Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-10-17

Edr0nf US and appeal to US as American
citizens. he thought. is the Republican
attempt to change the form OF this gov
ernment. 1t is our duty to arise and
see that the honor of the government
is preserved.
Mr.. Raymond remarked that Mr.. Nc
Kinley in 1890 said: Human rights and
constitutional privileges must not be
forgotten" Now that, he continued,
Is elegant language OF true statesman
ship and Is identical in its meaning
with our ideas of government. We had
a right to depend upon these principles
being carried out and we have a right to
denounce the present conduct of the
government.
Purpose of the War.
The declaration for war with Spain
was simply for the purpose of freeing
Cuba. 1t was then our citizens went
forward under the flag of freedom and
the island was o wrested from the
power of Spain. Our people did not
clamor for the acquisition of territory,
but we find that Dewey entered Manila
bay. We further find that an alliance
was formed with Aguinaldo in spite
of the fact that the United States prom
ised that they would not be subjected
to the same treatment that they had
received from Spain.
Spain had them in subsection.
She had no land there and all she had
to transfer to us was her claim of SOW
ereignty there. We acquired nothing
by u treaty with Spain. l think it
was wrong to ever start out trying to
secure the sovereignty of those is
lands. Those people are fighting for
freedom; they will die in the ditch
and these conditions very probably
continue forever, if we do not resort
to opinion as true American citizens.
What do we want with such terri
tory thousands of miles away from us?
Would they be of any benefit to us?
In my opinion, they would be a great
expense to us, and where is the bene-
fit? But what is the purpose of this
war? 1t is merely the wish to make
them subject to this country. But
they do not wish to go down into the
details of this sort of argument. They
say there is no imperialism. However,
they must discuss this issue if they are
tc expect to meet the American citi-
zens. They undertake to refer to the
expansion of Jefferson. But let me
assure you, this sort of expansion was
to bring in adjacent territory and vas
perfectly justifiable under the Constitu-
ton.
Constitutional Rights.
The present policy of the administra-
ton with respect to imperialism is
wholly unconstitutional. We have no
right to enter another country and at
tomtp to annex it. In this enlight-
eDed age we find a President who does
not think it necessary to amend the
Constitution in order to make the coun-
try an empire.
Mr.. Raymond pointed out that it is
only constitutional to admit the pro-
ducts of Porto Rico into this country
free; but we find that this administra-
ton has ordered a high tariff against
the exports of these islands because 1t
was demanded by the trusts. He also
spoke of the treaty with the Sultan of
Sulu, by which we are to pay him and
his subordinates regular monthly sal
aries. Certainly, he is subject to this
country, he continued; our flag floats
over those islands, and what do we
find there? Why, the meanest sort Of
rolygamy and slavery, and We say 70
those slaves that they may purchase
their freedom for the price. What ben
eft do we get from those islands, from
the salaries that we are paying the sui
tan and the rest of them. My friends,
who is paying them? The citizens of
the United States pay them. Remem-
Der that you have to pay your taxes to
the federal government.
Shall we interfere in this war for
the rights of a people who are fighting
for their liberty? No man who believes
in Lincoln or belongs to the party of
Lincoln, can conscientiously support a
party that is conducting affairs in this
manner 1t is not a matter in which
we should assume a risk and we should
not forget our duty to preserve the
form of government that was advo-
Gated by the forefathers.
what is Contemplated.
Our constitution does not contem-
plate a wal of conquest. Our citizens
love the constitution and love the flag,
because it is the emblem of liberty.
He said that the flag had been en-
ployed for the wrong purpose. We
find that there are two parties, one
headed by Mr.. Mckinley and the other
H. 81