The times., 1898-11-25
THANKSGIVING EXCITEMENT.
Mr. NcsiiIiin May Think More Log ic-
ally After DiEestinE the Turkey.

ally After DiEestinE the Turkey.
Representative Benton McMillin. gov
ernor-elect of Tennessee, arrived at the
Normandie yesterday. In speaking OF the
Philippine question he said:
81 am opposed TO taking the Philippine
Islands, because | believe In the ability of
the people to govern themselves. / be-
lieve in sclf-government. This republic
is the first exemplification of the fact
that the people can and should rule. This
vital principle must be surrendered II we
take and hold the islands. II We give
those people the right of suffrage, they
will be entitled to forty-five congressman
II we do not give them suffrage. We sur
render the principle OF self-government.
and we denounce the declaration OF Abra-
ham Lincoln that this shall be govern
ment of the people, by the people. and for
the people; and We admit that the mon
arches are right when they say that the
people are not capable OF self-govern-
ment.
II don't know many men in the United
States who would be rash enough to al
low this new territory TO be admitted and
Representatives; for forty-five seats
would be the balance of power in any
Congress for the next twenty years. l
don't know any people IN this country
who would be willing to turn the destinies
of this great republic over to any other
people in the world, however ignorant, or
enlightened.
Rome tried TO govern the world
through the Roman pro-consul- The greed
of the pro-consuls and the provinces they
wasted are known to all men who have
studied history Either the new terrific
ry proposed for annexation is capable OF
self-Government, or il Is not If II Is, l
suppose that our people would admit the
forty-five representatives in Congress. If
il is not | do not see what We want with
them.
Il am slow to believe that the Republic
of the United States would willingly take
territory and establish colonial govern
ment refuse local self-government and
thereby admit that our system OF govern
ment is a failure.
This is the greatest Government on
earth We have become so by attending
to our own business and letting the ef-
fete monarchies OF the world so into slow
decay pin themselves together by bay
onets. and hold themselves together the
best they can. II would be a sad specta-
Gle for the people of the United States to
take ten millions of population, deny them
representation in this Government and
deny them local elf-government-home
rule-thereby admitting the principle Of
local self-government in this country 10
be a failure.
England has insisted that the Irish
Were not capable of home rule. We have
insisted that they are. Are We going TO
admit that part of the people are capable
of home vule-local self-sovernment-but
the balance of the people are not?
don't propose to be dogmatic in my utter
ances but these are few things that 1t
is well enough for us TO consider as we
go alcps.
Jefferson was the originator so far as
] know. OF the doctrine of local self-gov-
ernmert home rule and States rights.
What will his disciples think of the fac;
that his followers now confess that he
was wrong and that after all the people
are not capable of local self-government,
hut that The only way to govern people is
through outlying colonies, as England
does. or through conquered provinces, as
Rome did?"