Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-11-03
Every Voter ss s
Should Read Thic.

Ex-Governor George S. Boutwell,;
the venerable Republican statesman
of Massachusetts, has prepared an
"address to the laboring and produc-
ing classes of the United States"
which is being made up for distribu
tion by the anti-imperialist league at
Chicago in the name Of the league.
1t is in different line from whaa
he has written before against the
Administrations policy, and is design
ed to arouse these classes to the dan
ger of the reelection of Mckinley. IT
is as follows: The American Anti
Imperialist League and the auxiliary
leagues were formed for the purpose
of laying before the people the evil
dence of design on the part of Pres,
ident Mckinley to give to the Ameri-
can republic the characteristics and
the policy of an empire, The charge
was made in formal manner as early
as the 18th day of August, 1899. We
gave name to the purpose and to the
policy. We called it Imperialism. In
this address we omit the use of words
and phrases, and we ask your atten-
tion to facts that are of common
knowledge and free from controversy.
We shall then ask you to consider the
probable consequences of the policy
indicated by the facts.
We are engaged in a warlike con-
test with 100000 people who occupy
islands in a tropical climate and TO-,
600 miles from our ports. The contest
has continued for the space of 20
months. An army of 10000 men has
been employed, at a cost of $4,000,000
a. week, and the sacrifice of many
lives each month. The war is not end,
ed. Stable governments have not been
set up, and. there are not evidences of
peace, except in the Sulu isles, where
peace has been purchased by pensions
on the public treasury and a recogni-
ton of the crimes of slavery, with
polygamy.
The President, with the sanction of
the Republican party, has declared
that the war is to 90 on until the Fill
ipinos acknowledge our sovereignty
and submit to our rule. These state
ments are statements of accepted
truths, and they warrant certain con-
clusions. The war is to go on at an
enormous cost in men and money, and
without justification on our part. Who
are to furnish the men and by what
means is the army to be kept in the
field? The laboring population must
furnish the men, either by voluntary
enlistments or through process of
conscription. Is there any element in
this contest in the Philippine islands
which invokes the sentiment of patriot
ism in any American? Voluntary en-
listments can be secured only by the
disturbance of the industries of the
country. This is one branch of the
alternative by which an army in the
East is to be kept in the field.
The other branch of the alternative
is a system of conscription. Are the
laboring people prepared to accept
either branch of the alternative? And
next, on whom do the war expenses
fall, which, upon the present basis,
are not less than $12 annually for
every family of five persons? The wal
expenses are to be paid by taxes or by
an increase of the public debt, which
is taxation delayed. Every stamp
duty paid by banker or landlord or
dealer in merchandise is revenue as
sessment upon labor that at soma
time and in some form must be paid.
AS to the wisdom or unwisdom Of the
exemption we express no opinion, but
the incomes of those who enjoy in
comes are freed from taxes by the
national government. The war con-
Germs, and 1t chiefly concerns, the la
boring and producing classes of the