Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1899-10-05

We hold that this war is wanton and
needless; for had the same promise OF
freedom been made to the people OF
those islands that the Democrats Sc
cured for the people of Cuba no revolt
against the American authority would
have occurred. 1t is in violation OF
the principles of American constitution
al liberty, not only because it is prose-
cuted by the administration without
the Congressional action which the
| Constitution prescribes, but because it
is denial of that right of self-govern-
ment which from the day our FORE
fathers faced the British at Concord
bridge has been cardinal precept of
American political philosophy, until
now William Mckinley. with the APP
plauses and overt sympathy of the
British government, has discarded it;
it is wasteful war in all its material
aspects; since by the Incompetence
and corruption which have attended
its prosecution it has cost the nation
heavy in blood and treasure, the very
flower of our youth being sent to death
under an incompetent general, while
the notorious and scandalous misap-
preparation of moneys has resulted in
an enormous deficit in the federal
treasury.
1--WE demand that to the Filipinos as
to the Cubans shall be said to-day that
they are, and of right ought to be, free
and independent, aud we hold that
such declaration, coupled with the
expression of the purpose of the United
States to protect the islands from the
assaults of any foreign power. would
speedily restore order, purge our ma
tional honor of the stain pu. upon it
by injustice and bad faith. and advance
American trade in the far East by Civ
| ing our merchants market among
people grateful for the gift of independ-
ence. The extension of American
trade Ia all directions is an end to be
sought by all patriotic Americans, and
| we demand that the settlement of the
Philippine problem shall be attended
by every possible expedient for FOSTER
ing and extending the commerce of
the United States with the islands, and
for preventing their acquisition by any
foreign nation.
1.-The evils which result from the
prosecution of this Philippine war are
not confined to, nor are they greatest.
in the island of Luzon. They react
upon our own people and particularly
upon the working classes. Back of
the gaudy trappings of Imperialism
Turks the less spectacular but more
terrifying form of militarism. Against
great standing army. the Democracy.
both of state and nation. has resolutely
set its face, but in the reiterated de-
mands for more and more troops to
subdue the Tagolas may be detected
the purpose to have ulti mately more
soldiers to employ at home. Already
all free peoples of the world gaze in
amazement at the facility with which
monopolistic corporations 10 the United
States are able to secure the ala of
armed forces, both state and federal,
to overawe their workingmen in time
of labor dissensions.
To-day whole districts in the state
of Idaho are under martial law, men
are, and have been for months, con-
fined without shadow of trial aud
without other accuser than a command
ing general who does the bidding of an
corporation. The same
spirit which has sent our white soldiers
to shoot down black men in the Philip
pines who are struggling for political
independence has found its manifesto
tion near home by sending black SOL
diers to the Coeur d'Alene district to
shoot down white miners struggling
for wider measure of industrial liber-
ty. Militarism grows with every
triumph, and the arms which we per-
NIT to be employed to strike down the
rising aspiration of an Asiatic people
for liberty will in time, unless roughly
be used to a5ridge our own
rights. Imperialism is not a foreign
policy, and they who strive to SO prove
it are ignorant or sinister in purpose.
The dangers of imperialism are domes-
tic. they menace every man who holds
his liberties dear.
'.ln imperialism and militarism the
great monopolistic corporations, whose.
growth astounds and alarms the people,
discern twin agencies for their defense,
and it is OF vital importance to all that
by the application of immediate and
effective checks to further progress Of
these hateful policies the trusts and
monopolies shall be deprived of a fur
ther addition of their already menace
ing power"