The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1900-01-26
The Conspiracy Against Free Speech.

The Conspiracy Against Free Speech.
The mortal enemies of this grand
republic, the hope Of the down-trodden
masses, show the weakness of their cause
in their frantic outcries against free speech
and free discussion of their English sys-
TENS of government which have sprung
up so suddenly and been revealed since
the Inauguration of William Mckinley. |
Their shrieks of Treason, Aguinaldist,
anarchist and other abusive epithets APP
piled 10 all who use the American right to
criticise and point out the violations of
law and un-American policy Of the Ad-
mnistration, reveal the desperate straits
to which the enemies to American ira
ditions and government by the people
are driven. They are unable to defend
the course pursued by Mr.. Mckinley in
the whole outrageous business of his
stamping OUT despotic war policy in
Asia.
No parallel catastrophe is even think
able to that which would shut the mouths
of the American people to the discussion
freely of every act of those they have en-
trusted with temporary power cause
that is SO wholly defenceless as this Phi
ippine war, is an utterly bad cause, and
the foul abuse of the Plutocrat, English
party and their newspapers, issthe strong
est evidence of its criminal character,
when they cannot meet the charges OF
guilt they are branded with, by fair argu-
nient and reasonable explanation of the
monarchical course they have, plunged
headlong into.
Mckinley depended 'upon his native
cunning TO carry him successfully
through, and crown his childish ambition
to fill position second term demandl G
craftsmanship far above his ability.
He dreamed this war of conquest and
subiugation which he precipitated, de-
signedly, as facts coming slowly to light
prove, would place him on the scroll of
American heroes and make him all idol
of the people. His foolish and wicked
dream is more likely to bring his name
into utter disgrace in the minds of the
American people.
The whole wicked war which Mr.. Nc
Kinley has disgraced American history
with has surprised the whole world. The
American flag has everywhere been rec
ognized as the emblem of selfgovernnent
and independence, as opposed to monar-
chial policy of conquest and snbjugation.
The Filipinos prayed for independent
manhood and looked up to the star span
gled banner with hope aud rejoicing as
the sign and token of their deliverance
from three centuries of Spanish tyranny
and cruelty, as the Wise Men of the East
hailed the star of Bethlem. The Filipinos
prayed for the bread of liberty; Mckinley
offered them the stone Of tyranny and
servitude which they had suffered and
battled against so long. The American
patriots never made great sacrifices, if as
great, for liberty as those Filipinos have
suffered. LIEUTENANT Gilmore, who was
a captive among them for many months,
says they will fight till all are slain.
Their actions are as eloquent as Patrick
Henry's thrilling declaration, "Give me
liberty or give me death"
This horrible Mckinley war, horrible
| in splitting the best blood of Americas
young manhood, aud blighting in its
reaction on the institutions of this coun-
try. The oppressed of the worlds toilers
are losing hope when they see people
who hoped 10 be lifted up when their
! tyrant Spanish masters had been de-
stroyed, pressed back into slavery at the
point of American bayonets, and the fear
of advancing liberty which the starry flag
was a symbol of, and which brooded over
every crowned head of the old world, is
now awaking new hopes in the bosom of
Old World tyrants They believe the
rich and powerful class has seized this
government and are aligning it up with
their system of monarch, mobiles and seris.
The latest efforts put forth by our Pln-
tocratc nobility who have seized the gov
eminent, is to silence free speech, close
emouths of the people, but they will
find that campaign more difficult one
than their bayonet campaign against a
comparatively feeble Asiatic people.
whose crime is their desire to establish
government like that they heard of on the
free continent Of the far away New World!