Potosi journal. (Potosi, Mo.) 1894-1929, 1898-12-07
Fighting Filipino Shadows.

Now is good time to restrain
the imagination. The nature of
the American people and of their
government has not changed. Our
citizenship has not been debased by
millions of Malays. A considera-
ton of accomplished facts is more
to the purposcthan a flight Of fam
cy. Those who oppose the annexa-
ton of the Philippines are picturln=
a train of evils that they say would
result in the decline and fall Of the
republic. They are going much
too fast. The Philippines are not an
American territory. Their inhab-
itants are not citizens. These are
questions for future congressional
action. All that has happened is a
REIMBURSEMENT by Spain to the
United States of sovereignty i'll the
Philippines. This was the result
of Il war and of victories that car
ried with them certain responsible
tiles. We give Spain $40, 100000
for yielding up the group she could
not govern and which she lacks the
mean, even to hold. Our release
of the islands of Spain would have
thrown them upon the market.
They would have become German.
French, Russian Or English
through our military achievements:
followed by throwing away the
fruits of victory and by inditfer
cncc to the fate of the inhabitants.
Upon hearing that Spain had de
cided to yield, Judge Day said
I'VE have done the only thing pos.
siblc regarding the Philippines.
Our opportunity of giving then
up was lost when Admiral Dewey
did not weigh anchor and sal
away" Admiral Dewey has de.
cidcd that keeping all the island:
is the only solution. Gen Merritt
holds the same opinion. An I'M
mistakable duty was imposed by
winning Il battle and by the collaps.
of the Spanish authority. While
the Philippines pass to our posses
sion they advance no further than
a flexible military government
Questions of citizenship are entire
ly in the future. They have yet t(
reach the stage Of discussion. W.
have owned Alaska thirt y-one
years and it is not yet even an or.
ganized territory. When Alask;
was annexed it contained less thar
Il thousand white men. Even now
there are reports of cannibalisn
among some Of the remote tribes
but there is no fear that these Alas
ka cannibals. if they exist, will pul
down the fabric of the government
The annexation Of California ats
New Mexico, with their mi Xet
population of Spanish and India,
blood, has had no such effect.
Every factconnected with the Phil
ippincs, except that they are Amer
ican instead of Spanish, remains fo
delibcration. Congress will sift th
the matter. Public opinion vii
form as the true features Of tn
situation are disclosed. In q re
cent speech, which has been muc
commented on, Senator Hoar sale
eve will not give these pcopl
back to Spain. Indeed, she coul
not conquer them if we let he
alone. We will set them on the
feet; we will support them in tl
) exercise of self-govcrment." Eve
this is a justification of all that h:
been done up to this time. Whetl
er it would be wise to set up
Philippine republic and assun
the role of its protector is a sn!
iect that can be debated along wit
others. 1t would be easy to for
shadow evils resulting from a Nj
I lay republic as protege, but it
not worth while to borrow troub
at this initial stage of great pro'
lem concerning which Congre
: has yet to say its first word
Globe Democrat.