The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-07-06
GOVERNOR WELLS At LOGAN
HIS VIEWS ON PHILIPPINE AN
NEXATION.
+" Let Us Not Throw Doubt Upon Our
National Good Faith and Honor
Our Holy War.

gan, Governor Wells said:
THE thoughtful American citizen on
this eventful Fourth of July, is not so
much concerned over the fact that we
are at war with Spain as he is inter
ested in forecasting what we are go
ing to do after the war with the colo
MES we shall possess. There will be
Cuba. We have disavowed by a solemn
| declaration of the peoples representa-
| tiveS any intention to exercise control
| over that island, except for it's pacifi-
cation, and when that is accomplished
| we are to leave the government and
control of the island to its people. VIII
! we do it? Then there will be Porto
! Rico. Conditions there are very sim
| liar to these in Cuba-the same bur-
| densome taxation without representa-
! tion-the same diSsolute thieving reve-
nue. collector-the same illiterate, de-
| generate priest-ridden despotism curses
! Porto Rico that has cursed Cuba. The
only reason there is no revolution there
| is because the people are too timid and
too weak to make an uprising success
| full. In honor we are bound, if we
! take Cuba, to take Porto Rico-if we
| free Cuba, to free Porto Rico. Will
we do it? Then there are the Philip
pines. Surely if Dewey could sink the
Spanish fleet before breakfast, we
ought to be prepared to hold the Phil
ippnes at any cost. But when the war
is over the same arguments which APP
| peal to us in the case OF Cuba and
Porto Rico to pacify the islands, to
give them a stable governments gov
eminent of themselves-appeals with
equal force to the Philippines Will we
do it?
Some of our leading newspa pers have
suggested that we ought TO annex the
Philippines for the purpose of erecting
them at once into states of the federal
Union. In the halls of congress re-
Gently it has been stated that the
guiding principle of our country from
this time forth should be a policy of
ambition, of empire, of prosperity and
contentment.
And so I say these questions are mat
ters of deep concern at the present
time to the thoughtful American. Are
we to enter upon career of conquest
and trample upon the hallowed tradi-
tions of the past? AT such time in
stinctively we turn to our fundamental
principles as the believer turns to his
Bible for comfort, for solace and inspi-
ration:
I'VE hold these truths to be self-evi-
dent that all men are created equal;
that they are endowed by their crea-
tor with certain inalienable rights;
'
the pursuit of happiness. That TO Sc
cure these rights governments are in
stituted among men, deriving their just
powers from the consent of the gov
erned; that whenever any form of gov
eminent becomes destructive of these
ends, it is the right of the people to
alter or to abolish it, and to institute
a. new government, laying it's founda-
ton on such principles and organizing
its powers in such form as to them
shall seem most likely to effect their
safety and happiness"
All, how the words sink into the
soul; how like the blessed sun in
heaven they gladden. the heart and
light the path Of doubt and perplex-
ity.
In the face of that inspired declara-
ton, promulgated by John Hancock
and Roger Sherman and Thomas JEFF
ferson and Benjamin Franklin, and all
the other patriots who gave us our in
dependence, how weak and puerile
sound the selfish utterances of those
who would advance our standard in
foreign lands for territorial acquisi-
ton alone.
But let US seek further consolation
in the constitution of our country. Let
us read the preamble: I'VE, the people
of the United States, in order to form
more perfect union, establish justice,
insure domestic tranquility. provide for
the common defense, promote the gen
eral welfare and secure the blessings of
liberty to ourselves and our posterity
Go ordain and establish this constitu-
ton"
Is there any expression here which
designates the expansion OF empire,
and the formulation of a permanent
colonial system as one of the purposes
of our government? Don't you believe
when in his farewell address George /
Washington warned his countrymen
against entansling alliances he fore |
saw with prophetic eye the day when
the United States would be threatened !
with the lust for power and ambition !
for wealth? Was not Goldsmith right !
when he wrote the immortal coupiet:
IN fares the land TO Fastening ills prey
When wealth accumulateS and men de /
cay?"
But If we are not to permanently |
keep the possessions this war will place |
in our hands what are we to do with !
them? 1t is our privilege, it is our /
right to hold these possessions until all /
the expenses of the war have been fully /
paid. Indemnity for our enormous !
losses must be met by the conquered !
nation. Poor, weak, tottering, bankrupt /
Spain cannot liquidate her own eXpen- !
ses to say nothing of indemnity TO U.s. !
But there is a wide difference between |
indemnity and conquest for mere tenn
poral gain. 1t is the difference between |
holding a mortgage and jumping a |
claim. Let us fulfill our solemn COW |
enant. Let US at least try and give |
each of these colonies a stable govern /
ment. Let us seek to make them free. |
Let US not throw doubt upon our ma
tional good faith and honor. Let not |
the suspicion attach TO US that we be- |
gan this war with Spain to deprive her
Of her provinces.
1t may be that in the lapse of time
the people of these islands may come |
to us as the republic of Hawaii has
come, beseeching us to annex them.
and make them a part of the United |
States A decision may then be reached |
in the proper way. If such a thing
should happen and we should annex
them, at least then there could be no !
charge of bad faith on the part of the
United States, as the people of the is
lands would then be deriving their just
power from the consent of the gov
arned
1t is one of the highest claims of this
government that we provide here an
asylum for the oppressed of all ma
tons. If, therefore, in the judgment
Of these people. after the smoke of
battle has cleared away, they choose
to come under the starry flag for pro-
lection and offer TO become a part of
Dur government, there can scarcely be
a good reason for refusing their petit
tons and our nation can extend to
them first q territorial form of govern
nent teaching them the principle of
liberty and the duties of good citizen
sh in until. in time nv nrecent examDle |