The way we were

Our case is simple:

On the 1st of May, Dewey destroyed the Spanish fleet.

This left the Archipelago in the hands of its proper and rightful owners, the Filipino nation.

Their army numbered 30,000 men, and they were competent to whip out or starve out the little Spanish garrison; then the people could set up a government of their own devising.

Our traditions required that Dewey should now set up his warning sign, and go away.

But the Master of the Game happened to think of another plan – the European plan.

He acted upon it.

This was, to send out an army – ostensibly to help the native patriots put the finishing touch upon their long and plucky struggle for independence, but really to take their land away from them and keep it.

That is, in the interest of Progress and Civilization.

-Mark Twain
Anti-Imperialist League of New York, 1901

http://www.logosjournal.com/issue_4.3/twain.htm