The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-11-14
John Sherman in Evidence.

~ HE elections of 1899 are over. If
they have decided nothing very
definite concerning the proba-
bilities for 1900, they have at least
demonstrated the fact that about one
half of the American people are OPP
posed to Mr. McKinley's foreign policy,
and hence in the view of his supporters
are copperheads and traitors.
Some time ago the Standard sug-
gested that it would be a little re-
markable if as result Of the election
it should appear that a majority of the
people Of the great republican strong
hold of Ohio were actually disloyal.
That suggestion was well-nigh pro-
phetic, for the returns show that the
Mckinley candidate received full fifty
thousand less than a majority of the
votes cast. 1t is safe to say that every
man who voted against the republican
candidates was and is opposed to Mr..
McKinley's war of conquest. 1t IS
equally safe to say that a great many
voted the republican ticket for other
reasons, who are also opposed to the
administra TONS course In the Philip
pines.
At times in the past the Standard has
called attention to q number of the
prominent republicans who not only
look with disfavor upon that policy,
but attack it with the utmost vigor. A
few days ago we quoted from Senator
Hoar to the effect that McKinley's own
III Inn,
would be criminal aggression" was IT.
self calculated to give Aguinaldo the
highest degree of encouragement. And
so it was With that kind of declara-
ton from the president of the United
States before him in cold type Aguin-
aldo had no reason to believe that Mr..
Mckinley would ever undertake the for
chile annexation of the Philippines Or
any part of them
But our purpose now is to direct at
teption to a recent expression from that
Nestor of Ohio republicanism, ex-Sena-
tor and ex-Secretary John Sherman
The anti-imperialist league of the
| United States is about hold a meet
ing in Boston. Mr.. Sherman was In
vited to attend, and his reply, addressed
to Secretary Croffutt, reads as fol-
lows:
Dear Sir: ! have received your invita-
ton to attend public meeting to be held
in opposition to the measures recently
taken by this government against the
! Philippines, and would heartily do so II
| my health would permit.
| From the beginning l think the presi-
| dent has fallen into an error in assum-
| ing that the Philippines had given cause
! to our government to commence war for
| the acquisition of far-distant territories
| There has not BEEN on the part of the
/ islands. a single act that would justify
! war; and the only pretext for war on our
| part is the opportunity to acquire terri
| tory from feeble country in a region
| far remote from ours.
The United States has, from the close
| of the revolution. gradually expanded Its
| limits, but each new territory, except
| Alaska has been in due time admitted as
a state in the union. If We engage in
war with the Philippines, 1t will not be
| for any act of theirs. but mere pre-
tence to rob friendly power Of its pos
| sessions.
| l do not hesitate to say that an attack
upon a friendly power, such as the Phil
| ippines are. would be an act of oppres-
! sion, without good reason or excuse, and
| it is especially indefensible if made by the
| United States- Our country has expanded
| by honorable and peaceful negotiations.
! Its accession of territory has been by
| purchase and not by war. 1t now holds
| in union the. greater and better part Of a
| continent. We ought to be content with
| this, and leave all far distant countries
| Independent of our power, but made
| friendly to US by negotiations. Very
| truly yours, JOHN SHERMAN.
! In this 1t will be observed that Mr.
| Sherman repeatedly sneaks of the Phil
| ippines as friendly power, which we
| have attacked in spirit of oppression
! and as mere pretense to rob them OF
| their possessions. That is going fur
ther than the Standard ever did, for oul
| contention has been simply that this
| Philippines should be guaranteed the
| same treatment that we have solemnly
! promised Cuba. For that we have beer
called a "copperhead," TRAITOR" 9
bourbon and all sorts of bad things
| Of course we don't care, but what Their
are Sherman, Hoar and these other
prominent republicans? Are they alst
disloyal? If so, what proportion of the
| American people are patriots?