedy now in
progress in the Philippines could have but
little direct weight against the prosecu-
tors of the war. but their combined effect
may he the creation of a sentiment
amongst the American people 50 unmis-
takabiy adverse that the administration,
upon grounds of political policy, if none
other, may deem ii advisable to procure
some speedy and peaceful termination of
the struggle, giving and guaranteeing TO
the 9atriotic sons of liberty their indie
pendence.
The spectacle of the foremost liberty
loving people of the world, whose national
existence has been Solemnly conSecrated
10 the establishment of freedom and the
disenthrallment of the human family, of
embarking in these, the closing hours of
the nineteenth century, after so brilliant
and peaceful a career, in a savage and
murderous war against a race of people
struggling to establish among themselves
those very principles purchased at so
enormous a cost by Washington and the
devoted patriots lighting with him from
England. is horrifylng 10 contemplate.
War sometimes presents a grand and
7 imposing spectacle. 1t is ever so when a
people are victorious in a contest waged
Ior liberty, because ii signihes a conquest
OF truth and justice over tyranny and op-
preston.
The spirit of liberty had settled among
the American revolutionistS. They fought
with that noble heroism and grim deter
mlnatIon that ever springs from such a
divine source of inspiration, but we must
inevitably have yielded the unequal con-
Guest but for the timely interDosition of
france. Had France at that time, after
aiding us in defeating the English, turned
her guns upon US under the pretext that
we were incapable OF self-government or
some other equally indefenSible plea, she
would nave occupied position not dis
similar to ours at present in the Philip
pines. She would have been just as much
Justihed in the prosecution OF such war
as the United States now is; yes, a thou
sand times more SO, for her whole history
was characterized by incessant war, which
had become her settled occupation. Be
sides, the material advantages to be
reaDed from such contest were incom-
9aIably greater than is within the reach
OF the United States in the Philippines.
Inc only difference between such an atti-
tude upon the part of France, then, and
the Americans now, is one of force and
physical power. IN that the former could
not nave succeeded, while perhaps the
latter may be successful.
No one questions the loyalty and pat
riotlsm OF the American soldier, his hero
ism and ability TO cope with the foremost
soldiers of the world. That has been
abundantly demonstrated in many
bloody engagement. Unfortunately, they
are now engaged in a most unholy and
unriGhteous war, waged not in the inter-
est OF liberty. of humanity or of an en-
hghtened Christian policy, but in the in
tereSt of centralized capital of syndi-
Gates and trusts. the vampires of modern
society. the enemies of all that if good
and honorable and honest in American
reDublicanism.
We would have had no war with the
t1llplnoS, but for the insistence of the
emiSSaries of organized capital. The men
at the head of the government RESPONSE
bic for the criminal blot that is being in
dtllDly written IN characters of blood
over Americas fair name. have surren-
dered their manhood and individuality to
me soruid interests of gold, and are pros
ututing the sacred genius of democracy
and liberty upon the altar of licentious
greed and coveIousness
Inc man who exercises the functions of
the commander in chief OF the American
army in times of war was the creation
N ms ofhc!al capacity. of the enemy OF
the people, the organized money despots
OF the world. He feels that he has NOT
vet discharged the obligations incurred in
the campaign that elevated him TO power.
he sun retains as a member of his port
TOTO, at the head of the war department
monumental incompetent and humbug
with full knowledge of his pestiferous
career What stand for liberty and the
rights of man can the American peoDie
expect from such degenerate public func-
ucnaries? None. They who love the flag.
tne constitution, the ennoblinS traditions
or the republic, must make up their minds
70 see the Philippine islands converted
into a human slaughter house conse-
Grated to spollaUion. ruin and despair, for
IN us operations organized capital is not
influenced by and computations of con-
science or the cry of human anguish and
sorrow.
The plea that our present enhancement
IS but manifestation of the DEGREES of
providence, that we are following blindly
the irresistible drift of destiny, that we
are assigned the mission of benevolent
assimilation" of bringing the natives up
u rational degree of civilization by the
establishment among them of proper
agencies TO attain that end. are but pre-
texts offered and resorted to by en-
throned capital to miSlead and beguiIe
the American people.
1t is the design to introduce among the
natives a strong. stable and honest gov
eminent, controlled by colossal and re-
morseiess combinations of capital and
corrupt politicians. such as flourish in
these United States.
Before he United States undertakes the
task of civi.izing another people and pro
vidin9 them with stable and honest gov
eminent, let them first accomplish the
stupendous mission of civilizing them
selves, work out their own economic sal
walton and establish honest government
at nome. that is now drifting to certain
ruin. When they have succeeded in this
propriety expand.
The shrieking and murderous roar of
american musketry and artillery in the
philippines should be stopped, the Amer |
nate defenders of their homes given their /
independence.
The liberty-buildcrs of cur country adj
monish us with anxious maternal voices
posterity calls out from the bosom of the |
future. the peace-lovers of the world Join !
IN a universal proteStation to desist in |
this career of crime and desolation. The |
name of William Mckinley will ever be
he'd up to the just execration of impartial |
history. No atonement will suffice to
make reDaration for the murderous exc /
cution of so many American citizens.
Ogden, May 4.
PECULIAR ACCJDENT