The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-03-29
The Spirit Of Grab and Gain

Harper's Weekly, Of March 11tb,
has an article on the Philippine ques-
tion. which reviews the course pursued
by Mr.. Mckinley, and appropriately
comments ou bis acts of com mission aud
omission, tne result Of which has been
to put this oouptsy into a very embar.
RAISING pred!cament. embarrassing no
matter what view may be taken of it or
what the outcome may be The
Baltimore Sun published ooudensa-
ton of the article referred to, from
which we make the following extracts !:
I'VE are 10 the Philippines now,
and it is the intention of the admins
tratiou to remain there purely and
solely for purposes of gain. A
preacher of this city (Nev York;
whose habit il. is to heap Insult upou
those who differ from him on this
subjeos BY calling them opprob:ions
names, thinks We are 10 the islands
because some divine wind hes blown US
there. Other preachers and q number
of good people agree With him. Mr..
Mckinley calls it Destiny. This
fustian and bombast indicate the
hollowuess of the presension. Neither
the preacher nor Mr.. Mckinley can
suggest reasos for our being in tho
slaods. SO they siuply vapor. They
have 10 arguments which can be
addressed to rational minds, so they
content themselves With charging the
responsibility upon Providence, WITH
whose intentions they are apparently
familiar, but Of whose reasons they
have been kept ia ignorance-at least
shey have none to impart. x x
There is solid reason 10 the minds OF
the chief annexasionists for what they
hope to accomplish, but IL is bad one.
They are after vulgar gain. That is
the cum aud substance Of their purpose.
They want the Philippines for the
money that there is in them for
themselves and their friends. It is
openly charged that every step 70 our
war With Spain was tainted by CONNER.
cialisn.' and that toe frieods of the
President com posed syndicate which
is employed 10 capitaliziug and '6naoc-
iog' patriotism At ali events, it is
oiear Why the Philippines are want,
ed. * * *
The Philippines are wanted to To-
crease the amount of POLITICAL patron
age; TO swell the revenues of the
government by augmentiog It's ezpend
i,ures; to afford new excuses for
subsidy grabbing, especially for Senator
Hauua's scheme 10 levy taxes for the
promotion of shipbuildiug aud the es-
tablishm mens of merchant marine, to
Increase the area OF protection. and /,
6ca!ly, to transform this country into an
arred competitor Cor the trade of
China"
There is DO question of extending
Civilization or Christianity involved
The history of the tropics under white
rule is our answer to the ecstatlc ira
ducers of patriots wbo wish to preserve
the institutions of shelr country.
Civilization and Christianity are not
advanced by contact of white troops
aod politicians with black men ADD
brown men. The only question is,
Shall we, for sordid grain, take our
place among the war powers shall we
abandou the principles aud lnstitu-
tious which tave made us what We are.
and which through our influence have
benefited mankind? x x Are We
prepared to assume the burden. to make
sbe changes. to give up the principle
that government derives lte just powers
from the consent of the governed, 10
order tba. protection and subsidized
sypdicases may prosper Z"