The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1900-10-05


Let us now review in a few
words what imperialism has so
far really made Of us. 1t has per.
verified the solemnly proclaimed
war of liberation and humanity
into a war Of land grabbing con
quest, criminal aggression and
Subiugation, thus destroying the
belief of mankind in the sincerity
of our virtuouS profession, brand
ing us as a nation of hypocriteS
and destroying our moral credit
with the world.
1t has Seduced us TO commit the
meaneSt miSdeed nation can
cOmmit-the crafty betrayal of an
ally and the wanton slaughter of
innocent people 1t has made
our former friends in the con
quered countries hate us with an
undying hatred. 1t has involved
us in an unnecessary, wicked and
abominable war that has already
cost us thousands of American
lives and nearly two hundred
millions Of money, and will cost
intellectually more.
1t has made our President com
nit fragrant usurpatiOn of power
which. il eond0ned and permitted
to stand As ruling precedent,
will become more dangerous to
our free institutions. 1t has put
TO contempt and ridicule the fun
damental principles Of our De
mocracY and is undermining the
popular belief in our Old ideals of
right, justice and liberty, which
alone furnish the conservative
element Indispensable to a De-
mocracy working through univer-
sal suffrage. In this Republic,
which should be governed by an
intelligent and well-informed pub
lie opinion, in has introduced one
of the most insidious practices of
despotic governments-a censor
ship of news.
We are now witnessing the
strange, the unprecedented spec
tacle Of the President, as a can
didate for reelection, in his letter
OF acceptance, a partisan cam.
paign paper, drawing upon hidden
stores of official knowledge and
publishing detached pieces of
documents as they may he advan-
tageOus to his and his party'S in
terest. He has no reason to com
plain of the widespread suspicion
that. if all these documents were
published entire, they might bring
unwelcOme light, for, as | have
shown, his "benevolent asSimila-
ton" order, that uSurping de.
claration of war against the Fill
pinoS, standing up for freedom
and independence, the whole of
which happens to be known, ap-
pears III his letter of acceptance
i'll a garbled condition, mislead,
ingly emitting the most important
parts.
W nat, IN view OF all this, is
now TO be dOne2 There is a sim
pie moral precept which every
honest man and every honest ma
ton will recognize as binding.
Whenever you have done anyone
a wrong, or committed wrong
to he done in your behalf, you
must repair it to the best Of your
ability. Let no selfShneSs and
no false pride make you hesitate.
III you do, you are on the down
ward slope.
/ The first thing necessary Is that
the American people should not,
by their votes, approve the wrong
tul acts by keeping those who
have done them II the name OF
the Republic IN places OF power,
thus encouraging them to go ON,
Out should stamp the Wroug done
ana the WrongdoerS with the
most elnphatlc vote OF condemna'
non. we should put IN Their
places OUhelS tnat recognize the
wrong done ana are wiling to re-
palf IT,
III Is sald 'ha6 IL we voluntarily
give up inc suoJusallon Oh the
IhlllpplleS we Suall lose our