The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-11-30
About Expansion.

Wha. to dc With che Philippines is a
question that is engaging mnob atsen-
:,ou in this country ct this tims. 10
the protocol with Spain the subject was
exhausted iu the statement of the
agreement for ..tbe United States to
oocapy and bold the city. bay and
bsrbor of Manila, pending che conclu.
sion Of the treaty Of peace which shall
determine she control, disposition aud
government Of the Philippines" Our-
governments occupancy is thus made
temporary. and the future stains OF the
islands is left to be settled in future
negotiations. The entire matter is now
iu the hands of the peace commission
to the exseot of the authority of that
body
In New Eoglaad the sentiment seems
to be we'll crys:alized against our colo
uising the Philippines. Congressman
Mccall of Massachusetts, says: ''Pure.
ly as matter of cupidity, | do not
believe it will pay US TO keep the
Philippines, aud it seems to me that We
cannot take them with clear
conscience or for our own good :"
Congressman Lawrence Of the same
State, said in speech at Greenfield
1T is queer business for this
great and free republic, made great and
free BY men who have stopped at 20
sacrifice 10 order to secure liberty for
themselves aud their children. to estab.
lish colonial form of government over
millions Of subjects, and at the same
time to say to them that they can never
hope to be our equals. to be admitted TO
citizenship that there is no prospect
of their becoming Americanized and
that they must expect to take their
government from US for generations ye.
to come That would be clear
betrayal Of the principles of free gov
ernment. 1t is sot in accord with the
spirit of our fathers or 10 harmony
With our OVID ideas of honor ;.
do not believe they (our people
arc eager to seod armies to the tropics
or to engage 10 wars Of conquest. |
have faith 80 believe that this question
will be settled With due regard to our
responsibilities aud to the welfare Of
our beloved country
10 an address in Cambridge the Hon.
George S. Boutwell, Of Massachusetts
used this language: ''There are inci.
dents OF any colonial policy from which
20 cation can escape. Some Of them
cao be specific armies, Davies. wars,
taxation aud the uurequittable sacrifice
of the young men Of a State Mr..
Boutwell, further says:
What are We proposing to do! Ger.
tainly this We propose to carry our
institutions into the Philippines and
to set them up over people who have
oever even heard of the ideas on which
the institutions of government are to
be set up and established firmly in 9th
or countries the ideas Oh which our
institutions res. must, in anticipation,
have been accepted by the people.
Hence | condemn the attempt to extend
American institutions by the sword.
Let the institutions wait until the
world is conquered by ideas. And the
conquest of ideas will create aud pro-
sect corresponding institutions
From all parts of the country have
come expressions of opposition to the
extension of our nationa! authority
over the Philippines. Whatever the
feeling 10 favor of auexatioo, whatever
advantages may now seem likely to
follow it, there caa be little doubt that
the ssroug feeling against it represents
the more conservative. the wiser, the
safe sentiment Of the American peo-
ple.-Columb bia Register.