The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1901-04-13
WAS IT IN THE INTEREST OF
CIVILIZATION!

There are multiplying evidence
that the people are becoming nor
thoughtful over the problems wtlic
confront the patton as result @
"ihe late unpleasantness' with Spair
While the debauch Of war WAS on,
was very natural tina, its trappings
its martial are always associate,
with glory, its rapid successes owe
4 decrepid and fifth rate countr
should appeal tnour natioral vanity
| Moreover The motive that led 10 tn
war, in the hearts Of the m:ss"a, VA
without question sincere love 70
the rights and the liberty Of the suf
frrIng and oppressed Cuhals. How
easy it was under III. guisr q
''hGmanity" and "manifest destin
ity' TO accept the Unresprcted re
suits of the war and hold the Philip
pines and the other possessions
with the idea pressed home by crafty
and designing politicians that Amer
ica along with Great Britain had 4
duty 10 swallow up and appropriate
any lesser or inf.,ior governments
that happen 10 run counter TO their
plan of greed and conquest concealed
By the apparently noble plea that III
Tie march of progress and hy the
dis, ensation of benign providence
this nation suddenly had given il !.
new mission. That Instead Of al
tending TO its own business hence
forth il was 10 &c ont and do valiant
duty in behalf of humanity b. going
forth and gobbIing everything IN
sight, compelling millions of people
TO give up their wishes for OFFS
surrender their ideas of liberty 20
ours, ours OF coarse being the lel. ter.
If any poor Filipino or oihe- an
fortunate refused to accept our no.
bic (?) doctripe in The interest Of
civilization (?) he WIS to be shot on
the spot. or as soon as he could be
chased up if h" happened TO he a
good runner. This sort Of govern.
ment has had GOOD deal To make i,
seem plausible. Those who have
used il have constantly talked ahru,
she glory Of tie flag and the neces.
sity Of '';Inproviny The condition Of
the suhnr'g'l races" But that the
voters are awakening from their
apathy an! are beginning to see
through the plausisms Of HcKiul.y.
the sordid purposes Of such men as
Hanna ard The trend of Republican.
ism Of the present day kind which
controls things at Washington.
Among other incidents of late
that confirm our view is the univer-
sal rcspcc: shown throughout the
county 20 the memory Of the late
{ x-presiden,. 1t is true that he was
a c.ean, upright man and tia, he
gave While President a goo,l bust !
ncss-like administration Of affairs. |
But al that time lie had solid hold
On popular favor that even in DAYS
If apparently prosperity he was de-
;eated for reelected to the Presi-
lency. 1t was during the past few
ears that cntrenched himself in
he hearts of the people. While
'ther men Of lesser weight have
,een committing the Republican
'arty toa seemingly devised policy
# rap:ne and plumber, this true
Ieartcd American has refused to
anction any such attempt His ar,
iclcs which have appeared in leading
magazines have been so outspoken in
he sympathy with the Beers and
he Filipinos, SO clear in their con-
emnation Of the Anglo-Saxon out
age upon lesser people, that thew
ave brought him closer to the
carts of his countrymen than any
hing in his previous history. His
efense Of the Constitution and the
laws or national history !
ave more and more commended !
to the masses. His sud-
en- death brought forth a demon.
ration Of public esteem such as
as been accorded 10 but few men in Z
cent years. He takes his place !
nong the prophets of his age who
ments decadence Of national honor .
I'd ideals, and by so doing encour.
yes and promotes a healthier public
Union regarding our rights, our
tiles and other peoples rights. In
at renaissance OF Americanism-the 2
'nuine thiDg-which is surely CON-
G, Harrison's words will serve as q 6
ilicIcnt basis for all who love their;
untry and humanity to stand upon.
his latest article written for the
'rth American Review, he said: q 4;
'et US not be world power, in any ii
nse, save the good old sense-that pl
nation capable OF protecting in hi
seas the just rights OF its citizens. IN
q incapable everywhere of wan % 90
infringement of the autonomy of o.
Ter nations"
bs