Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1898-11-19
LETTERS FROM TAB PEOPLE
THE PHILIPPINE IsLANps.

Sir: The proposed annexation Of the
Philippines by the United States is
but one OF those delicate acts OF IL
legal appropriation usually resorted TO
by the victors at the termination OF a
war. The recent war between this
country and Spain did not differ from
scores OF wars engaged in by Euro
pean countries. The only difference
that existed between the Spanish
American. conflict and the various Eu-
ropean wars was the modus operandi
adopted by the United States in the
bringing about of the late war. The
ostensible reason of the Spanish-Amer-
lean War was humanitarianism; the
real reason was annexation savoring
OF Imperialism. In not single gov
ernmental message, issued prior to the
late war. was there made the least ref
erence to any such scheme Of annexa-
ton as is now being formulated by the
Peace Treaty Commissioners at Paris.
The people of this country were dis
tinctly informed, prior to the late war,
by the powers that be that the sole
and only purpose Of the then proposed
war was the freeing of the Cubans, and
the jurisdiction or sovereignty Of that
island being ultimately exercised Dy
the Cubans themselves. Any man
whose memory is not sieve-like will
not question the ruth Of this asser-
ton Porto Rico has, however, BEEN
annexed; the Culbans are not yet ex-
ercising, nor is it within the realms
OF probability that they will ever ex-
ercise, the least sovereignty over Cuba;
and the United States flag will, in all
probability, float over the Philippine
Islands. OF course this pure and un-
adulterated system OF "grabology" is.
as we have just stated, the usual
course adopted by the eonquerors at
the termination Of war, no matter
whatever may be the nationalities en-
gagged None the less, the ostensible
reason, humanitarianism, advanced by
the United States, as the cause OF the
recent war, and the past annexation
of Porto Rico and the present pro-
posed annexation of the Philippines
are lines Of conduct altogether OPP
posed to, and inconsistent with, each
other. The employment by the United
States Government Of parliamentary
phraseology and the surrounding OF the
question by specious arguments do not,
however. for one moment obscure the
true merits of the case.
When Prussia forced France to de-
care the war OF 20 there was no idle
imbecie humanitarian sort Of talk In
dulged in by either Of the contestants
Prussia did not urge the sickly plea
that the people Of Alsace and Lor-
raine were being inhumanly treated by
the French, and, as consequence, she
Prussia, felt bound, in the interests o.
humanity, to step in and annex thu
same. Prussia wanted certain Frenci
territory, but she didn't beat about th'
bush by employing cant phrases anC
adopting a foolishly hypocritical cours'
Of procedure in order to obtain it. 1
were easy, did space permit, to cit
other and important wars in which al
such foolish twaddle was eliminate
from the preliminaries leading up Il
hostilities, and in which the main
springs or motives were conquest an
ACKNOWLEDGMENT, exactly the same
these characterizing the recent Span
ish-American War.
Spain very rightfully insists tina
her sovereignty over the Philippines
supreme. but she is willing to relin
onish that sovereignty for substan
tial equivalent. We presume all tina
means the assumption Of the PhiliI
pines debt by the nation appropriatin
those Islands, or an adequate linden
nitv in lien of the same. Such a
ARRANGEMENT might he just and equ
table; any arrangement short or tn
would be unjust and inequitab.e Wh'
doss Senator Hoar, the Senate sag
say concerning this ail-important que
tion?: "Our institutions" says M
Hoar, "are founded on the doctrlT
OF equality. If we are to outstrip EN-
land in national power it must be
pursuing our own path, and not
following in hers. 1, for one, am n
dazzled by the example OF Englan
The institutions OF England whi'
have enabled her to govern success
fully distant colonies and subje
States are founded, as Mr.. Gladstol
pointed out, on the doctrine of /
equality. 1t is said that the Phil
pine Islands are already ours by {
right of conquest. For one, de-
this alleged right of conquest. Hum
beings-men. women, children, pc
ples-are not to be won as spoi.s
war or prizes in battle. 1t may be tn
such a doctrine finds a place IN I
ancient and barbarous laws OF WI
a dnr- fhn A ms