The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-02
Ex- Governor Samuel j. CraW-
ford is Opposed
To the Annexation of the Phil
ippine Islands.
AGAINST TRADITIONS.
Says Colonies Cause More TrOu.
BILE Than They Are Worth
And Acquisition by Conquest
Contrary to Our Principles.

The following communication from
Ex-Governor Samuel J. Crawford ap-
pears in the Washington Post:
Editor Post: I notice in your paper a
communication from Mr.. D. S. Hen
drick, wherein he says that he has
made several trips through Canada and
mingled with the throng of people from
all parts of the United States and for
eign countries, who daily visit his sum-
mer resort Cthe Thousand Islands), and
that he has not seen a single person
who is not in favor of retaining the
Philippine Islands. All, he says, insist
we must hold every foot of those is
lands. And in conclusion he asks:
why should we not have the trade
which belongs to US? We certainly own
it by conquest, as well as by geographic
cal location. Don't let US think one
moment of giving up a foot of the
islands,"
Now, Mr.. Editor, what Mr.. Hendrick
says of his travels in Canada and his
mingling with people at his hotel may
be true; and it may also be true that
in his travels and mingling with the
best class, socially and financially" he
has not seen a single person who is not
in favor of retaining the Philippines.
But when he says that we own the
Philippines by conquest as we'll as by
geogra phical location he seems to have
forgotten his geography as well as the
officially declared purpose of the pres
ent war This is not a war of conquest,
but for humanity.
If the purpose of the war was con-
quest, territorial expansion, colonial
empire, then the war was declared,
commenced, and has been prosecuted
under false pretenses. A war of con
quest is the reverse of a war for the
sake of humanity
The capture of the army and navy
of a government with which we are at
war does not give US the right to take
all we cans get and hold all we take.
That was the spirit under which COrteZ
entered Mexico, and PizarrO Peru, many
years ago, and that is the spirit that
has ever actuated highwaymen and
pirates generally. This government has
not yet descended to the plane upon
which COrtez and PizarrO perpetrated
their crimes. If the United States
wants more territory, the United States
is able to buy and pay for it. But the
United States is neither a pirate, a
highwayman, nor robber. 1t is
government of law and equity, standing
erect upon the consent of the governed.
The governed are honest.
No Territory by Conquest.
The idea that we own Cuba. Porto
Rico, the Philippines, or any other is
land or territory by conquest is erron-
eous. We never have acquired territory
in that way, and God forbid that we
ever should. We may drive Spain out
pines, but that does not make US the
lawful owner of those islands, nor give
US the right to govern, control, and tax
the people thereof without their con-
sent.
We may police the islands for the
sake of humanity, until the people form
for themselves a stable government,
but we can not lawfully collect one dol
lar of revenue therein, unless they
formally surrender to the United States
their inalienable right of liberty and
self government, and ask our protection
and guidance.
Again, it is said that the trade of the
Philippines belongs to US by reason of
their geographical location. That, how
ever is an argument that escaped the
notice of congress, and Will not prop
ably be insisted upon. Nevertheless, it
is true as any other argument, thus
far advanced, in favor of taking all we
can get and holding all we take"
At the national conference of dis
tinguished gentlemen recently in ses-
sion at saratoga for the purpose of
considering the foreign policy of the
United States, Judge Grosscup, of Chi
cago, if correctly reported, advanced
beyond the skirmish line in search or
availab BILE colonial territory. He said;
Il come, now, to what is, in my judg-
ment, the most interesting ana I'M
portant object of our future foreign
policy. I refer,Of course, to the i'm
mediate future of Asia 1t is in that
quarter that we will find aeSituatiOn
merce waiting for American venture,
and eventually a people and institutions
ready for a graft from the tree OF
Anglo-Saxon civil liberty. OUTSIDE OF
these countries that are already Euro
pean dependencies, the population OF
Asia numb ers nearly 400, 100000 souls
They have up to the present time, lived
almost apart from mankind. The
breaking of the seal upon their part IS
to us of Europe and America the dis
covery of a new continent. In the
nature of things great results must Iol-
low" But mere IN the Tar
east, swinging inward are doors that
will admit us to one-half of the deslr-
able territory and one-third of the pop
ulation of the earth
Colonial Empire Policy.
At the conclusion of these few remarks.
it is said the judge lifted up his eyes
and wept because he could see no other
worlds to conquer. And why not? He is
consistent and in the middle of the road
that leads to the gate of the colonial en-
pire policy Cuba, Porto Rico, the Phl!-
fppines. and half of Asia might do pretty
well for a beginning. but why stop with
III A1fr Ta%f Gr0q1r1 n