The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-12-20
NEW LIGHT on OUR COLONIAL
POLICY.


Through the hazv talk about destiny
nj rbe necessity for the United States
% act as the quiXotic evangel OF free
lom and liberator Of the oppressed, the
rrua situation in the Philippines anu
he meaning of the administration ;
,olicv toward the islands are coming out
distinctly. And We are by no means
,laced in a creditable light by either.
At the hearing before the House
Committee on Military Affairs on last
Tuesday. the following occurred:
The most important testimony Of the
Law was given by Major Simpson. After
,pcndinc much of the time i'll discussing
he general tenor Of the bill. Mr.. Cox
md Mr.. Hay put several questions TO
Major Simpson as to the necessity for 4
arcc army il the Philippines. rs it not
or the purpose Of shooting down the
Eilipinos if they do not accept our
deas?" asked Mr.. Cox. After much
lesitation and several attempts to evade
he direct question. in which he was as
sisted by Mr. Hull and others of the
committee. Major Simpson admitted that
t was. There was no other reason vlsl-
Die. said Mr.. Cox. and he continued to
press Major Simpson for further mfor-
nation as to the condition Of the islands
md the aptitude of the people for indie
endent government.
In the course Of the statement. Major
Simpson said there would be no necessity
or an army in the islands except to
luell an instruction among the Ma
tives."
In other words. if the bulnptions
E~ilipinos fail to recognize the pure dis
ntcrestcdness of our motives and 70 re
joicc III the privilege Of getting the
Dinglcy tariff and tracts without cost
toned there will make them properly
grateful with rapid fire guns, and each
hem the beauties Of American clTlllza-
ton and liberty with bayonets and
ty as Il people for something like 4 cen
fury and 4 quarter, and Wanting our
selves as somewhat better then all the
est of the world on that account, We
il1lUtfjahc Il WIZ Oh llDtEitlO4i III IKE III
terest Of others and when we have looS-
ned the grip of Spain and the liberated
ask for what they We're giver to expect,
liberty. we are to wipe them off the
face Of the earth, Il need be, to make
them dociie and tractable vassals.
When the justice or wisdom of his
n ,,.S * i, .1ASt,pnnI nc II aan>ntI1- JrnE
n the Senate Of the United States, on
the ground that it is contrary to the fun
iamental law of the land. and ut Variance
with the institutions OF the republic
the astounding answer is made that it
is American destiny and that we are
given the right to acquire foreign terri
tory ''by virtue Of our existence as a
nation That the people who happen
to be camping n the territory in q1es- |
ton should object to our acquiring it.
by virtue of our existence as 4 nation
" otherwise. is not worthy Of consider
for q moment.
IN justification Of this policy of rapid
fire freedom, one esteemed exponent Of
destiny makes this naive statement:
Nothing could be clearer than that the
Government that Cuba. Porto Rico and
the Philippines is to enjoy under the
fiag Will be infinitely superior
to that which was provided by Spain
But, Of course, if the inhabitants are 50
unreasonable as not to enjoy the
government we provide then we shall
do as Spain did, shoot them, 'by virtue
Of our existence as Il nation