Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 October 1900 — FIGHT FOR AGUINALDO [ARTICLE]

FIGHT FOR AGUINALDO

Maurice Thompson’s Advice to Those Who Think Him Right Maurice Thompson of Indiana, identified by family ties and political training with the Democratic party until recently, and who has won national fame as an author, set forth his expansion views in an address in Boston in June and later at Wabash college in Crawfordsville. In one paragraph he said: "If any American thinks that Aguinaldo is right and our country wrong, let him go fight beside the Philippine rebels; but while living under the flag and accepting its protecfion, it is not patriotic for any citizen of the Union to compare Aguinaldo favorably with Washington. You may quote literature to prove that Aguinaldo is a patriot and that our flag-bearers are traitors; but the people will spurn your argument as treasonable; and, as Lincoln wisely said, "the people gen erally wabble right.” Life is to be reckoned with and respected. Life cares for facts, it deals with facts; it will crush a government and reverse all laws to reach a fact. Wise statesmen know this and heed it. * * * I believe in the breed of men and women who have borne Indescribable hardships, waded through seas of blood, given up their dearest kith and kin for the right to hold what their valor tore from their enemies. I believe in tlie vitality of my breed of men and the civilization that breed has evoked from life. I trust my country’s governing power. Wherever she takes her flag there will the best freedom and the soundest happiness finally abide; and whoever levels a gun at that flag, or in any way aids, comforts or encourages those who do, Is unworthy of freedom. In saying this I am sure that 1 voice the noblest sentiment and the profoundest determination of American lif?.’