Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-12-18


In the campaign of 1900 the Repub-
lican leaders denied that their party
contemplated permanent increase in
the standing army. They asserted that
a large army was only necessary be-
cause of the insurrection in the Philip
pines. and they boldly declared that
the instruction would cease immedi-
ately il the Republican ticket was sue
cessful. The Democratic platform and
Democratic speakers We're blamed for
the prolongation of the war. Just re-
elect President Mckinley" they said
"and let the Filipinos know that they
are not 10 have independence and they
will lay down their arms and our SOL
dlers can come home"
Well, the Republican ticket was elect
ed, and the Filipinos were notified that
they were not to have independence,
but month after the election the Re-
pubiicans rushed through Congress n
bill authorizing the President to raise
the regular army to 100000, and now,
after a year has elapsed, the insurrec-
ton is still in progress and the end is
not yet. Some of the worst losses of
the year have been suffered by our
troops within two months. General
Chaffee reports that the Filipinos have
protited by the deception practced upon
them when Agunaldo was trapped. He
airy civilians dress lurked about and
among American garrisons," and he
adds that with deceptive cunning they
obtained credentials from American au-
thorities." We We're assured a year ago
that only small fraction of the Fill
pinos were hostile to the American gov
eminent. We were told that the great
majority of the Filipinos welcomed the
American government and We're glad
to made subjects. The Times Herald
quotes General Chaffee as saying that
''the whole people of the Philippines are
engaged in waglng war upon the United
States.' The Times-Herald IA Repub-
llcan paper adds: "The Filipinos who
are friendly to the United States are said
to be those holding office. and the Of
day assert that their loyalty will con
time only so long as they have the OPP
portunity of drawing American dol
lars"
If Mr.. Mckinley was correctly in
formed when he stated that most of the
Filipinos were friendly, then the insur-
rection has, according TO General Chat
fee. increased rather than diminished.
After the Republican victory made 1t
impossible for the imperlalists to blame
the anti-imperialists for the continue
ton of hostllitles, the Republican lead
ers declared that Aguinaldo, actuated
by selfish ambition, was compelling his
countrymen to continue the war. But
even after his capture and imprison-
ment-yes, even after his captors had
his comrades to surrender-the insur-
rection continued How long will 1t
take the imperiallsts to learn that we
can nessc. h.ve peace in the Philippine
Islands? Th&s rs tan suppress open
resistance is certain, although the cost
llsi that CuIl Ut
derived from colonial government. bu,
that we can ever make the Filipinos
love us or trust us while we rule them
through carpetbag government. is
absurd.
II the Republicans had read the
speeches of Abraham Lincoln as much
recently MS they did in former years
they would have known that hatred of
an alien government is natural thing
and a thing to be expected everywhere.
Lincoln said that 1t was God Himself
who placed in every human heart the
love of liberty. Lincoln spoke the truth
Love of liberty is linked to life itself,
and "what God hath joined together lei
no man put asunder. Lincoln. Neb.,
Commoner.