The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-27
A GRAVE QUESTION.

thoughtful article by Ex-Secretary Of the
Treasury, Hon. John C. Carlisle, in the Oc-
tober number of Harper's Magazine. The
thought that runs through Mr.. Carlisle's
article is that the war with Spain was
undertaken for the purpose of freeing
Cuba from the yoke of Spain and the es-
adjustment of stable and enlightened
government in that island, and that when
that is accomplished it viii be far better for
the United States if they attempt nothing
more. He regards the policy Of acquiring
territory either in the West Indies or on
the coast Of Asia. by conquest or annex
alton, as pregnant with danger. In the
course Of his article he says: but even
if we were untrammelled by pledges, ex-
pressed or implied, or by our past decla-
rations concerning the acquisition of terri
tory in this hemisphere by other nations,
there are abundant reasons affecting our
own economic and political interests why
we should not repudiate the conservative
and safe policy which has made us the
most compact, homogeneous and progress
sive country in the world and enter upon
an unjustihable and dangerous contest for
dominion and power beyond the natural
limits of our state and Federal systems of
governments contest in which success
would prove TO be the greatest calamity
that could befall us as a nation"
Mr. Carlisle does not think that our
political institutions can be adapted to the
government of dependent colonies without
injury to them. They are for people alto,
oatber difrerant from, tbose 1ubnsa host in
terests are served by colonial rule. Our
institutions in being adjusted to people of
lower civilization would suffer injury. He
says that It is un-Anerican to contend
that either the Executive or Congress can
hold or govern permanently any part of
the United States, and that therefore the
possession of the proposed new territory
would be a perpetual menace to our insti-
tutions.
Mr.. Carlisle calls particular attention TO
the character of the people of the new
territory, especially the Philippine Islands.
Their habits, experiences, surroundings,
civilization. social customs and conception
Of right and wrong are different. We could
not in a haTf dozen generations bring
them to our plane of civilization. And yet
If the Philippine Islands were to become a
part of our territory it would not be many
years before the politicians would be strlv-
ing to have them admitted into the Union
as states Having many millions of inhab-
itants they would make several states,
and would necessarily exert a powerful
influence on legislation. And with their
ideas the influence would be bad rather
than good.
MIR. Carlisle says 1t is of course of i'm
portance to us whether or not Cuba shall
have an independent and stable govern
ment, but that "the question of greatest
importance to the people of the United
I States is whether they shall allow a war
prosecuted ostensibly for the independence
| of a foreign people to be made the pretext
or the occasion for changing the very es-
sence Of our national character and for
| converting their own government into a
great war-making, tax-consuming, land
grabbing and distributing machine.
No graver question than this win probably
ever be presented for the consideration of
the American people, for upon its decis-
| ion depends the preservation or destruc-
| ton of the vital principle of our fedora
tive republic of equal states If we are to
close and seal up the records of the past
/ and begin new history, it ought not to
| be said hereafter that 1t was done without
a protest from the friends of Democratic
| Republican government or without a ful
! knowledge of the probable consequences. -
This is a strong presentation of the act
ual situation. but not stronger than the
facts justify. If we take the Philippines
because we think that the possession OF
them win benefit US commercially we shall
! find in a little while that our commercial
needs demand additional territory. AND
there win not be lacking a pretext foI
Selling whatever territory we want 1t is
almost certain that we shan, as soon as
Congress can act, greatly increase oul
army and navy, and when we do that We
shall not be satisfied unless we have the
army and navy employed. 1t would be g
good thing for the country if our increase
of territory, as the result of the war
| should be confined to Porto Rico