“Anti-Imperialist Platform”

Question

At the National Conference of Anti-Imperialists in Chicago, October 17, the following address to the people of the United States was adopted:

“The War Is a Criminal Aggression”

“We regret that it has become necessary in the land of Washington and Lincoln to reaffirm that all men, of whatever race or color, are entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We maintain that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed. We insist that the subjugation of any people is ‘criminal aggression’ and open disloyalty to the distinctive principles of our government.

“We deplore the sacrifice of our soldiers and sailors, whose bravery deserves admiration even in an unjust war. We denounce the slaughter of the Filipinos as a needless horror. We demand the immediate cessation of the war against liberty begun by Spain and continued by us. We urge that Congress be promptly convened to announce to the Philippines our purpose to concede to them the independence for which they have so long fought and which of right is theirs.

“The United States has always protested against the doctrine of international law which permits the subjugation of the weak by the strong. A self-governing state cannot accept sovereignty over an unwilling people. The United States cannot act upon the ancient heresy that might makes right.

“Imperialists assume that with the destruction by American hands of self-government in the Philippines all opposition here will cease. This is a grievous error. Much as we abhor the ‘criminal aggression’ in the Philippines, greatly as we regret that the blood of the Filipinos is on American hands, we more deeply resent the betrayal of American institutions at home.

“The real firing line is not in the suburbs of Manila. The enemy is of our own household. The attempt of 1899 is to destroy its fundamental principles and noblest ideals. Whether the ruthless slaughter of the Filipinos shall end next month or next year is but an incident in a contest that must go on until the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States are rescued from the hands of their betrayers.

“Those that dispute about standards of values while the foundation of the Republic is undermined will be listened to as little as those who would wrangle about the small economics of the household while the house is on fire.

“We propose to contribute to the defeat of any person or party that stands for the forcible subjugation of any people. We shall oppose for re-election all who in the White House or Congress betray American liberty in pursuit of un-American ends, and hope that both our great political parties will support and defend the Declaration of Independence in the closing campaign of the century.”

—In Freedom’s Name No. 3, Anti-Imperialist League, Washington, D.C., 1899

give me 3 Anti-Imperialist arguments

Answer 1

Here are three anti-imperialist arguments based on the address from the National Conference of Anti-Imperialists:

1. Violation of Self-Determination: The argument centers around the principle that all people have the right to self-governance and independence. The anti-imperialists contend that subjugating the Philippines or any other nation without their consent is fundamentally unjust and contradicts the core American belief in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. They emphasize that legitimate governments derive their power from the consent of the governed, making forcible domination morally and legally indefensible.

2. Betrayal of American Ideals: The address asserts that the imperialist actions of the United States betray the foundational principles enshrined in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Engaging in imperialism is seen as a significant deviation from the values that define the nation, such as liberty and equality. The anti-imperialists argue that the pursuit of imperialist objectives undermines the moral authority of the United States and risks domestic liberty by concentrating power in ways that could threaten democratic governance.

3. Consequences of Militarism: The anti-imperialists express deep concern for the moral and human costs of war, particularly regarding the slaughter of innocents like the Filipinos in the pursuit of imperialist goals. They argue that military aggression not only leads to unnecessary loss of life but also damages the character and principles of the nation. The implications of war extend beyond the battlefield, affecting American democracy and society by normalizing violence and undermining commitment to peaceful resolutions and diplomacy.