Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1900-03-02
ket, that of the United States, against
| Tho ,,phoppv island

ket, that of the United States, against |
the unhappy island.
"Is this the beniflcent rule we promis-
ed her under the Stars and Stripes? Is
this the prosperity we held out as re-
lief from Spanish oppression? Are these
export and import burdens the 'immun-
tiles of our liberal institutions which |
was proclaimed to The happy islanders
while they strewed flow ers in the path
way of our soldiers? Many indignant
Americans call 1t very different name
the plumber. of d. fenseless people,"
Dr.. McKim quoted the letter given to
the press by SIX Of Porto Rico's citi-
zens, recently sent to Washington to
represent the interests of the island.
These men stated that 1t was an intOler-
able indignity to leave men in the posi-
ton of vassals who have enjoyed the
largest representative rights and suf-
frage and liberal autonomy.
"Is it possible" continued DR.. McKim,
"that an appeal such as these men made
can go UNDECIDED? 1t comes from the suf-
fering, half.starved people of that little
island over which we have so lately
planted our flag as the symbol Of liberty,
Justice and humanity. Now these I'M
happy people in their poverty and dis
tress, looking across the sea to this
of prosperity and freedom which they
confidently expected to see spanning the
horizon under our beautiful rule, behold
dark storm cloud gathering in the west,
having its Genesis in the legislative halls
of Congress. charged, not with bless
! ing, but with blight and ruin. They i'm
plore US not TO treat them as vassals,
having neither political nor commercial
freedom They punt to the wretched-
ness, and implore us t. strike the fe tiers
| from their CONNIE rec as their only saliva
! ton from utter ruin.
eff this cry for justice and humanity
awakens no response; if the American
people do not heed it; If this cruel legis
laton shall indeed be consummated. then,
| ask. will the Stars and Stripes be to
the people of Porto Rico anv longer the
symbol of liberty and Justice and hu.
manity? Will not the enactment of this
bill be stain upon our escutcheon, a
blot upon our flag as long as it stands in
the statue book? This is critical mo-
ment in our history. Right upon the
threshold of a new career of expansion
we are on trial before the conscience of
the world whether or not we will exer-
else our power righteouslv and in har-
mony with the spirit of our institui ions
| would disclaim the imputation of any
intentional wrong, of any conscious in
Justice or inhumanity. All the same,
they remain, for they are incorporated in
the bill and are inseparabe from it.
The world will recognize them, and we
shall be open TO the just reprOach of hsv.
ing gore 70 war with Spain in 1898 to
rescue the starving Inhabitants of Cuba.
and then In 1900 of having turned deaf
ear to the cry of another starving people.
starving under our n flag and by rea-
son of our unrighteous legislati m. We
could make no reply, but would be
obliged to hang our heads in shame.
1.-The American people have a quick
sense of wrong, and do not believe the
appeal from the people of Porto Rico will
be in vain. \ policy Of injustice will
never command the sympathy of the
American people. We say to the advo-
Gates of this bill, 1T is not wise; it is not
safe for man to do anything against the
conscience of the people, More and
more it becomes apparent that the pro-
visions of the bill are repugnant to the
cOnsciences of the plain people of the
United States, and that if it is forced
through congress its authors may expect
that the Nemesis of popular displeasure
will Overtake them.
"We who are residents of the District
of Columbia have no representation on
the floor of congress to voice our senti-
ments on this grave and momentous is
sue, but we are citizens of the United
States, vitality interested in all that per.
tains to the welfare and honor and good
name of our country, proud of our hert-
age as americans, sensitive to any posi-.
BILE strain upon the nations escutcheOn
In crisis like this, therefore, we have a
right to speak our sentiments, and to ask
that they be considered as one of the
constituent elements in the public opin.
ion OF the country. 1t is both as citi
zen of the United States and as a preacher
of righteousness that | have ventured &c
express myself tonight upon this subje t.
believing that echo the general senti-
ment of the people of this community