Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1899-10-27
Keep the Flag Pure.
BY w. OUTWARD HOWE.
THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY,
ALLEGHENY CITY, Pa,
Oct, u, lugD,

Oct II, lSyo
President Mckinley, in his speeches during
the trip through Iowa and Wisconsin, makes
some remarkable statements. He assures his
hearers that expansion is fact, not theory.
Upon what grounds he bases his opinion we do
not know, for to us it seems that such is far
from the truth.
The fact that the senate SO long refused to-
ratify the treaty containing the clause which
"gave us possession of those 'unciviised' is
lands" argues that, at that time, it had grave
doubts as to the right of such clause. ):
Since then it has been shown that large
proportion of American citizens is agant such
expansion, and each day brings more to the
ranks of the anti-expansionists.
Let us ask what is necessary to have expan-
sion assured.
In order that any policy of our government
become permanent, it must be ratified by the
people, through their representatives in con-
gress. President McKinley's policy of I'M
perialism has not been ratified by congress;
therefore, expansion is not assured. :, 49,.
The President is now trying to make the
American people believe that his present atti-
tude toward the Filipnos was forced upon him.
He argues that he RETAINED from declaring war
upon Spain until the American people forced
him to act. True; but the war with Spain is.
one thing, and the war with the Filipinos is
quite another thing. The CubaHs cried for de-
liverance from oppression. Our government
heard and delivered. This was THE war of HUI
mainly, and, had the President stopped here,
we would have nothing against his war policy.
But he says he was forced into the war. What
war T.? Not the Philippine war. Var could
have been averted had our President been: will
;.,~ 10,
Washington. After Aguinaldo's forces had
aided the American army in the Philippines to
destroy Spanish power, the Filipinos were de-
MED the privilege of sharing in the government
of the islands. This fact of itself would tend
to show that the United States was fully as ty-
rannical as Spain had been. Filipinos could
Judge only by our actions. And really, has our
nation treated the Fiipinos any better than
Spain did ? Has she lessened the taxes Has
she introduced better moral code? Has she
rewarded virtue and punished vice any more
than Spain did IS.
These are questions which cannot be answ, r
ed with Satisfaction. Before the present. war,
the American saloon, with its degradation and.
woe, was unknown to these Savage" landss and
yet President Mckinley tells us that the flag
was raised "for civilization aud humanity"
Again. he says that 1--WE are there to hber-
ate" Who is to be liberated ? Not the man
who is oppressed by poverty; else his taxes
would have been lowered by our government.
Not the Filipino lighting for his freedom; else
he would have been given his independence
long ago. Who, Them is 1t Let the Presi-
dent answer.
Again; the President says, "We have resting
upon us the great responsibilities, of govern
ment in Porto Rico and the Philippines" In
one, yes in the other no. He puts both Por-
to Rico and the Philippines in the same cate
CORY, while they do not belong there. Shortly
after the capture of Porto Rico, the inhabitants
of that island showed disposition to become
American citizens, while the people of the Phil
ippines have always rejected the idea of Amer
lean citizenship. Can anybody explain the
analogy?