Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-10-20

the part of wisdom to annex the Philip
pine archipelago.
| ]. G. MCCULLOUGH.
FROM PRESIDENT BROWN OF NOR
| WITCH UNIVERSITY.
Norwich University,
Mortified, VT, Oct. 4, 1898.
Editor Free Press:
/ 1t is impossible to answer specifically the
various questions put in your letter of
the list instant. without taking up too
much space. Briefly, | may say that, be-
levlng as | do that tho Anglo Saxon is
to dominate The affairs of the nations, the
cry of imperialism, so-called, has no
terrors for me; between this and 'Isola-
ton" there Is, 1t seems to me, absolutely
no choice.
! The present situation is not OF our
choosing; the inexoruble logic of events
(may we not say the ordering
of ProvidenceO has altered our
relation to other nations; If we
are to be power" we must as
umc the responsibilities that go with
I hat position. To restore the sovereig lty
of Spain over the Philippines would be to
perpetuate the same class of wrongs from
which we have freed the Cubans, and it
would be no excuse that they were to be
on the other side of the globe. instead OF a t
our doors TO withdraw entirely from the
islands would be to give them over to an
archy and seizure by other peoples, a
proceeding that might kindle the univer-
sal war for which Europe has so long
been looking, and extingush forever the
nope of realizing the Cars idea of peace.
We must then hold them in some way;
it ought to be easy to devise a protector
ate, which would give to the Filipinos
such measure of liberty as they could USE
leading them on to self-control, as we
must lead the Cubans. 1t IL true this may
cost something; but all progress is at
some expense, whether it be of nations
or individuals; shall we shirk a duty be-
cause it is disagreeable?
/ Personally, | would be willing to let the
decision rest in the hands of the man on
the spot" who by his matchless victory of
May LIST opened the eyes of our people TO
their possibilities; who for three long and
weary months, without renforcements :,
held the city of Manila at his mercy. curb
,ng alike the impetuoslty of the insurgents
and the meddlesome Interference Of the
Tcuton, and has shown that Vermont still
produces statesmen equal to any emer-
gency. Very respectfully.
ALLAN ID. BROWN.
FROM RIGHT REV. A. C. A. HALL,
BISHOP OF VERMONT.
To the Editor OF the Free Press:
In my judgment neither right nor policy
would be served by our adoption of what
is called Imperial policy. We entered
upon the war with Spain with clearly de-
fined aims, and with a voluntary repudla-
ton OF any policy of self-aggrandiscment
We have not been behind-hand in de-
nouncing "land-srabbing, under color Of
advancing the sphere of civilization, on
the part Of other nations. Let us not at
the very first temptation show the insin-
Certify OF our protests. We arc bound 10
do our utmost to establish a Just and
stable government in place of the oppres-
sive system Of miarulc which we have
overturned So far rs. by the destruction
OF the Spanish fleet and the capture OF
Manila, we have, incidentally as 1t were,
upset the only government that existed
In the Philippines, we are morally bound
TO protect the various interests that arc
thus endangered, OF the natives, the
Spaniards, and foreigners. Neither duty
nor interest demands that we should nj
tempt to subjugate the whole archipelago.
This, be it remembered. Is the real qLcs-
ton in the Philippines. 1t is not u ques-
ton OF surrendcring that which we nave
rot acq aired. We only hold Manila. What
ever Spain under pressure may yield, we
should still have to deal with the natives
IL a policy Of forcible annexation of con-
quered races to be adopted by the nation
which has hitherto claimed to be the eX-
ponent in the modern world of republican
principles. Has our treatment of the In
dams and the negroes In our country been
so emnently successful! as to mark us out
subject races? We have no trained col
ohial administrators AS things are, the
addition of foreign possessions would al
most certainly mean the large increase Of
Offices at the disposal of party leaders,
to be given not to those who are specially
qualified but to those who have a political
pull.
At the same time our experience of the
short campaign In Cuba has abundartlv
shown hat we have as yet no army 1T
ted TO r the work which would for MANY
years be needed, Of military rule in for
: eign lands and tropical climates.
While we dare not in a cowardly fashion
shirk duties and burdens Which are Prov.
ldentiolly laid upon us, we are equally
hound 10 resist the temptations of am
bition and greed, which would destroy
our moral influence and turn as must