The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-02

sentation because they feel that 1t is tns
only way in which they can keep them
selves in power.
Let us look at the attitude OF the Ad-
minstration before the treaty was ratified.
The documents, the letters, the dispatches
on file in the Departments at Washington
give us complete information on all points.
These dispatches and papers show that al
ter Dewey had sunk the Spanish feet at
Manila the Administration thought of hav-
ing him come away. Then it considered
the idea of keeping one island as base
for cur shipping, and it asked Dewey
opinion as to which was the best He rec
commended LuZon. Then the British Min
lister waited on the President and urged
him to keep all Of the islands and to go
into the colonial business with England.
You recall that the Administration pa
pers told us in big headlines that England
loved us so much she wanted US to keep all
the islands. 1t has since developed that
Germany wanted to buy the Islands OF
Spain England did not want Germany for
a neighbor in the South Seas. She could
not control German statesmen as she could
American politicians. She could not die
tate German policy as she could Ameri-
can policy; therefore, IL she could not have
the islands herself. the next best thing
was to have them held by an Administra-
ton which-she could control; hence the
desire that we should keep them.
Instantly the syndicates of America and
the forces of greed. rapacity, and corrup-
ton united in favor of that policy. 1t
meant new contracts, it meant commits
sions in the army for the sons of the rich,
it means opportunities to make fortunes
cut of the Government It meant opportuni-
ties for bonding and for despoilirg weaker
nations.
A New Departure.
What are we to gain by this new de-
parture? We are told that we will extend
our trade. Think of subverting our instr
tutions and blighting the hopes of the hui
man race for the sake CT extending trade!
But it will not extend our trade. We are
to maintain what they call the open door,
in the Philippines. All nations can trade
on the same basis. II We get any trade
there we will have tc compete for it. The
fact that we are expanding millions to
maintain military system and subvertins
our own institutions will not help us get
trade. Besides. the Philippine people are
poor people; they work for few cents
day: their needs are few; they cannot buy
goods made by American high priced labor.
They cannot buy our wheat, nor our cotton
nor our factory goods. But their cheap
labor can be utilized by the syndicates OF
America for the purpose of thrusting aside
the American laborer and taking the bread
away from his children.
Listen to the immortal words of Abra-
ham Lincoln:
What constitutes the bulwark Of our
liberty and independence? 1t is not cur
frCwning battlements or bristling sea
coasts, our army or our navy Our reliance
is in the love of liberty, which God has
planted in us. Our defence is in the spirit
WI no Of
men in all lands. everywhere. Destroy this
spirit and you have planted the seed of
despotism al your own doors. FamiliariZe
yourself with the chains of bondage and
you prepare your own limbs to wear them.
Accustomed to trample on the rights of
others you have lost the strength OF your
own independence and become the fit sub
jects Of the first cunning tyrant VINO rises
among you.
They who deny freedom TO others, de-
serve it not for themselves. and under a
Just God cannot long retain it,
Now, my friends. we propose to stop
this criminal aggression into which the
syndicate and the British Ambassador have
launched us. We are going to stop blood
shed and devastation in the Philippines by
saying to the F1lipinos that when they
establish government which. in our judy
ment, is a good government worthy OF
that then we will withdraw on |
such terms as may be Just.
We are going to do what the President
called our plain duty toward the Porto |
Ricans. We are going to redeclare that |
King George was wrong and that his prin-
:iples shall not disgrace our statute books.
This is not partisan question; II is an
American question. In 1861 you we're not
lsked. Are you Democrat or Repub-
ican?' You were only asked, DO you love
he flag OF your country, and Will you fight
or it,? Today you are only asked. Do you
believe in free institutions and will you
help preserve them?'
Are you son of the Revolution? Then
step to the front and help save that for
which your ancestors died.
do you believe Washington was right
when he led his men over the icy hills of
Valley Forge? Do you believe the fathers
we're right when they fought at Bunker
Hill or fell at Lexington? Do you believe
Lincoln was right when he stood on the
battlefield of Gettysburg and prayed that
government of the people for the people,
and by the people might not perish from
The face of the earth? Then join the free
men Of America in one supreme effort TO
again establish a republican form Of gov
ernment at Westinghouse forever drive
Hanna and the syndicates from the temple,
md put an end to Imperialism, militarism,
md McKinlpyisrn