The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1898-08-26
OUTING No.lo.

The theme Of this outing was suggested
by an item in the DEMOCRAT a few days
ago,which reads as follows; 1.-THE Pacific
Coast argument for the Philippine Is-
lands is purely selfish one. We should
be broad enough to look at the matter
purely from a national stand. point.
Humanitarian reasons should be
given"
What reasons had the United States
Tor going to war with Spain? Were they
vindictive or humanitarian? Was the
war begun for the purpose OF seeking re-
venge for the destruction Of the Maine
and 266 human beings, or in the In
terest of humanity? II President Nc
Kinley, just after the destruction Of the
Name, had listened to the clamor oi
some Senators and others and had de-
clared war, 1 am very much inclined to
believe it would have been regarded 90
war for revenge. But 30 far as Presi-
dent Mckinley Is concerned, l believe
that the war was pretty humanitarian.
lag EOuAu uOt DC AnOuCE0 W NAthCA ROAakA~
cal or any other influence to declare war
until he was fully persuaded that the
Cubans could not be otherwise delivered
from the tyranny and oppression OF the
Spanish government. The dominating
passion which seemed to impel him to
make waI on tyranny and oppression,
was the same that impelled the French
Revolutionists to utter the cry, "Vive
L'her maniti." "He did not love his
country less but humanity more, = and, il
the Maine had never been destroyed,
believe he would have done exactly as
he did, with the same appreciation OF
his eountrymen and the civilized nations
Of the earth. And hisdeclaratiou Of war
against Spain was not in behalf of the
Cubans alone, but also in behalf of the
oppressed Spanish Colonists. There
was the same reason for the overthrow
of tyranny in the Philippine Islands as
in Cuba, although this was an incident
and not the primary object of the war
and there is the same reason for the
permanent possession Of these islands 81
there is for that of Porto Rico, the pos
session of which is al incident of the
war. If, therefore, as all seem to believe
the United States is iustifiable in taking
permanent possession of Porto Rico, i
is equally jusii6able in holding thu
Philippine Islands. The same humani'
-, kr>eh pV.
this is not all. The retaining of thee
islands is a solemn duty the discharg
ing Of which cannot be shirked withou
responsibility. Providentially and b
conquest, the United States is in pos
session of the islands and is under oh
legation to hold and govern them on hu
manitar;an principles. There is no q
tentative. Nothing but the establish
ment and maintenance OF just an
humane government over the Philippin
Islands will meet our responsiOilitis
and justify the declaration of war againl
Spain on humanitarian grounds.
the United States government did NJ
intend to hold and govern the islands,
had no business to send Commodo
Dewey to Manila to destroy the SPanis
squadron and capture the city.
sending him, the came pledge was givs
BY the government and accepted
the civilized world, as was given al
accepted in the case of the Cubans, ~
that case cannot be fulfilled otherwi
than bv the permanent possession oil q
islande. II they are allowed to reve
to Spain, an injustice will be done to &
inhabitants. 1t would be as unjust
allow the Spanish to resume their tyra
nical government Of the Philippines
it would be to low them to resuI
their sovereignty of Cuba. III eith
case the coalition of the people wor
pc worse than it was before the wf
and the claim that the war was underts
en- on the grounds Of humanity would
falsifed. Consistency, therefore, as "
as the moral obligation assumed and p
claimed to the world at the opening
the war, demands that the United Sta
shall retain and govern the Philippi
Islands. This is aa obligation volu
tarily assumed which cannot he delegI
ed to another. Toe government of
own accord, with the saDction Of
people, has assumed duty which it
morally bound to discharge.
CAELEBs,