Annexing_the_Philippines_(Letter_to_the_Presedent)

October 15, 1900 The Honorable William McKinley President of the United States Dear Mr. President; This war has shown that we need a home port in Asiatic waters. The strategy of war has driven us to obtain a temporary foothold in the Philippines. I believe that in making this foothold permanent, we will have an advantage of a home base for our military. If we do not annex the islands, then Japan or Germany will take the Philippines and control them for their own military and economic advancement. Our military needs to hold good protected places for large naval bases so that it can patrol our trade routes. I think it is important to remember the struggles and triumphs this nation has been through, that it is not in vain. We must not stay confined within our lands. I applaud your commitment to the United States and everything we stand for. For this reason I am whole heatedly supporting your reelection as president. May God lead you and bless you in everything you do for our people and the future or our country. Sincerely, Dedicated citizen of the U.S., Albany, NC October 15, 1900 The Honorable William McKinley President of the United States Dear Mr. President; My name is John S. Walker, and I am the Sergeant of the First Nebraska Regiment. I write to express my deep concern about the decision to annex the Philippines. I am not ashamed, nor am I afraid to fight for my country, and am ready and willing to do my duty as a dedicated soldier, but I would like someone to tell me exactly what we are fighting for and what we are to achieve. It seems to me that we are doing something that is contrary to our principles in the past and goes against everything I believe. First of all I think that the annexing of the Philippines goes against the constitution of the United States. Isn’t our goal as a nation to remain loyal to the Declaration of Independence- The right of every people to self govern. It states that all men are created equal. Are the Filipino not entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness' Wasn’t it Abraham Lincoln that said “No man is good enough to govern another man without that other’s consent' When the white man governs himself, that is a self-government, but when he governs himself and also governs another man, that is more than self-government- that is despotism.” These people are a nation and they have a government with courts and judges already set in place. They number three and one-third as numerous as our fathers where when we started as a nation. Who are we to take this from them' What right do we have to take everything from the very people we were trying to liberate! Secondly, I feel they will never surrender until their whole race has been wiped out. They are fighting for their lives, for their freedom, for their rights as human beings. Who are we to take that from them' We simply do not have the man power to continue to repress these individuals any longer. This task would take a large force of soldiers, they will not retreat, and their will is strong. Why should this be Americans burden to bare' How many more will die' All we have been doing is killing innocent men, women, and children, taking no prisoners as ordered. Why do these innocent people have to die and everything be taken from them' These things are nothing but shameful to an American soldier, we are not freeing these people, we are putting them in bondage. Are we any better than Spain' Already I have seen so many of my own men die of this fever that is sweeping our regimen, how many more soldiers have to die for this unnecessary cause' I am weary of fighting this war; of killing innocent people, and of watching my men die of disease. So again I ask you, what are we fighting for' I used to be proud to fight for my country, but this cause is completely un-American, not something I will ever be proud of. With all due respect, Mr. President, you, or anyone else in Congress, will not have my vote for reelection. Sincerely, John S. Walker Sergeant of the First Nebraska Regiment