Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1900-03-23

Some will perhaps say that General
Merritt exerted his authority only with
reference to the capture Of Manila.
Very will; but the report Of the civil
commission shows that the Philippine
commander did not obstruct the Amer
ican forces in the taking of Manila.
They were requested to withdraw and
give room for American forces, and
they did recede and give room for
manuvers, it seemed to be self con-
stituted conclusion of both sides that
the Americans had right to take
possion of Manila and the harbor, but
no farther said the natives. Yet the
air was full of unconditional subjuga-
tion of the natives to American con-
troll in obedience to manifest destiny,
and the aspect of American movements
become 80 threatening that difficulties
multiplied thich and fast.
What mockery to the dreams Of
freedom and independence of this peo-
pie was not the Presidents proclama-
ton of protection and benevolent as
similation under condition of subjuga-
ton. To their utter discomft they
had learned the merit Of such promises
from Spain, and now this American
nation, to whom they had been looking
with so much delight, had given them
unmistakable evidence that she intend
ed to take up the same authority over
them that Spain had lost
Now it is impossible that people can
be subjected TO more contemplate
treatment than that accorded 10 the
Philippines by our administration.
Look at the proceedings of the peace
conference at Paris. The Philippine
Revolutionary Govern ment sent their
representative to Paris by the way of
Washington to personally confer with
the President and he was entirely ig-
nored by the administration at Wash
ington, and through our administration
he was also ignored at Paris where the
future fate of his people was under con-
sidera tion; who could submit to such
an insult? But further than that when
at Washington on his way home from
the Paris conference, he was actually
treated as Spy.
And so we have the hardidood to say
this people have attacked US and we
are acting in self defense.
You know a great many tales brother
Norton, suppose you know the fable
of the lamb and the wolf But we
could not attack you know, without an
excuse for SO doing. and thanks to
Yankee ingenuity the means were
found by the wise heads at Paris; so to
top the climax of insolence we must
play that hypocritial farce of buying
at $50, 900, 900. from Spain property
which she did not at that time possess
and which she could not deliver,
property which our commissioners at
Paris knew that Spain could not deli
yer. But the object is clear, fore
though we shall make deceptive bar
gin and a most blatant trick, we must
bolster up an excuse for treating the
Philippines as Insurgents, Thin and
transparent though it is to the whole
world and awful hypocritical, it is an ex-
cuse that will revolt back on it's per-
petrators. For how can any people be
insurgents 10 power whom they have
never acknowledged as their lawful
authority and to who they have never
sworn allegiance; the whole proceeding
stinks awfully of rats.
I cannot make myself belieye that
the honesty Of the American people
will sanction these preceding on the
9Th, Of November next; so far the ad
ministration is responsible, but at the
next election the people will either take
on themselves the responsibility for
these wholesale crimes or they will
wipe the shame from the face of the
nation. Nothing can be more certain
than that, if the American people take
upon themselves this falsity of glory
their republican institutions are under
mined; the thing is getting more and
more complicated. Every day the con-
stitution must be twisted away from its
fundamental principles in order to fit a
coloniol policy; and in spite of the bold
est twisting it will not fit.
These island colonies must therefore
be governed by rules outside the Ameri-
can constitution, as, according to the
report of the ways and means committee
in congress duty must be imposed on
sugar aud tobacco; by regulation of
commerce and revenue this will make
preference to the ports Of one state over
those of an other, which is contrary
to the constitution. As the constitution
then does not belong to those people and
cannot be applied to them, they cannot
swear allegiance 10 the constitution of
the u. S.
Who then must swear allegiance to?
To the President? Well, we'll.
And President is the Commander-in-