The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1900-10-05
FOREIGN CONQUEST.
Carl Schurz Condemns the Presi-
dents Despotic Policy.
-rriumph of Imperialism Is DemOrali-
xiug-FiIipinos Entitled to Inde-
pendence-Grievou Wrongs
to Islanders.

lengthy address upon the subject OF
imperialism in the Philippines and
other islands recently acquired by the
United States. He vigorously de-
nouneed the presidents course
throughout and urged democrats to
renewed activity to defeat the ends
of the imperialists at the polls. Mr..
Schurz said:
Let me say at the start that / con-
slider the manner In which the imperial
istie policy is being commended by some
persons to popular approval is the hugest
confidence game ever praeticed upon a free
people. In my whole long life have never
known of such systematic use of distortion
of history, hypocritical cant. garbling of
documents and false pretense. | am here
to speak word of truth and justice. and
in doing so l shall call things by their
right names.
"some imperialists pretend that the pur-
chase Of Louisiana by jefferson and the
legislation connected with il furnish a
precedent fully covering the principles of
M Mckinney 5 policy with regard to Porto
Rico and the Philippines. This l en-
phatically deny. Whatever that temporary
legislation may have been, is there any
body brazen enough to assert-and this
the spirit and intent of Jefferson's =
act and OF the legislation referring TO II,
10 hold the acquired territory perpetually
as yassal dependency outside of our con-
stitutional system subject to arbitrary rule
by the president or congress? Does any
body dare TO deny that ii the under
stood intent and expectation that the ter
ritory of Louisiana would be filled by peo-
pie substantially our own who would form
out of 1t American states clothed with the
full measure of constitutional rights?
Whoever denies this or equivocates about
II only seeks to falsify history. to slander
Thomas Jefferson and to deceive the Amer
lean people
4" Expansion. then. In the historical and
truly American sense. means the extern
sion of our constitutional system. together
with the extension of our territorial area.
In his sense We are all expansionists. pro-
vded the expansion be honorably effected.
But wnen we annex to this republic
foreign territory, with the intent and ex-
pectation that such territory shall never
come into our constitutional system, but
shall as to the civil. political and economic
status permanently depend upon the will
OF our central government in which they
are TO have no determining share. those
countries being thus vassal provinces and
their people subject populations. that is
not mere expansion, In the historic Ameri-
can sense. but that is imperialism. And
when such countries are annexed and such
populations are subjected by force of arms
by what President Mckinley has very
properly called criminal aggression lit is
Imperialism in its worst form.
Another Name for Despotism.
1T helps the imperialists nothing to say
that they intend to give the subject popu-
lations as much self-government as may
be good for them. For who is to decide
for them? Not they themselves; not the
constitution. but our arbitrary will. We
may give II and we. may take II away.
This is arbitrary rule. another name for
despotism.
81 am aware that President Mckinley in
ms ms recent letter Of acceptance denies that
OF conquest He devotes nearly Ii. 600 words
TO the task of persuading us that it is only
"a q war OF DUTY ana humanity. and that all
mat has been done was done not for
aggrandizement, nor for pride of might
nor Tor trade or commerce. nor for ex-
ploitation, but for humanity and civiliza-
ton. These are words of unctuous sweet
ness.
No. from whatever side we may look
ginning. and Is. a barefaced. cynical war
OF conquest in the words truest sense
Mnen Dewey, had destroyed the Spanish
neet he brought to Manila bay on a United
States vessel Aguinaido. the chief OF the
rtnpino insurgents against Spain. whom
in,itad hs nad invited ,h to come. Why had Dewey
srapheo to the navy department, that
chief may render assistance that will be
nus ala IN the way of arms and ammuni-
ton .Aguinaldo organized a large army
ana ne set up well-organized civil gov
ernment; of which Dewey was duly noti-
fed: Who were these Filipinos with Ag,ii-
naldo at their head: They were a people
In insurrection against Spanish misrule.
Just as the Cubans were-only that thew
were much stronger and far more success-
iul in the field and had far better organ
And nu wbat mdrs did thaS alnSen5 d civil
fought against the Spaniards. whom
Dswey designated to them as the com
mon MOI. enemy. defeating them in many en-
sagements and taking many thousa nds
oI them prisoners. until the Interior Of
the country was well cleared of the com
spaniards was cooped up in Manila block
aoed by our forces on the sea side and
,,shtiy hemmed in by the Fiipinos on the
land side. so that they could neither re-
celVe reenforcements nor escape into the
interior The Spanish commander men
s.uhea thls fact as one of the main rea-
SSSs SSShs Ior the bioodless surrender of Mania
,tne nigh value of the services rendered by
~ tae sllp-no army was officially testified
corS o uS several or our most respectable off,
Mckinley Turned His Back.
Now, when the time came for deter
tmhhng the future of the Philippines in
ne peace treaty with the common enc
ny, our president. having nothing but
justice and humanity and civilization in
WI mlnd, of course promptly invited the
serr,,nlinos, who had rendered such good
AnSnuant him with their views and wishe I?
beesn 1ust and benevolent man would have
deni ssasger to do, this. Alas. our presi-
kindRIJn asked to be heard he at least
tha, gave them audience? No, not even
them tie eoidly turned his back upon
excnne nne how do the presidents defenders
owe tha MS LIS atrocity? BY saying that we
Thss Thas should have kept us from doing it.
the waplnos were. in fact, our allies in
caleS a against Spain. They had been
milita oy Dewey to our assistance to do
the Sary work which at the time with
oursejvasss We had We could not have done
10 on rs They had army of 90 900 to
erDmanen. men. and well-organized civil gov
of the effectively ruling large part
nigh III population. and recognized by we'll
ticaItv whole of II. Nay. they were prac-
allies recognized by our commanders as
sands en to the extent of having thou
by foreessh rnd pabby ,b
ff thnc.ai recognition as allies go further? /?
they9es We're not our allies. what were
as pIt am,w why was their official recognition
ciaiaaalse niles refused them? Because they
sho1S%u their Independence. And why
N,rhVe tney not claim their independence? |?
theIr they not just as rightfully claim
a. sir independence as the Cubans claimed
- Why not? And here the presi-