The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-08-15

the welfare Of the American people first. We
nee our duty 10 ourselves as we'll as 10 others
We believe In trade expansion; BY every
ernment and constitution. we mean 10 stimu
late the expansion of our trade and open ne"
mark ets.'
| "Tbis is the commercial argument. 1t ii
ly waged for pecuniary advan tages, and thai
II is profitable 10 purchase trade by force and
violence. Franklin denied both OF these
propositions. When Lord Howe asserted
| that the acts Of parliament, which brought on
the revolution. were necessary 20 proven,
American trade from passing into foreign
channels. Franklin replied:
"'To me 1t seems that neither theobtal n ng
Dor retaining OF any trade, how valuable 80,
ever, is an object for which men may justly
spill each others blood that the true and
sure means OF extending and securing com.
merce are the goodness and cheapness oi
commodities, and that the profits OF no trade
can ever be equal TO the expense OF compel;
ling 1t and holding II by fleets and armies.
consider this war against us. therefore. as
both unjust and unwise.' ...
II place the philosophy OF Franklin against
the sordid doctrine OF those who would put a
price upon the head OF an American soldier
and justify war OF conquest upon the ground
thatfi will pay. The Democratic party Is In
favor OF the expansion OF trade. II would e4-
tend our trade by every legitimate and peace
chandise of human blood. .
"Buta war of conquest is as unwise as II is
unrighteous. A harbor and coaling station
In the Philippines would answer every trade
and military necessity, and such concession
could have been secured at any time without
difficulty.
at is not necessary to own people in order
every part OF the world, and our commerce
has expanded more rapidly than the com.
merce OF any European empire. We 40 not
own Japan or China, but we trade with their
people. We have not absorbed the republics
Of Central and South America, but we trade
with them. 1t has not been necessary 10
have any political connection with Canada
or the nations Of Europe In order to trade
With them Trade oanpGt be
is secured by force. the cost OF securing 1t and
retaining 1t must be taken out OF the profits
and the profits are never large enough 70
never be defended but for the fact that the ex.
pense is borne by all the people, while the
profits are enjoyed by the few.
imperialism would be profitable to the
army contractors II would be profitable 10
diers to the Philippines and bring dead sol.
diers back; II would be profitable 10 those
who would seize upon the franchises, and IL
@oSa be- aed pad
butt to the farmer, to the laooring map. and TO
the vsst majority Of those engaged In other
occupations 1t would oriug expenditure with.
out return and risk without reward. 81
"Farmers and laboring men have, as rule,
small incomes and, under systems which
place the tax upon consumption. pay more
than their fair share OF the expenses OF
government. Thus ,e, me very people P Who 40
injured most by the military burdens which
accompany II. =.
"In addition to the evils which he and the
farmer share In common, the laboring man
M fIof ffrcf tn or1ff N IN
seek work In the United States, the first TO
suffer II American capital leaves our shores 70
employ oriental labor in Philippines to sup
ply the trade OF China and Japan the first
10 suffer from the violence which ths mill
tary spirit arouses and the first TO suffer when
the methods Of imperialism are applied to our
govern ment. A.
. "It is not strange, theref fore, that the labor
ofthese dangers and prompt TO pro.
lest against both militarism and imperialism.
1.-THE pecuniary. argument. though more
effective With certain classes. ls not likely to
em phasis as the religious argument. II what
mas been termed the 'gnn-powder gospel were
urged against the Filipinos only IL would be a
Fiiipinos are now members Of one branch OF
the Christian church: but the principle in
Volve is one OF much wider application and
challenges serious consideration.
"The religious argument varies in positive
ness from passive belief that Providence
delivered the Filipinos into our hands, for
their good and our glory, TO the exultation OF
the minister who said that we ought to
thrash the natives (Filipinos) until they IN.
ierstand who We are,' and that every bullet
sent, every cannon shot and every flag wav.
ed means righteousness.'
1--WE cannot approve OF this doctrine In one
place unless we are willing to apply IT every.
where. II fthere is poison In the blood of the
hand, II will ultimately reach the heart. II
Is equally true that forcible Christianity, II
planted under the American flag In the far
w sS9nef or ftef be
iianity consists in carrying out In our daily
lives the teachings OF Christ who will say
that we are commanded to ciVilize with
dynamite and proselyte with the sword?
HE who would declare the Divine will
must prove his authority either by Holy Writ
Or bv evidence OF special dispensation.
The command, 60 ye Into all the world and
preach the gospel to every creature has no
yatiing gun attachment.
when Jesus visited village of Samaria
and the people refused 10 receive him, some
,t the disciples suggested that fire should be
massr ine 10
Ye know not what manner OF spirit ye are
,i, for the son OF Mar Is not come to destroy
mems lives, but to save them Suppose he
lad said, we will thrash them until they
understand who We are how different would |
have been the history OF Christianity Con-.
pare, If you will, the staggering, bullying,
brutal, doctrine of Imperialism with the
golden rule and the commandment, Thou |
shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.'
Love, not force, was the weapon OF the Naz.
arene sacrifice for others, not the exploita-
lion OF them, was bis method OF reaching the
human heart. A missionary recently told
me that the stars and stripes once saved his
life because his assailant recognized our flag
as flag that had no blood upon It, Let It be
known that our. missionaries are seeking
souls instead Of sovereignty; let 1t be known
So hnin
armies, they. are going forth to
help and to uplift. having their loins girt
about with truth and their feet shod with the
OF the Gospel Of Peace, wearing
ing the sword of the spirit let 1t be known
that they are the citizens OF a nation which
the rights OF the citizens of other
nations as carefully as II protecta the. rights
our missionaries will be more cordial than
the welcome extended to the missionaries
of any other nation.
"The argument made by some that 1t was
for the nation that II had any
thing to do with the Philippine islands, but
that the naval victory at Manila made the
permanent cquisition OF those Islands neces-
sary, is also unsound. The victory at San tia.
90 did not compel us TO hold Cuba. The she'd
ding of American blood in the Philippine
islands does not make 1t imperative that we
should retain possession forever; American
blood was shed at san Juan Hill and Ell
CduGy. duu yCg LILO pEcblucuL ud6
the Cubans Independence. The fact that the
American flag floats over Manila does not
compel US to exercise perpetual sovereignty
over the islands; that flag waves over Havana
today, but the president has promised TO haul
1t down when the flag OF the Cuban republic
is ready 10 rise In Its place.
"Better thousand times that our flag 10
the Orient give way to flag representing the
idea OF selfgovernm ment than that the flag of
this republic should become the flag of an
empire.
"There is an easy. honest, honorable solu.
tion Of the Philippine question:. II Is set
forth In the Democratic platform and 1t Ia
subm ltted with confidence 10 the American
nannle. Uhis nlan [ nnreaer xedlz Indorsa