Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1900-03-16
rExrs PROM N.K1SLEr.
what he said about imperialism two
Years Ago.

EI.Mayor Albion A. Perry OF Som
e~rville, Mass, thus went after Mr..
Mckinley for texts against imperial.
ism and the author OF the F~iGpinos'
ardent desire for freedom.
In a speech at the Chicago Audi
forum in October. 1898, referring to
the Spanish war. the President said:
1T is gratifying to all o; US to know
that this has never ceased to be IA
wal OF humanity. At present We
hear very little abou: the humanitar-
ian aspects OF the war in the Philip
pines. Oar political leaders seem to
place the chief emphasis on the great
commercial advantages to be gained
by our colonial possessions. 10 anoth-
er speech made about the same time
the Presid-ut affirmed: The splendid
victories we have achieved, woulu be
our eternal shame and not our ver
lasting glory il they led TO the weak
ening Of original lofty purpose or
to the desertion OF the immortal priu-
ciple upon which the government was
founded aud in accordance with
whose ennobling spirit it has aver
since been faithfully administered
What vas our original lofty purpose
that the President declared would be
our e:crnal shame 10 weaken: Was
it anything eiEe than freeing Cuba
from the CALLING yoke Of Spain: Did
II have any reference to the pur-
chasing OF the distant isles Of the Pa
citic or the s~ubiugatIon OF their in
h~abi.apts: To what did the Presi.
dent refer vhen he spoke OF the i'm
mortal principles upon which u
government was founded: Did he
not have II mind the Declaration OF
Independents. which Of late has be-
come an object Of Hiicuie as an an
tieuatAi document and which, White
l== K5ii sss spoken of as -nashy
sentinentality:- Was he not think
ing OF the thrilling declaration that
all men are created equal OF the
sublime doctrine that governments
derive their Just powers from the
consent OF the gOverned:-
As early as Decenber. 1897, in his
first annual message to Congress. in
an exhaustive discussion Of our rela.
tons with Cuba, the President de-
clared: i speak not Of forcibIe an.
nexation for that cannot be thought
Of. That. by our code Of morality,
would be criminal aggression 1t is
true that the President here referred
to Cuba, but does criminal aggres-
sion by i%ourneyiug from Havana to
Manila become in some way trans
formed into -beueYolent assimiia-
tiop!-
/ ask yOu to mark well this last
quotation that 1 shall make from
President Mckinley, for no aDti.im-
p~erialist has said anything stronger
against the policy which the Presi-
dent Is now pursuing, and if it ever
came TO a~guinaldo and his followers
1t furnished them more encourage
ment than anything from the lips Of
Senator HOar or the pen Of Edward
Atkinson. These are the Presidents
words: Human rights and constitu.
tioDal privileges must not be forgotten
in the race for wealth and CONNER
cal supremacy. The goyernment Of
the people must be by the people and
not by a few OF the people. II must
rest upon the free consent OF the gov
erned and all Of the governed. Pow
or it must be remembered, which is
secured by oppression Or usurpation
or by any form Of injustice is soon
dethroned. We have no right in
law or morals to usurp that which be-
longs to another, whether il property
or power
Where could an nti.imperalist
turn for a better text for his sermon
than Is found in these words from
Mckinley? Oh, my friends, il you
want to know who it WIS that in
spired the Filipinos with hope OF in
dependence. do not peruEe the pub
Gca,ious Of tbehntI -imperialistJ league
bnt turn to the u%tterances OF William
Mckinley before he was stricken by
the fever OF imperialism; read the
solemn declaration OF Congress in the
joint resolution that brought on the
war with Spain; read the speeches
made just before the outbreak OF the
hostilities by men who are now talk.
ing OF the glorics Of empire and de-
handing the unconditional surrender
Of the Filipinos.