The San Francisco call., 1899-08-31
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COMMUNICATIONS
AN EXPANSIONIST.

On leaving church last Sunday the toi-
lowing letter was placed in my hands;
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 49, 1899
Mr. Dexter: Is it not about time for reb-
els and traitors, what might be more prop
erly called "copperheads." to stop talking
against the policy of the Mckinley Govern
ment as concerns the Philippines? Let me
tell you sir, that men like yourself will not
be allowed to utter such sentiments as have
emanated from your pen in The Call ana
other publications Newspapers publishing
such articles should be suppressed, and those
utterng such views should be made to suf-
fer the torments OF Dreyfus Yours,
PAUL S. DE KOVEN.
Frequently l receive unsigned letters,
which are always consigned to the waste
basket. In this case it is different. In
sense the epistle is amusing. 1t shows the
tone temper and intense feeling possessed
by some imperialists-I cannot believe ALL
Certain il is, no true, genuine son OF
America would be guilty of uttering such
sentiments. 1t Is very strange that some
men do not feel like allowing dlHerent
opinion to be expressed from thelr own:
Is it not also true that the tendency OF
Imperialism is to shut everybody mouth
suppress every letter, paper, pampnlet
etc, unless favorable to the imperansuc
iuea of expansion and power peneve
so much must be conceded. Allowing tne
point to be we'll taken. is it not fact that
as a nation we are fast nearing an abso-
lutte despotism, leaving behind the traul-
tions of once happy repubnc? such pc
ing the case, may we not with propriety
turn back to history and read the rate Oh
ancient Rome?
Mr.. de Koven is presumed to be a rep
resentatve imperialist. If so, let me say
to him. and to all men of like thought
that the spirit of Samuel Adams, George
Washington, Thomas Jefferson and the
liberty-loying hosts of American inde-
pendence is not dead nor asleep, but quite
alive to the eXigencieS of the present day
There are men all over this broad land
from the Atlantic to the Pacif1c, VINO Will
stand for right and righteousness at all
times and who cannot be inundated by
threat or the semblance OF Imperial pow
err We are not living in the time or
Moses, Caesar or Napoleon, but IN the
light of a better and brighter day, when
wars should cease among civilized peo-
pies. Sermons drawn from the tribal
Wanderings of the children of Israel, for
ty years in the wilderness" can hardly
be made harmonious with this era or
American expansion as relates TO the
Philippine Islands. 1t is strange how some
expanSion clergymen can see in Ola IeSta-
ment history any relation of times, sea-
sons or conditions from which to take a
text and try to prove theretrom that IT Is
Gods will' that America should sub!u-
gate and if possible annex the Philippine
country. When statement is made that
God foreordained that America should
possess that country must US T,1j say III u II
God To drench land in blood without
one really good or reasonable cause m Ca can =,
not be the will of our gracious ALLOWING
Eerher A people desiring freedom, lib
erty and a government of their own are
told by the Government of the once boast
ed liberty flowing America, you cannot
have that right Shall We have charity
for those who preach and believe in such
a doctrine? Certainly, charity, toward all
men, and especially to those of the house
hold of faith. But, my friends, do not try
70 nroye your position from texts taken
from the wilderness, but select from
the teachings of Jesus, and see how. far
YOU are able to prove your position from
what the Master says.
Shall we be kind to our brother who
differs with us? BY all means, but very
plain. that the error may be not in the
least covered; kind so that Christ may
noint the way and not Caesar.
d. GILBERT DEXTER.
San Francisco, Aug %, 1899