Free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1888-1908, 1900-08-18

tanning nor retaining of any trade. how
valuable soever. is an object for which
men may justly spill each others blood;
that the true and sure means of extend
ing and securing commerce are the good
that the profits of no trade can ever be
equal to the expense of compelling it and
slider this war against US, therefore. as
both unjust and unwise.''
l place the philosophy of Franklin
would put price upon the head of an
American soldier and justify a war of
conquest upon the ground that it will
pay. The democratic party is in favor of
the extension Of trade. 1t would extend
our trade by every legitimate and peace
full means; but it is not willing to make
merchandise of human blood
But war of conquest is as unwise as
station in the Philippines would answer
every trade and military necessity and
cured at any time without difficulty.
1t is not necessary to own people in
trade today with every part of the world
and our commerce has expanded more
ropean empire. We do not own Japan
or China. but We trade with their people.
we nave not absorbed the republics of
trade with them 1t has not been neces-
| sary to have any political connections
in order to trade with them. Trade
cannot be permanently profitable unless
1t Is voluntary. When trade is secured
| by force, the cost of securing it and re-
tanning it must be taken out of the
profits. and the profits are never large
enough to cover the expense. such a
system would never be defended but for
the fact that the expense is borne by
all the people. while the profits are en-
Joyed by a few.
Imperialism would be profitable to the
army contractors; it would be profitable
! to the ship owners. who would carry live
| soldiers to the Philippines and bring dead
soldiers back; it would be profitable to
those who would seize upon the fran
! chises, and it would be profitable to the
| oflclats whose salaries would be Liked
| mere ana paid over there; but to the
| farmer. to the laboring man and to the
vast ma jority of those engag ed in other
occupations, it would bring expenditure
/ without return and risk without reward
| Farmers and 1aboring men have, as a
rule. small incomes and under systems
! which place the tax upon consumption,
! pay more than their share of the ex-
penses of government. Thus the very peo-
| perialism will be injured most by the
military burdens which accompany it.
In addition to the evils which he and
ing man win be the first to suffer if
! Oriental subjects seek work in the United
capital leaves our shores to employ
Oriental labor in the Philippines: the first
| military spirit arouses. and the first to
suffer when the methods of imperialism
1t is not strange, therefore, that the
| labor organizations have been quick to
note the approach of these dangers and
prompt to protest against both militar-
ism and Imperialism
The pecuniary argument though more
! effective with certain classes, is not
likely to be used often or presented
with so much emphasis the religious
"gunpowder gospel Were urged against
the Filipinos only. it would he a suffi-
cient answer to say that a majority of
the Filipinos are now members of one
branch of the Christian church; but the
prlnc1pie lnVoIEed Is one or much wider
application and challenges serious con-
sfderation.
The religious argument varies in posi-
tiveness from passive belief that provi-
dence delivered the Filipinos into our
hands for their good and our glory. to
the exultation of the minister who said
that we ought to thrash the natives
(FfIipinos) until they understand who we
are and that every bullet sent, every
cannon shot and every flag waved means
/ righteousness
We cannot approve of this doctrine in
one place unless we are willing to apply
blood of the hand it will ultimately reach
| the heart. 1t is equally true that forcible
Christianity, if planted under the Amer
lean flag in the PARKWAY Orient, will
American soil If true Christianity con-
sists in carrying out in our daily lives
the teachings of Christ, who will say
| that we are commanded to civflfze with
| dynamite and proselyte with the sword
He who would declare the divine will
must prove his authority either by Holy
! Writ or by evidence of a special dispen-
ia tbe ibe The command NINA o We i0te
all the world and preach the gospel tC
. | creature has Calling at
!, tachment. When Jesus visited village
; of Samaria and the people refused To
receive Him, some of the disciples sug-
| gested that fire should be called down
, from Heaven to avenge the insult; but
the Master rebuked them and said: eye
know not what manner of sp- rit ye are
/ of; for the Son of Man is not come tC
: destroy mems lives. but to save them :
Suppose He had said: I'VE will thrash
|, them until they understand who we are
: | how different would have been the his
tory of Christianity Compare, If you
I1-i11 rcTr7r fOT11lx
trine of Imperialism with the golden rule
and the commandment, Thou shalt love
thy neighbor as myself.
Love. not force, was the weapon of the
Nazarene; sacrifice for others not the
reaching the human heart A missionary
recently told me that the Stars anc
Stripes once saved his life because nj:
assailants recognized our flag as a mas
that had no blood upon it Let 1t bt
known that our missionaries are seeking
souls instead of sovereignty; let II Dc
known that instead of being the advance
: guard of conQuering armies. they arr
= going forth TO help and to uplift. having
L their feet shOd with the preparation Of
} the gospel of peace. wearing the breast
: plate of righteousness and carrying The
sword of the Spirit Let it be known
5 that they are citizens of a naSion whlcI
r respects the rights of the citizens o
other nations carefully as it protect:
} the rights of its own citizens and tn
welcome given to our missionaries VII
2 be more cordial than the welcome extend
= ed to the missionaries of any other ma
= ton.
r The argument made by some that i
was unfortunate for the nation that l
= had anything to do with the Philippine
= islands, but that the naval victory a
| Manila made the permanent acquisition
= of those islands necessary Is also un
r sound. We won naval victory at san
| tago, but that did not compel US to hol'
s Cuba The shedding Of American bloo'
e in the Philippine islands does not maxi
] lit imperative that We should retain pos
| session forever: American blood was she'
n | at San Juan hill and FL Caney, and We
j the president has promised the CUBAN
| independence The fact that the Amer
: can flag floats over Manila does not com
n pei us to exercise perpetual sovereign.
| over the islands: the American ma;
q | waves over Havana today, but the preSl
e dent has promised to haul it down whei
: the flag of the Cuban republic IS read.
e to rise in its place Better thousan'
! times that our flag in the Orient CAV
t way to a flag representing the idea o
n self-gOvernment than that the nag o
d this republic should become the flag OF al
c empire
t There is an easy. honest. HONORABLE
/ solution of the Philippine question 1t !
4 set forth in the democratic platform, an'
= | il is submitted with confidence to tn
e American people This plan unre
= servedly endorse If elected, / VIII con
/ ! Vene congress in extra ordinary session a
T soon as inaugurated and recommend al
= | immediate declaration of the nation
| DurDOse. first establish stable form