Washington sentinel., 1900-03-10

her army and war material, anC
S25s,ooo, 600 for injury to Russians
She offered to take BI6o, ,ooo, 900 ir
cash and the balance in kind--thaI
is, territory; but the powers drew
the line at the territory. AS every
body knows, Turkey has not paid
off that indemnity yet, and is not
likely to do. so that Russia lost
heavily.
The Philippine War aud MurdeF'
The unjustness OF war Of con-
quest is being discussed on all
sides, but not so the question of
the unnecessary killing of our iel-
low citizens in the army and the
Filipinos.
1t is the Law of everv civilized
country that for one citizen to kill
another,except under the necessity
of doing so to preserve his own life
or his person from great bodily
harm. is murder. And if an officer
OF the Governmen mt kills a person
unnecessarily it is murder. This
is a familiar rule as to sheriffs
and constables, and it applies
equally to the President and to the
members Of Congress, although as
to these latter the punishment is
not the taking OF their lives, or
Imprisonment for lie, but their
relegation to private life by the
sovereign voters whom they is
represent.
Our war with Mexico is thought
by many to have been an unjust
war and therefore an unnecessary
killing OF our soldiers and thou
sands OF the Mexicans. General
Grant, when in the shadow OF the
Great Beyond, declared in the most
deliberate manner concerning
President Polk's policy toward
Mexico:
"For myself / was bitterly op-
posed to the measure, and to this
day regard the war which resulted
as one of the most unjust ever
waged by the stronger against the
weaker. 1t was an instance of
republic following the bad exam
pie Of the European monarchies
in not considering justice in their
desire to acquire additional terri
tory" And the dying chieitain
added: "The Southern rebellion
was largely the outgrowth of the
Mexican war. Nations, like indi-
viduals, are punished for their
transgressions."
And the war In the Philippines
would instantly cease if the Presi-
dent OF the United States should
declare that in his opinion the in
habitants of Luzon should have
self government Independence
as soon as they establish stable
government. In so declaring his
opinion he would not be usurpIng
any Of the powers Of Congress, for
it would leave to Congress the dis
position ol affairs, and if Congress
should decide to reject the princi-
pie enunciated by the President as
his personal opinion, continua-
tion Of the war and the further
murder of our soldiers and the
Filipinos would be upon the souls
OF our representatives in Congress,
Tor as to the justice OF the attitude
OF the Filipinos there can be no
question; it is not murder for a
people to repel those who insist on
controlling their lives and actions
and those OF their wives, daughters
and sons. No, the charge OF MUIR
der cannot be laid At the door Of
the Filipinos who are fighting us
because we refuse to concede to
them the right Of home rule when
they establish a stable government
and those who stand behind and
urge them forward in the present
cause. Thousands upon thousands
OF murders are being committed
in the Philippines and William
Mckinley could stop it in mo
ment if he will but say the word.
So long as he refuses to stop the
killing, each death is a murder by
him and his abettoTs just as surely
as though they should brain each
one with an axe.
InteFcede for the Beers.
II. {. BIoedel, oi Allegheny,
Pa, presented at the last regular
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