The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-10-17
CRUSADE BEGUN.
Against the Administrations
Philippine Policy.
Anti ExpansiOnists Convene In
Chicago Today.
100 DELEGATES THERE
Chairman Smith Makes the
Opening Speech.
Geo. s. Boutwell, Couldn't Come
But Sent a Letter.
100 DELEGATES THERE

today in the meeting of about $50 dele
gates from different parts Of the coun-
try to launch crusade against the pol
icy of the administration in the Philip
pines. The meeting was called TO or
der in Central Music hall by Temporary
Chairman Edwin Burritt Smith Of Chi
cago.
Mr. Smith said:
1T is my pleasure to bid you welcome
to this conference on behalf of those
who suggested it and in the name of
the great host of Chicago men and WO-
men to whom the Declaration of indie
pendence and the Constitution of the
United States have not yet become
nursery rhymes The situation is too
grave and the occasion too important
for any extended words of welcome. I
proceed at once, by request of the COM
mittee Of arrangements, briefly to state
the situation and suggest what we be-
Heve this conference may properly at
this time undertake
1T is now some IS months since Mr..
Mckinley. with professions of reluct-
ance, deliberately changed a simply ma
val position before Manila into a COM
pick military situation on Asiatic soil.
The army was not sent to protect the
naval force under Admiral Dewey. It
was not sent to support a declaration
that the FIlipinos as we'll as the CubanS
are and of right ought to be free and
independent. 1t was sent to defend a
flag hOisted without right on foreign
liberation in the western hemisphere
into war Of conquest in Asian a
word, to commence a war Of criminal
aggression Men recruited to fight
for liberty in Cuba We're sent TO fight
against liberty in the Philippines. Nj.
Mckinley thus transformed a war for
humanity in cuba into war of inhu-
mainly in the east.
The vital defect in this policy lies in
its purpose to extend American SOW
ereignty by force over alien and fully
occupied territory. Here lies the sharp
distinction between our openly aVOWed
policy in Cuba and Mr.. NcKinley's long
carefully yelled purpose in the Philip
pines 1t was this that made him
break faith with invited and accepted
allies. 1t was this that caused him
again and again to spurn and reject the
many Overtures from the leaders of the
FilipinOs- 1t was this that led him to
brand as rebels a vast population that
never owed allegiance to the United
States. It was for this that he de-
clared and continues cruel war which
he may stop at any moment It was for
this that he has vainly sought to bride
Aguinaldo to betray the cause of his
people. It was for this that he has re-
established pOlygamy and slavery un-
der the American flag His purpose to
make the Philippines a permanent pos
session of the United States is the root
of the difficulty That purpose realized,
the character of American institutions
is destroyed; that purpose fooled, the
way out is alike easy and honorable.
The administration has sought by
its every act to commit the country to
a policy of annexation That an admin
fSrTatIOn chosen to save the country
from financial chaos on a platform
which as to foreign policy merely prom
iSed carefully to watch and guard all
CIR interests in the western hemis-
pESre' and employ the influence and
GOOD. offices OF the United States to re-
store peace and give independence to
Cuba, should so far commit the cOun-
,1rr4f
policy is itself gross betrayal of the
principle of representative government
Yet it has so shaped its course that at
every step it has seemed to many. who
abhor its purpose, inopportune public
ly to protest. 1t was first urged that
we await the close Of the war against
Spain. Then, we were told that we
were ignorant of the facts and that our
great and good chief magistrate would
take care Of US in the treaty Of peace.
Next, We were asked to permit the
treaty to be ratified to change a for
eigu into a domestic question to be
calmly settled among ourselves. Then
came a prOvidentia1 war to cause the
ratification of the treaty Now, we are
besOught to hold our peace while our
McKinIey-made enemies have guns in
their hands We are even implOred to
emulate the example Of Douglas in 1851
and unite in support OF the nag be-
cause, forsOoth, the country is at war
When all organized native government
has been destroyed, We shall be told
that we must abide by accomplished
facts and discharge accepted response
biIities-
The acknowledged obligation of all
loyal citizens to support the govern
ment in times OF great national peril
is urged to quell opposition to a merely
volunteer policy which is still without
defenders on its merits. Thus a dan
gerous precedent is in process of estab-
lshment If an administration may ig-
more the issues upon which it was cho-
n TslTT - n
war anywhere on the face of the globe,
debauch the civil service to obtain
spells with which to promote the ad-
venture and demand Of all citizens a
suspension Of Judgment and unani-
nous support while 1t chooses to con-
tinue the fighting, We shall soon enjoy
the blessings of chronic warfare II
this is allowed to go unrebuked, II II IS
permitted to succeed, it Will soon be-
come our daily bread
1T is assumed by those who have
rushed to Mr.. Mckinley's defense that
il is for the United States to give good
government to the Islands of which we
have deprived Spain It is even sug-
gested that we from time to time grac-
iOusly bestow upon their people such
measure Of self government as in our
superior wisdom we shall deem them
fit to enjoy DR.. Abbott proposes that
by military edict Mr.. Mckinley should
abolish the palpable iniquities of the
Spanish law and establish the funda-
mental principles of AngIO-SaxOn law
as an object lesson of what American
civilization means Some Of US have
come to regard American civilization
as meaning something other than mill
tary edicts even in quest of benevolent
ends. We were taught that American
government could under no circumstan-
ces exercise other than delegated pow
er. that it could not be a source but
only an expression of authority.
THE founders of the American COM
mOnwealth claimed only representative
authority. 1t was We the People of the
United States who ordained and estab-