The St. Paul echo., 1926-07-10
BOOK REVIEWS
MARY WHITE OvINGTON
Chairman, Board Of Directors of the
N. A. A. C. r.
S'The Conquest Of the Philippines by the
United States, 1S9S-1925."

"The Conquest OF the philippines by the
United States, 1S9S-1925."
BY Moorfield Storey and Marcial p.
Lichauco. Published by G. p. Put
MANS Sons, 2 West 45th Street, New
York City. Price $500. By mail, ,$2.l0.
Bay in August, 1898, Aguinaldo. leader
of the Filipinos in their revolution
against Spanish rule, then in exile in
from mercenary motives, but for the
sake of humanity and the lamentations
of SO many prosecuted people, have
considered it opportune to extend their
protecting mantle to our beloved coun-
try" This book shows not only how
completely Aguinaldo, but the Ameri-
can people, were fooled. In February
that his army had conquered the Span
ish forces only. that the United States
might rule his land automatically.
How the American people were taken
mercial interests back of the war; how
the war news was censored. all this
and much more is shown in 1.-THE Con-
quest of the Philippines"
THE Conquest of the Philippines" is
one more tragedy of Imperialism But
fortunately the story is not completed.
There is a strong sentiment in this
country favoring Independence for the
every one believing in the rights of
people. irrespective of color, should
read this volume that he may be able
to vote intelligently should the issue
come before him. The story is told
quietly, dispassionately, the most of it's
data taken from American sources.
How we turned our forces against
the Filipinoss who had recently fought
out battles, how Mckinley manipulated
Congress, how brutal was our warfare,
how we looted and tortured, and estab-
lished reconcentration camps that were
as bad as the Spaniards in Cuba, ell
this many will learn from this book for
the first time. Lawton, who died fight
ing them, said of the Filipinos: These
a right to be heard. All they want is
a little justice" But the people of the
Unlted states were not permitted to
give them justice since their news was
what was happening. TO them it e' was
a guerilla warfare, American soldiers
More than half this book is concerned
ton of the Islands. Of American rule
not much is said. While credit is given
to our Introduction of modern educa-
ton, of health work, of the building of
good roads, we also learn how much
the Filipino had to pay. His taxes
secured the whole field of business and
would seem intolerable to an American
hard to find SO exacting a system The
planter was considered little, the Amer
lean shipper. much. But through all
our greed and tyranny would come
words such as these from Roosevelt:
mo great civilized power has ever
managed with such wisdom and such
disinterestedness the affairs of people
committed by the accident of war into
1t is with the principle of forcible an
neXation, that Mr.. Storey most con-
Germs himself. He shows how brutally
this took place and he argues convinc-
1ngly that it should cease If for
e1gn capital goes there in increasing
amounts, as it inevitably will, the Fill |
pino should be Independent and the |
capitalist should realize that it is upon
the native government that it must de- |
pend for security. AS for the protec- |
ton OF our navy and army in case of |
war, the Filipinos have not forgotten |
that when their peace was at last en-
dangered during the World War orders |
We're given to the American military
and naval forces to leave the Islands in |
the event of a threatened attack"
one cannot but ask the question.
when thinking of Philippine independ-
ence. whether it would be any more real |
If America withdrew than it is now. |
Are the Central American States indie |
pendent that are ruled by the United |
Fruit Company? Mr.. Storey says: 'The |
principles on which the American gov
eminent was founded are eternal" But
looking at the United States in the |
west Indies and in the Pacific it needs |
great faith to believe that it today |
counts these principles as any more
than pretty phrase.