The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1902-05-24

harbor and destroyed Spain's Asiatic
fleet. He was guided into port by Gen.
Emilio Aguinaldo, supreme leader of
the insurgents, whom he took on board
at Hong Kong. Admiral Dewey armed
Aguinaldo and encouraged him in
every possible way to lead his country
men against the common enemy. Agui-
naldo did so successfully. After q
while American troops arrived at Ma
Mia and they were hailed as liberators
by the liberty-loving natives. Agui-
naldo issued a manifesto to the Fill
pinos in which he said:
"Compatriots: Divine Providence is
about to place independence within
our reach. and in way the most free
and independent nation could hardly
wish for. The Americans, not from
mercenary motives but for the sake of
humanity. have considered it oppor-
tune to extend their protecting mantle
to our beloved country. Take note, the
Americans will attack by sea and pre-
vent any reinforccments coming from
Spain: therefore we insurgents must
attack by land. There, where YOU see
the American flag flying. assemble in
numbers: they are our redeemers
Rather die than he ungrateful to cur
American liberators."
Poor. deluded AGuinaldo! Little did
he think that he would afterwarC he
fugitive from his so-called ''libcra-
tors" and that his capture would be
effected by means of fraud and for
gerry! After acting as the allies of the
Americans against the Spaniards. the
Americans. in pursuance of instruc-
tions from Washington. turned their
rifles against the natives and have been
shooting them like dogs ever since in
the name of humanity and civilization.
AS a matter of fact. this c1u,ttry
could have freed the Filipinos as easily
as the Cubans. One race is the same
as the other to us, and one is about rs
deserving Of freedom as the other.
One is as fitted for liberty as the other.
according to competent authorities.
But the truth is that so far as the Re
publican administration is concerned,
it is not love of liberty that prompted
it to make war on Spain. The war
was forced upon it. and true to the
predatory instincts of the oligarchy
that dictates its policies. the war of
liberty was soon converted into war
of robbery for the sole benefit OF the
American barOns against whom THE
Acknowledgement of the United States
has brought action to protect the
American people from their rapacity
and greed.
The Republican organs of this coun-
try have not kind word for the Fill
pinos now. They have not a word of
sympathy for any people seeking self
government in Europe Asia or Africa.
They endorse the barbarity of Jake
Smith in Samar and have no conden-
nation of his brutal order ''to kill every
one above the age of ten" They ar-
prove of Gen. Bells policy of establish
ing concentration camps after the man.
ner of Weyler in Cuba and Kitchener
in South Africa. Whatever is done to
the natives meets the hearty approval
of the organs of the grasping corpora
lions for whose welfare the war is be-
ing carried on at the expense and to
the shame of the American republic.
A local organ of plutocracy pours it's
Shiny abuse upon all Americans who
dare to protest against the atrocities
committed in the Philippines. 1t COM
pares the Filipinos to Apache Indians
and says they deserve no humane treat
ment from the Anglo-Saxons. The
hireling who ISLANDERS the Filipinos by
comparing them to the Indians should
read an article in the popular Science
Monthly" by an American who had
visited the Philippine archipelago long
before Admiral Dewey became the
hero of Manila The Indians on this
continent never reached the state of
civilization attained by the Filipinos
under the tutelage of the Spanish
friars. The American people. who
make and unmake presidents and poll
ticians, will compel justice to be done
to the brown men of the East. They
deserve the enjoyment of inalienable
rights-life. liberty and the pursuit Of
happiness-and they shall have them
in spite of corporations and trusts and
their subsidized organs.