Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1900-11-02


if you want to understand the reasons
for large army read the prospectus
issued by the Philippine Lumber and
Development company. You will find
that at the head of the company as
president stands Republican member
Of congress. who is the chairman Of
the army committee Of the house of
representatives, and another Repub-
lican congressman is attorney for the
company, and the prospectus shows
that already valuable timber lands
have been secured, and the prospectus
also explains that the labor problem is
easily solved because there is guam
tity of Chinese labor there that can be
employed at from 80 to rs cents day
in Mexican money. What do you want
an army for? To hold the Philippines
while they are being developed by syn
dicates headed by Republican politi-
clans. (Applause.)
'The American people have not yet
decided in favor of Imperialism. The
Republicans refuse to meet 1t. You do
not hear defenses of Imperialism from
those authorized to speak. You find
the Republicans are trying to hide be-
hind first one subterfuge and then an
other. They say now that the reason
we are in the Philippines, the reason
our boys are dying, the reason large
army is necessary. the reason we can
not come home, is because l helped to
ratify the treaty. Naughter)
"My friends, 1 want you to go back
a few moments and you will find that
the Republican party said we were in
the Philippine islands because of the
act of God, and it is great comedown
from God to me. daughter and a2-
plause.)
Republicans, what we object to is
that in order to defend your imperial
policy you have to lay down doctrines
which, if carried out, Will destroy the
right of the American people to partic-
ipate in their own government That
is our objection to your policy. If you
are simply going to kill the Filipinos
OIL anu tOIlt lOLl.G We AAiiSiS SCt o'Si
the crime. But that is not yonr policy.
You dare not kill them off. because you
want to trade with them. You would
destroy your trade argument If you Kill
them. You cannot trade with dead
people. When a man IS dead all he
needs Is shroud and a coffin. and he
can get along without both OF them ii
necessary. You have got to let the
people live if you want to trade with
them, and if they live they will have
to be citizens Ca subjects.
"You want them for subjects, but
you shall not have them for subjects II
we can prevent it. You cannot make
subjects out of them without changing
our ideas of government. You can't
hold them in perpetual servltude with
out amending your constitution, either
openly or indirectly, and the same
same power that can disregard the
constitution and make subject out OF
Filipino can disregard the constitu-
ton and make subjects out of the Am
erican people.
"The Republican party is following
the paths of monarchy. 1t does not
propose king, but it proposes a prin-
ciple upon which only a king can
stand. 1t does not propose crown,
| but it proposes a doctrine that can nit
nothing but crown. The Republican
party has done in Porto Rico just what
England did in this country, and our
president is doing today just what
George III. did century and quarter
| ago. What difference does 1t matter
whether you call him president or en-
peror or king, If he administers to the
power of king?
my friends, we are not only against
imperialism. because it strikes blow
at our principles Of government, we
are against it because it destroys the
moral prestige of this nation among
the nations Of the earth.
I'VE want the American people to
attend to their own business. We
want them to have their own ideas and
stand for them. We want this nation
to be among the nations as light and
example. / so into community and
| see some gray-haired patriarch,
whose life is so upright, whose conduct
is SO just, that people submit to him
their differences and abide his judg'
ment.
and when l see such one l am
reminded of the words Of Solomon: A
good name is rather to be chosen than
great riches, and loving favor rather
than silver and gold l want this ma
ton to be the patriarch among the ma
tions. | want to stand erect l want
it to be Just and upright, and when
other nations quarrel, instead of call
ing out great armies to kill each other
they will say, leave the question to
the United States; they can be trusted
| want this nation to be peacemaker
among the nations and then 1t will
earn the reward promised to the peace
maker: Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called the children OF
God.
Philadelphia Times: The centrali-