The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1900-08-09


the expense. Such a system would never
be defended but for the fact that the ex-
pense is borne by all the people. while
the profits are enjoyed by faw.
IMPERIALISM.
Imperialism would be profitable to the
army contractors; It would be profitable
to the ship owners, who would carry live
soldiers to the Philippines and bring dead
soldiers back It would be profitable to
thost who would sieze upon the franchises
and it would be profitable to the officials
whose salaries would be fixed here ana
paid over there; but to the farmer, to the
laboring man and to the vast majority
of those engaged in other occupations, It
would bring expenditure without return
and expenditure without reward.
Farmers and laborlng men have as a
rule, small incomes and under systems
which place the tax upon consumption,
pay more than their fair share OF the
expenses OF government. Thus the very
people who receive least benefit from i'm
periallsm will be injured most by the mill
itary burdens which accompany it.
In addition to the evils which he and
the farmer share in common, the labor
q l.g m will be the first to suffer If ORR
e. II subjects seek work in the United
States; the first to suffer II American cap
ital leaves our shores to employ Oriental
labor in the Philippines to supply the
trade Of China and Japan; the first to
suffer from the violence which the mill
tary spirit arouses and the first 10 suffer
when the methods Of imperialism are ap-
piled to our own government.
1t is not strange therefore, that the la
Dor organizations have been quick to note
the APPROACH of these dangers and prompt
to protest against both militarism and
Imperialism.
The pecuniary argument, though more
effective with certain classes, is not like.
ly to be used so often or presented with
so much emphasis as the religious argu
ment !: vhct has ben termed the
'gun-powdar gospel were urged against
the Fiipinos G'ly, it would be a sufficient
answer to say that a majority of the Fill
| pnos are now members of one branchc
of one branch of the Christian church;
but the principle involved is one of
much wider application and challenges
serious consideration.
RELIGIOUS ARGUMENT.
The religious argumentva ries in posi-
tVeness from a passiv4 belief that row
dence delivered the Filipnos into our
hands for their good and our glory, to
/ that we ought to thrash the natives
F1lipinos) until they understand who
we are" and that every bullet sent. ev-
cry cannon shot and every flag waved
means righteousness"
We cannot approve of this doctrine In
ore place unless we are willing to annlv
it everywhere. If there / spoison in the
blood of the hand it will ultimately
reach the heart 1t is equally true that
forcible Christianity, if planted under tn,
American flag in the far-away Orient
will sooner or later be transplanted IN
on American soil. If true Christianity
consists in carry out in our daily lives
the teachings of Christ, who will saw
that we are commanded to civilize with
dynamite and proselyte with the sword?
He would declare the divine will must
prove his authority either by Holy Writ
or py evidence of special dispensation.
Inc command "go ye into all the world
and preach the gospel to every creature"
has no gatling gun attachment. When
Jesus visited village of Samaria and
the people refused to receive Him, some
OF the disciples suggested that fire should
be called down from heaven to avenge
the insult; but the Master rebuked them
and said: Eye know not what manner
of spirit ye are of; for the Son of Man
Is not come to destroy mems lives. but
to save them" Suppose He had said:
we shall thrash them until they under
stand who we are" how different
would have been the history Of Christian
ity! Compare, if you will, the swager-
ing, bullying, brutal doctrine Of imperial
ism with the golden rule and the com
mandment Thou shalt love thy neigh
Dor as thy self"
THE NAZARINE'S WEAPON.
Love not force, was the weapon of
the Nazarine; sacrifice for others. not
the exploitation Of them, was His meth
Cd of reaching human heart. A mission
AIRY recently told me that the stars and
stripes once saved his life because his
assa liant recognized our flag that had no
blood UP 1t. Let it be known that our
missionaries are seeking souls instead of
of being the advance guard of conquer
ing armies, they are going forth to help
and to uplift, having their loins girt
about with truth and their feet shod with
the preparation of the gospel of peace,
wearing the greast-plate of righteous
ness and carrying the sword of the spir-
it.; let it be known that they are citiz-
ems of a nation which respects the right
of the citizen of other nations as care
fully as 1t protects the rights of it's own
citizens and the welcome given to our
missionaries will be more cordial than
the welcome extended to the missionaries