Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1898-10-07

island chiefs with their followings
still filled with barbarous in.
stincts and impulses illimmedi-
ately merge into a homogeneous
whole and into the exercise of a |
free and intelligent self govern
ment? Even now a type of bar
barous ambition stands with or
ganized forces behind him wait
ing the action of the peace COM
mission. The people of this coun-
try are beginning to think how
paradoXical the theory is that a
free government can he by one
people or nation forced on an
other. Every advocate of a gov
eminent by the people comedies
that such government presup-
poses a sufficient capacity in the
governed to create and maintain
it. With unlimited money and
materials put into the fortihca-
ton of numerous islands under
an endless variety OF disadvan-
tages, with this country drained
of it's best and most enterprising
men to control half.civilized peo-
pies, and the remainder licking
stamps to support them what
will become of our institutions at
home? Is it wise to give bar
barism in almost unknown seas
what belongs to civilization i'll
the place where freedom and pro-
gress can be most advantage
ously promoted? Is it best to
bestow the wealth and power
and the best life of this country
on foreign islands, to give place
for the incursion of a class of emf
grants who are already menacing
it's institutions? The strength
of this country is in its source, in
the concentration and solidarity
of its resources. Yet there are
some who say:
"When the Philippine question pre-
scented itself there was strong sentiment
among the conservative, far seeing and
thinking men in this country which IA
vored the retention by the United States
of merely naval base and coaling sta
| ton i'll the islands-this base presume
bly, being Manila and the bay contiguous
thereto. Since then, however, this senti-
ment apparently has undergone Il very
marked change, and now it appears, for
the most part, that those same men who
at first believed we should occupy Manila
alone are advocating the termination OF
Spanish rule in the whole group.
aside from the fact that the general
sentiment of the country seems to be
against returning any of the islands to
Spain, the United States is under obhga-
tions to the insurgents to establish a
stable and enlightened form of govern,
ment throughout the entire archipelago
When the war broke out the Philippine
insurrectionists became in certain sense
the allies of the Americans, aud it there
fore is our moral duty to see to it that ii
the future they shall be assured safe aud
civilized rule, and until the United States
determines i'll just what manner the
Philippines ultimately shall be governed
we necessarily will have to consider th(
Philippines our wards"
Consider for a moment Agui
naldo as a type of those national
proteges as an "ally of the Ameri
cans in establishing a pure re-
public, and a wise self govern
ment by the people!
1t is refreshing in this condi
ton of things to hear such men
as Judge Powers in temperate
and logical discussion declare
that:
ut has been often proclaimed in tht
public press that all territory over which
our flag has been raised must be perma
nently held. This proposition is illogica
and indefensible. Suppose that Watson''
fleet had been despatched to the coast O
Spain, as was contemplated, and haC
attacked and captured Cadz, and unfurl
ed our flag uponits public buildings, mus
we permanently hold the city when peace
comes because we have once occupied it
We do not hold Cuba and Porto Rico b,
right of conquest. We have never cap
, tured them. Our title comes by the vol
= untary surrender of the islands as thu
price demanded for our agreement to trea
with Spain upon the subject OF peace
i. We hold Manila blythe same right. Wha
shall be done with all three is matter TO
future discussion
= ours is government by the people
: The people govern themselves. Thi
. theory is accomplished in our territorial
organization by creating a territorial
Legislature with jurisdiction to max
laws until the territory is fitted for State
} hood. The moment any OF our terrtor
r is organized the right of self government
q attaches. Cuba and Porto Rico are clos
to our shores and can be easily defende,