Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1900-01-31
THE PHILIPPINE QUESTION.
Former Unitarian Pastor Of Ellsworth,
Replies to Anti-Expansionists.
| Rev. William II. Savary, of Jamaica Plain, In
Boston Transcripts. Reprinted In THE AMER
IcAN by request.

iCAN by request.
have tried for months to see the JUS
tice of the cause OF anti-expansion and
anti-imperialism. appreciate the argu-
ments put forth by Ex-Governor Bout
well, by our honored senior senator and
by others. But in Senator Hoar's recent
letter to the Essex county club, not the
slightest mention 10 made Of the unspeak-
able blessing OF the exchange Of the SOW
ereignty Of Spain over the Philippine Is
lands for the sovereignty of the United
States.
The import OF this fact alone makes .
civil transition fit to be compared to the
passing from December rigors to leafy
June; or to the exchanging Of the estate,
as 1t were. of sdumb driven cattle', the
woe of a penal gang chain, to the joys
and sweets OF free labor.
The policy and intent OF the United
States army of occupation are now being
resisted with bloody fury and violence
born OF an experience OF foreign domina-
tion and oppression, stepped for centu-
ries In cruelty and iniquity. The Fiiipi-
nos are not to-day resisting oppressors, or
breaking CALLING chains. Are they fight
ing to obtain their civil Independence or
autonomy? The fancied oppressor, the
foe they now hate, the rule they now re-
sist, is really the spectre, the ignis fatuus,
Of their misled, misinformed or unin-
formed Imagination How unfair to
compare this 'struggle" to the heroism OF
"downtrodden", or s'enslaved'', or "out-
ragged" humanity
Are the army and navy Of the United
States, while acting As military police and
enforcing law and order, and protecting
life and property, necessarily prosecuting
a bloody foreign conquest and q swift
subjugation? Are we forging civil mana
cles7 Are we another Philip II, or Duke
of Alva, or Austria, or Turkey, or Cortez
in Mexico, or the England Of ITS? What
wild, insane definitions are in the air OF
the nature of the resistance we are engaged
In, and the sort of sovereignty the United
States Ia trying to maintain! What ILL
constructed judgments are made and
fioated, and arbored here at our fire.
sidesi
Foreign conquest, subjuRation, the
plandering and pillaging Of aliens or
pagans are now at an end. The great re-
public believes in "the government Of the
people, for the people, by the people,, as
strenuously as ever. We confidently look
for the full "consent OF the governed" as
soon AZ this cruel war Is over.
Let US probe this whole matter more
deeply. Can we not possess Glands" or
territory" even peopled with savsges, II
such event be the fortune Of war?
No one knew that in the year OF our
Lord 1885 the United States was to wrest
from Spain her Pacific colonies. But such
fact Is the event which we have cele-
brated for year!
l dare to deny the anti-expansionists
contentious, AZ voiced hereabout. United
States "territory" need not necessarily
become synonymous with additional
states Of the union.
The "star Of empire" can shine over the
islands of the sea out Of our unfurled flag
~ fifty and we'll or, to better issues, than
when that star journeyed with the caravels
of Spain and France and England, two or
three centuries ago! Are not these United
States the most capable nation, morally,
now existing on this planet? May we not
claim that our government is the most
Story of Slave.
To be bound hand and foot for wears bv