Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-04-05
Providence and the Philippines.

tHefe OF TepTeseutdtife VI tno sahoit-
car League, who offered to present the
following official communication
Methodist Ministers Meeting, l0lS
Arch Street, Philadelphia-Dear Sirs:
The Amer lean League of Philadelphia |
has noticed with concern he passage |
by your recent conference OF resolutions |
rotating to the Philippine Islands. The |
preamble to these resolutions recites |
that
"God in His wise providence has
recently redeemed from bondage, des-
potisin and superstition more than ten
million souls for whom Christ died, and
has brought them under the sheltering
folds OF our glorious flag, aud made
them partakers Of our inheritance of
liberty"
The adoption of this preamble indi-
Gates to the American League that the
members of your body are not well in
formed regarding the requirement of
the Philippine Islands. Our league has
abundant official evidence TO prove that
the islands were not thrust upon us by
an all-wise Providence, but rather that
our administration coveted them, as
Ahab did covot Naboth's vineyard;
that the people of the islands, who
formerly trusted us and loved us as
deliverers have been basely deceived
and maltreated, and that they have
good reason to hate and suspect the
American people.
In view Of the proposed missionary
efforts of your religious body among
the Filipinos, il is important that you
should be well informed regarding the
righteousness Of our position. ask,
therefore, for an early hearing for
representative of our league, Mr.. Her
bert Welsh, who would be pleased TO
address you on 1.-THE Philippine CUES
tion from a Christian and American
Point Of View" Hoping for prompt
hearing, I remain, Truly yours,
Samuel Milliken, Secretary.
As soon as it was announced that
the letter was from an anti-imperialist
organization there arose storm of pro-
tsst against its being read. One Of the
ministers present made a plea for the
reading of the letter and the hearing Of
the speakers, but though there were a
few calls for "fair play" the letter was
referred to the committee on legisla-
tion without being read, by an over
whelming vote. One memter called out.
You are afraid of the truth" to which
there was a response, "We don't want
to have that matter discussed here. I"
In view Of the declaration Of the
Philadelphia Conference on this ques-
tion, with which tho preachers meeting
doubtless does not desire to run counter,
it is not surprising that the latter body
should have refused to listen to the
reading of this letter. To havo done SC
would have been to the credit of the
meeting, but even to have such letter
read would have been severe rebukt
to the almost sacrilegious assertion o.
the conference that the existing con
dition OF affairs in the Philippines i.
evidence. of the hand of Providence.
There is too largely disposition il
certain hysterical religious circles t,
load the A Almighty with the response
bility for great many evils due entirel
to human agencies, but when the Phila
delphia Conference endeavors to thu
place the responsibility for the Philip
pine blunder, it exceeds the limit An
its declaration that Providence ha
recently redeemed the people of th
Philippines from bondage, despotisr
and superstition, is miles from tn
truth, as the people there are in deepe
bondage and suffering under a create
despotism-it is hardly worth while /
allude TO the matter of superstition
today than when they were under tn
rule Of Spain.
The truth of the situation is that Ii
United States, in pursuance of tho wa
with Spain, went to the Philippir
Islands, and found the people there
revolt against Spanish rule and mail
tanning a heroic fight for independen,
and selftgovernmsnt, as their fathe
before them had been doing for mo
4 than three centuries. They gladly we
coined our advent as an aid in the
grand struggle, and became our ALI
i'm a common cause against Spain. B
when the war was over. and pea
treaty had been entered upon wi
Spain, they found that instead Of s
curing their Independence they hi
simply been transferred, without ths
kpowledge and consent, from the ri
Of Spain to the rule Of the Unit
States. All their patriotic aspiration
all their centuries of fighting for fro
dom, were Of no account From Spani
subjects they simply became subje,
of the United States, by virtue of /
payment OF $40, 600, 900 by US to Spa
Is it to be wondered at that the fie
for liberty and Independence in I
Philippine Islands still goes on?
And the responsibility for this mo
trous cruelty the Philadelphia G,
ference attempts to place upon I
Almighty, when it justly attaches
the Mckinley administration.
Further arrivals Of insane soldi
frbm the Philippines are reported
San Francisco, % being included in
latest detachment of returned troo
Although the stories were denied
2 first, there is now no doubt that
sanity prevails to serious ext
among our soldiers in the philippir
and thus adds new and inexpressi
horror to this unjust and uncalled.
war. What an appalling array of s
the Mckinley administration will h
to answer for when it is called
account by the people at tho com
elections.
The silyerites should recognize
70 hnt 10