The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1900-08-03

Jects--not citizens. They are sub
ject to taxation and ARE TAXED by
our government, yet they have no
representation or voice in the power
which rules them. THAT IS IMpERI-
ALIsM. Our constitution offers them
no protection and extends to them
no privileges. Porto Ricans are
governed by carpetbag royalty,
made up solely by the appointees of
our present emperor, who can make
or unmake the government at will.
Nc monarch of the old world has
powers more absolute, dangerous
and far-reaching than Mckinley,
and if the national constitution
stands in his way he brushes it
aside, tramples upon its provisions
and resumes his efforts to build an
empire upon the ruins of our repub-
lie. The difference between the
methods of Jefferson and those OF
Mckinley is very plain.
But our emperor's course in the
Philippines is even more imperialis-
tic and revolving. He goes to the
natives of those islands with no Of
fer Of citizenship or constitutional
protection. He asks them to swear
allegiance to America power to
which they owe no allegiance. They
refuse, for they have fought period
ically for three hundred years to
gain their independence. They
want no change of masters. With
an army of $4,000 men Mckinley
has tried for eighteen months to
subjugate those people and has fail
ed. Ten days ago Gen. Macarthur
openly stated that 100000 men
would be required to subdue the un-
willing people. Already this unholy
war has cost upwards of 1900 Am
erican lives and $500, 900, 900, and it
is yet unended. THIS is 1MpER1AL-
ISM. Is it an honor to the flag and
and credit to this nation and its
people? Think it over candidly and
honestly-is.it?
| The whole situation resolves it.
self into the fact that imperialism
DOES EXIST, and that the republicans
are responsible for it. We want no
races or peoples permanently under
ourflag unless we can make citizens
of them and extend to them the
guarantees and protection OF our
constitution. We want citizens and
not subjects. This republic cannot
long survive with the people under
it's jurisdiction part citizen and part
subject any more than it could en-
dure part free and part slave. This
principle is unchanging and eter-
nal. The country has been forced
to depart from the course which a
century Of history had demonstrat-
ed was course Of national safety
and honor and justice. The blame
lies with William Mckinley and the
republican party. Where else can
it be placed?
But this republic has never yet
faced crisis but what there came
up from the common people guild
ing hand to solve the problem and
brush away the gloom and again let
in the light Of justice and liberty
and honor. We're William Jennings
Bryan president today the reign Of
4 bloodshed and destruction in the
4 Philippines would end tomorrow.
Had be been president it would nev.
er have begun. Four thousand Am.
|erican homes would have beer
brighter and happier to-day, and
5000, 600, 900 TAXED FROM THE pocK.
ETs OF THE PEOPLE would have been
saved and thrown into the channels
OF American industry. What woule
Bryan have done, do you ask? He
4 would have said to those people, "bt
] free!" He would have granted
them their independence, helped
. them to. form government suitabl,
Ito their needs and said to the world
Hands off!-give these people .
lchance." Warfare would have ceas
! led. Peace would have reigned ant
those islands would have prosperee
and forever paid honor to the grea
republic that had brought then
from darkness into light. Would i
lIitnot be better to solve the prob
lem thus? Instead of that we arr
sacrificing the lives Of thousands Q
q Americans in attempting to fore,
I those people into subsection. w
are Notwithstanding an army Of 65, OO(