Washington sentinel., 1900-09-08

for and authority Such is the inten.
ton of the Administration The idea that
the military chieitain knows better how
to govern the people than the people do
Themselves has been the doctrine o
every despotiSm that ever existed on
the face Of the earth. The pretense
tnat the FiliDinos are not able or capa-
BILE OF governing themselves is no excuse
or reason why We should wage war upon
them. This has been the pretense OF
all tyranny that has existed since the
world began. and it would be applicable
to many nations very much closer to US
than the FIlpiuos
do not understand how any man can
believe in the Declaration OF Iudepend-
ence and the great doctrires laid down
in that instrument by the fathers OF our
Republic and by the statesmen who
have made this country great and still
favor this war of brute force against
people who have never done us an INJURY
and upon principle that we bought the
right to subiugate them for S7o. ooo, 600
from a power that we ourselves have
termed tvraDnical and despotic.
The statesmen Of the present day, like
Mckinley and "Teddy" Roosevelt are
very unlike those who founded this
Republic, and their ideas are very
different, l have studied the life OF
nearly every statesman this country has
produced aud find nothing IN their
writings or teachings to justify such a
war as is now being waged II General
Otis can make laws for the Filpinos
better than they can make them for
themselves, what is to prevent his
coming to Kentucky and giving the
people OF that State the benefit of his
wisdom? What is to prevent him from
going to any other State and doing the
same thing? I do not mean to say that
in a few years we will have an Emperorin
this country, but the policy now being
pursued is the first step in in imperialism
and is the doctrine Of tYrants and
Cespots.
Mr.. Heunighausen, whose views on
imperialism as given above were pub
lished ~ the Baltimore Sun, has had his
attention drawn to statements made by
Captain Isidor Becker, quartermaster of
the FIRST Regiment, Maryland National
Guard, purporting to be an answer to
Mr.; Hennighausen's interview. Captain
Becker stated that there is no possibility
of the miltaris1, tyranny and despotism
to which Mr.. Hennighausen referred,
and says tnat gentleman was probably
governed in his assertions by the
conduct OF German army officers, who
are, as a rule, arrogant and look down
upon all civilians.
Mr. Hennighausen in speaking e
these statements said: This hardly
requires any answer, az it is not an
argument What do I have to do with
Germany or German army officers? |
came to this country when a child and
have lived here 46 years. | am an
American and claim to be nothing else.
was an officer in the Federal army
during the Civil War. and my views
expr, ssed in the .SHn are my own per-
sonal opinions, based on not what |
know Of Germany, but OF this country.
docs Captain Becker think that
American soldiers are less human and
less ioLd of power than those of any
other nation? II he believes that there
is no danger from militarism or despot-
ism it must be because he has not
studied history Why, we already have
militaTism when our press dispatches
and private letters are tampered with
and opened 10 Manila and their puu,Ort
changed. Much of the truth in letters
and press dispatches has been sup.
pressed and stricken out through this
very miitarism under the pretense that
it would be giving information to the
enemy to allow it TO come to this country.
When restrictions are placed on the
tree press and on free speech then is the
first step OF militarism taken, believe
have aIght to publicly express my
opinion whenever / please. What /
have SAID represents my own views. 1
am glad to know Crptain Becker loves
his country, aud If he thinks there is no
danger from militarisn and despotism
IN the present course of the Admins
tration he is entitled to his views.
"If my expression OF opinion in regard
to the policy OF the Administration has
helped to strengthen the feeling against
the war in The Philippines, then am
.,la,saH