The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1899-11-10
BAENSCH ON THE ISSUE
Recalls the Filipino Treaty and
Opposes Annexation.
"GERMAN VOTE" is REASONABLE.

t;rs with Nerve The Teachers State
Powwow Will Be Held Immediately
After Christmas.
Madison, Wis, Nov. Emil
Baensch, the lawyer of Manitowoc, is
perhaps as representative German
American as Wisconsin numbers. The
Milwaukee men are not to be forgot
ten, but Mr.. Baensch was lieutenant
governor for four years C95'9S) and
cut his opponents majority for con-
gress by 1900 under Cleveland in 1892.
Mr.. Baensch is AZ years of age, prod
uct of the State University, an editor
0SS1-'S3) and has held all sorts of Of
fees, civil, military and social, up in
his section. Some have conceived that
if German unrest is real and contin-
ued on the question of Expansion" it
might be good politics to nominate him
as the Republican candidate for COVER
nor Wherever this honest and sensi-
BILE German-American has been en-
trusted with authority he has proved
himself discreet and efficient 1t Oc-
cured to me that his views would be
interesting and instructive at this
point, and in response to questions the
following statements were made by ex
Lieutenant-G Governor Baensch:
Germans Differ Like Everybody Else.
'"The Germans in Wisconsin are like
other American citizens-they differ in
their political views. The larger third
is Democratic, the next in size Repub-
lican and the smaller independent.
There are at present fifteen Republi-
can newspapers in the state, as
against seven ten years ago. The In
dependents muster an equal and the
Democrats a larger number. Among
the Independents are the oldest and
largest journals, and which have of
late years supported the Republican
ticket. SO that, during this decade,
the current has been running our way.
Il believe the German press in this
state fairly represents the sentiments
of it's readers. This belief is based
upon a personal acquaintance with
and knowledge of the editors. When
they assert that their constituents are
opposed to the annexation of the Phil
ippines, then such opposition must
have strongly manifested itself and be
quite prevalent among the people.
Whether Democratic Spell-binders can
direct this sentiment against the Re-
publican party in general is problem
atical l doubt. however, if then their
skill can friction it to the heat which
burned our fingers in 30, or rouse it
to that firm purpose which bowled
over their own party in '96.
1.-THE why's and the WherefOres of
this opposition | know not, but pre-
sumo it springs from motives similar
to those which cause other citizens to
enter their protest. And, as | read
the record, | believe they are right in
their position.
The Treaty Recalled.
'The treaty of peace ceded to the
United States the future control, dis
position and government of the Philip
pine islands," Why, instead of coal
ing station, we took the whole Job lot,
has never been explained by your COM
missiOners. But it was done and we
had to make the best of it. Yet so OBJ
jectiOnable was this feature that it
was only by the most strenuous efforts
and the most potent influences, aided
at the critical moment by Filipino
shots, that the treaty was ratified by
narrow margin.
And not then until it was agreed
to pass a resolution constituting the
treaty.
This resolution, adopted Feb. Il.
1899, may be somewhat vague as to
what will be done. but it is clear and
explicit as to what shall not be done
1t expressly states that by the rati-
fication of the treaty of peace with
Spain it is not intended to incorporate
the inhabitants Of the Philippine ISL
ands into citizenship of the United
States; nor is it intended to perma-
nently annex said islands as an. in
tegral part of the United States.''
Imperialism a Bugbear.
Nothing can be palmer Why, then
harrow up this phantom of imperial
ISM which no one fears? Why prate
about manifest Destiny when the
only manifestations emanate from our
own desires? We have officially de-
elared our policy as opposed to incor-
poratiOn and annexation. There is
nothing left but details, practical gov
ernmental affairs, serious and difficult
it is true, but not coming up to the
statute of a foreign policy Because
a certain faction of the people we are
trying to benefit have been misled by
HuN SlNCS III cACuSC IOI
changing the programme we have
mapped out and announced to the
world. AS to these naughty children
there can be but one course, and that
is to whip them, and whip them with
neatness and dispatch.
eff we stand by the treaty of peace,
as construed by the body which passed
it, the Philippine question will no long
er be disturbing factor. If Mr.. Bry-
an were to attempt to criticise the de-
tails of the governmental machinery
to be given the Filipinos. involving
questions of law rather than of poll
tics, he would find a dry subject and
few listeners.
Congress Can Be Trusted.
cit is to be regretted that SO much
hue and cry is being raised on this
subject. 1t brings to mind the words
of President Mckinley, when, speak
ing of the unrest among our people on
account of the atrocities in Cuba, he