The Van Buren press., 1899-05-06
German Republicans Desert wkinIey.

newspaper representatives held at his
Office Is the foreranner Of a systematic
movement . 6ght imperialism. militar-
Ism and iing0ism in the Republican
party. He adds thst the German press
Is L aait in opposition 70 'foreible an
Rsxation BY criminal aggression.
If the demands Of the German -Ameri-
cans are not respected, DR.. Preetorius
declares the question will be carried into
the next National Republican Conven-
ton. and that defeat there will mean
the formation Of new political party.
Dr. preetorius has been identified
with the Republican party since its
birth. He was the first in the State Of
Missouri to subscribe to its doctrine.
That was in 1854.
In control Of the leading German daily
of the Mississippi Valley. with the ad
ded prestige of long years of practical
experience. DR.. Preetorius is today a
factor worth reckoning within the g. o.
p. His views are strong and clear.
leaving no room for doubt, and he
enunciates them with all the confidence
of prophet.
Toa Post-Dispateh reporter who called
at his sanetum Thursday afternoon DR..
Preetorius said:
Il am willing to talk about imperial
ism and its kindred evils at any time.
| consider that am an old line Republi-
can, and l may have forgotten many
things that our rising generation has yet
TO learn.
For instance, there's President
Mckinley; voted the Republican ticket
long before he WAS of age. | helped to
confirm and establish the idea on which
the party was founded and has since
prospered.
I'VE believed in 1854, that the whites
governing the whites was self-govern.
ment but that thc whites governing the
negroes was despotism. The battle was
waged upon that line and the party op
posed to slavery was at last triumphant.
What is the situation that confronts
us todayf Why. we are trying to force
into ahject submission 10, 600. 900 human
beings in the Philippines at an almost
unlimited expenditure of money.
Aguinaldo is fighting for freedom; that
is why he is a greater man than Nc
Kinley.
THE reason for this attempted con
quest of foreign territory. am sure, is
TO crafty the sordid money kings who
have designs on the Philippine Islands,
the same as they have shown by their
control of enormous interests in Cuba
and Porto Rico.
lit is not Mr. Mckinley who is re-
sponsible, but the men who surround
him and dictate his actions. The same
clique that cried war will produce a
panic was suddenly hushed when it
saw the financial profit of war with
struggling nation. That clique is
dominating the sentiment at the White
House today.
Precious American blood is being shed
to conquer half civilized people. And
if we are victors, what thenf Nothing
but devastated country for our pains
country that yielded Spain no revenue,
a hateful, rebellious population in con-
slant readiness TO harass our citizens as
they did the Spaniards for 375 years.
When Dewey destroyed the Spanish
fleet in Manila Bay. he should have
been ordered away from there at once.
Our purpose was TO defeat the Span
iards-that accomplished, our duty at
Manila was ended. We began the war
to liberate Cuba. We have continued
it against an inoffensive nation. There
is no telling where it may end
Had we left the Filipinos to govern
themselves then, commerce would have
been with the United States alone. and
we would have been demi gods in their
eyes.
The Republican party and Mr.. Nc
Kinley must meet this question square.
ly. They have constructed destruc
tive policy and must retreat from it or
the Republican party fails. 1t will be
difficult now TO reconcile the Filipinos,
but it can and must be done.
I'VE left the old dcountry-G Germany
because we were sick of Imperialism
America held out bright hopes for US
a good living. the right TO think and act
as free men. in all matters on a level
with our fellow man. Now we don t
care to go back to the old order of things,
though we are swiftly rushing there, in
setting up monarchy.
Rome was mistress of the world
until the reckless rule of the Caesars
ruined her; so France declined under
the Bonaparte' There is no assurance
that the United States will prove an ex
ception to the fate of other republics
pursuing policy of forcible annexation
by criminal aggression.
The taxpayers will eventually feel
the results of the national administra-
tons indiscretion. Those who have
watched as l have the rise and progress
of this sturdy Republic cannot help but
view with alarm our encroachments on
foreign land. In the Monroe doctrine
I S;pcara1x- bai;axa arI 50 Ca - -.