Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1899-07-28
Impressions of the War.
Word and Works.

Word and Works.
Just now there is a great amount of talk
about the wonderful patriotic and Christian acl
which the United States has done in this war
cannot see the actions of this government as
either patriotic or Christian At the opening
of the war the administration claimed that it
was beginning it for the sake of suffering hui
nlanity, not tor conquest; but after the battle OF
Manila the idea of taking the Philippines a
possession and receiving them as an indemnity
from Spain came into the minds of American
people, and especially the administration.
The cry OF the expansionist could be heard on
every side. Very few took time to think what
the outcome might be. After the islands were
ceded to the United States, after the PHILIPPINES
had aided the Americans in defeating the Span
iards in the capture of Manila, the United
States must make war with the, ,cause they
wanted to be free and were continuing to hope
for freedom, as they had helped to expel the
Spaniard. The United States warred with
them under the pretense of holding them in
snbjection because they belonged to us.
We say that after they are capable of gov
erning themselves we will allow them self-gov-
esrnent That time will never come, for we
can never see them capable OF self.government:
no more than Spain could them or Cuba. After
they have made considerable income for u.s. we
will consider them part of the United States
too valuable to lose, and whenever rebellion
arises, will subdue them if possible. Some peo-
pie tell how we will spread Christianity to those
heathens. They will not accept our religion;
they will murder our missionaries; they can
have no compassion on the nation which has
killed their fathers sons and brothers. We
will be looked upon as untruthful unchrlstian
and deserving of all the revenge they can heap
upon us. On the other hand, if we had allow
ed them their freedom and independence imme
sionaries our commerce would have been safe
in the islands, and, though we did not own
them, would have allowed us great freedom of
trade in the islands; but, under the existing
circumstances, our missionaries must be under
the protection of the United States soldier and
our CONNIE rcia trade under the same prOtec-
tion.
The United States has done a very cowardly
act in assuming control Of the Philippines-an
act by far worse than that OF France when that
nation proposed that we pay tribute to it in
view of the fact that that they had aided us in
the Revolutionary war. France did not attempt
to extract it by force, but simply asked it, and
when the French discovered that we would
rather fight than pay tribute, even to them,
they respected our love of liberty; but we have
not acted SO by the Fiipinos we are going tc
make them tributary to us-a people who seem
to be as rty-loving as we are or ever have
been. Some people make the crude statement
that "you can't learn them niggers anything
without killing them anyhow" This is about
all the argument thev know. They are expan-
sionists, but they cannot tell why they are.
Cofeyville, Kas. WALTER !. TODD.
Roosevelt promises to investigate the COM