The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1901-03-22
A Remarkable Change.

The cause of the Philippine war was
not an overweening desire for trade or
commerce, for much better trade could
have been established without waging
war on their people; nor was it thirst
for conquest aud the expansion of terri
tory; nor for the purpose of securing
naval stations in Asiatic countries; nor for
the conversion of the heather. All these
things could have been gained without
firing gun after the Spanish power had
been driven out of the islands.
The Filipinos had burning desire to
establish an independent nation of their
own, copied as nearly as possible after the
government of the United States. They
had heard of the great free country in
America, on the other side of the world;
their learned men had studied its history
and were captivated with the glorious idea
of government of the people, where no
kings nor aristocratic class existed enjoy
ing privileges denied to other men. The
Filipinos expected the Americans to aid
and instruct them in their efforts to rear
a republic on the shores of ancient Asia,
like the great republic they had heard OF
in the far away new world, which in a
single century had risen to be one of the
greatest nations on the earth. The Amer
leans could have had any commercial
privileges they asked by promising the
new and weak nation protection FROM
robbing monarchies of Europe.
All this could have been secured by the
United States without expanding dollar
for war purposes or the loss of life of a
single American soldier. But these ad-
vantages for the nation were not wanted
by class who desire monopoly to pill
lage. This class has the administration
in its hand. 1t is the class that is making
of this nation the greatest hotbed of
monopoly and pillage through forms of
law, of any nation in the world.
The class, guilty of all the waste oftreas-
ure and loss Of blood which this Ubiquitous
Asiatic war waged 10000 miles from
Washington has cost, is the exploiting
class; the class who wished to enjoy ex-
elusive privileges in securing valuable
franchises in the islands, guarded by a
United States fleet and army; valuable
land grants, railroad franchises, monop-
oily of the hemp industry, mining grants;
In short monopoly of all that is worth
cornering in the archipelago. With an
independent Filipino government they
could not secure license for such whole
sale plumber, though the commercial
interests of the country would have been
tenfold greater under peaceful arrange
ment, without cost in life or money.
The power this clique of broad gauge
spectators has acquired over the govern
ment of the United States may be meas
ured when it is considered that the whole
theory of the American system of govern
ment has been perverted by them-over-
thrown for the time being-and a war of
conquest waged on nation often million
of people, which before the war with
Spain was scarcely known to exist by one
in fifty of the American people.
Within the last four years the whole
phase of our American system of govern
ment as understood by the people has
undergone radical change. This ex-
plotting class have demonstrated to their
own satisfaction at least, that with money
they can elect congress and seat their
choice for a President in the White
House, and they have within the last few
months shown holder front and less re-
gard for public opinion than ever before.
What the end will be no man is wise
enough to tell or even make reasonable
prediction. That we are driving forward
at fearful pace into an unknown future
while world wonders, is evident to every
student of present and rapidly changing
conditions.