The Saint Paul globe., 1900-01-28
NLCeE'S MINNEAPOLIS OFFICE,
~ 20 WASHINGTON HK SOUTH.
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Subscriptiens-2790

Judge William Prentiss, of Chicago,
who Is to speak at the pro-Boer demon
stration at the Exposition building, this
afternoon, voiced his sentiments ON the
Philippines question at a meeting given
last evening at Dania hall, Fifth street
and Cedar avenue, under the auspices Of
the Anti-Imperialist league. On the plat
form with Judge Prentiss were Rev J.
M. Cleary, Of st. Charles church; E. 5.
Corser, George S. Canfield, S. A. Stock
well and Martin E. Tew. II. J. Fletcher
presided.
Judge Prentiss declared that the coun-
try was on the brink of a greater contest
than that which Lincoln viewed when at
Gettysburg he delivered the immortal ad-
dress N which he had told the assembled
thousands that government of the peo.
pie, by the people, and for the people,
should not perish from the face of the
earth. 1t was not question of tariff, of
finance OF OF trusts alone. The question
which must now be fought to a finish by
the intelligent voters of America was:
Shall such a government perish in this
year Of 1900?
''1s there a person in this audience, hs
said, who would have dreamed two
years ago that within year there would
be 5000 soldiers beneath the stars and
stripes, by direction Of the president of
the United States 10000 miles from home,
applying the sword, the musket ard the
torch, killing men by the thousands for
daring to stand up and fight for the first
republic ever started In the Orient? And
yet that is being done in the name Of the
second Republican party Which came into
existence by reason of the Declaration
of independence. Admiral Dewey says the
F'ilipinos are more capable Of self-govern-
ment than the Cubans. There are people
who say that we Americans, with all our
boasted intelligence, are not capable OF
governing ourselves, and sometimes it
does look that way. If we carry on the
policy now In vogue We will soon dem
onstrate to the world that the people Of
this great republic are incapable of self
government. If this imperalistic policy
is continued what will become of the
fourteenth and fifteenth amendments, and
OF every principle In defense of which the
Civil war was fought? If people 10000
miles away are to be governed arbitrari-
ly. 1t will be only step until the people
right here at home will be governed
without their consent. This is not a ques-
ton of party; this is not a question of
Republicanism, Democracy or Popultsm,
or OF Prohibition 1t is a question of
America nisn-whether this country is to
become another England or a Russia. If
free government perishes in America,
what will become of liberty throughout
the world?'
DEPRESSING to the South African ques-
tion, Judge Prentiss said that the argu-
ment constantly being used by British
sympa thizers was that because Great
Britain had befriended this country in the
war with Spain it was the bounden duty
of the United States to return the COM
plime Mt.
"And we had no need of her friendly Of
fees then" he added eve always had
England's hostility and enmity when most
we needed her sympathy. Why, the single
state of Minnesota could have whipped
Spain. The same thing is now happening
in South Africa as in Manila. Great Bri-
tain in her war with the Beers is actuat-
ed by the same spirit which has brought
us into deadly combat with the Flilipinos.
81 want to know tonight If we are g1ing
to violate the principles Of the Declara-
tion of Independence in the Philippines,
where we have not dared to In Cuba 4?
The very foundations of our free institu-
4lons is being regarded as nothing. We
are now placing ourselves in exactly the
same position as Spain when her criminal
aggression IN CuDa IOrced us INTO war. Ii
isn't the people of the Philippines who
will be harmed the most. They may be
ignorant. they may be poor and dark
skinned and may be made slaves. Then
IL may be said that America, which has
been called the half brother to the
world, will be affected most.
81 am in favor Of expansion Thomas
Jefferson, the author of the Declaration OF
independence, was an expansionist He
wanted more territory added to this
Union, but he insisted that the inhabi-
tants of such acquisitions should be ca
pable Of governing themselves Admitting