The times., 1898-12-05
# the Philippines. The statement fo.-

lows:
The objections to the acquisition of the
Philippines are manifold. Were they pao-
pied by race capable of self-govern-
ment, or were they practically uninhati-
ted but adapted TO colonization by
whites. we would be met by our soemn
declaration that the war with 5. ain was
not for conquest or aggrandizement. 1t
is the weakest and thinnest of sophistry
10 say that the accident of war fas
placed us under duress TO violate our de-
liberate declaration and promise mad to
ourselves and the world
Besides the negotiations at Pars have
been and are travisty. The protocol
leaves the control and disposition OF the
Philippines to joint commission. When
the President heard the clamor of the
crowds at the depots on his trip TO Cma-
ha he mistook noise for the judgment
and conviction of the people whom he
did not hear. and forthwith presented
Spain with an ultimatum. In other
words. he took the matter out OF the do
main of negotiation to which the Span
! iards were invited and assumed the tone
and character OF dictation. Spain was
bullied into conceding territorx concern
ing which the war was not waged. AID
which was covered by the declaration
in regard TO Cuba.
But Spain. though forced, has the
best end of the bargain She transfers
to our shoulders burden which crushed
her.
THE worst feature OF the whole scheme
is the menace to our system of govern
ment by Incorporating a territory and a
: people. without even consulting them,
State
There is no instance on record where
the colored races living in the tropical belt
Z have developed a capacity for self-gov-
ernment. There is no instance on record
/ where race capable of self-government
has ever colonized tropical country
We, then. have a condition where We
must govern people whose consent has
/ been scorned, by either a military or
congressional despotism.
Thus the query OF Bishop Potter en-
! bodies the deepest wisdom:
What are the Philippines going to do
with us?'
''They will introduce two new, startling
ard dangerous features in our system Of
| government.
''First-We take possession of some
seven or eleven millions of people and
their territory, without even saying, BY
| your leave
''Second-We then govern them by
I despotic power, inimical. dangerous and
! destructive to the fundamental idea ON
which our Republic is based
No one contends that the PHILIPPINES
are now capable of government. and
no one can predict whether they ever will
be-
''As has been shown by others, the trade
argument has no strength. Half savage
people living in the tropics raise their own
food products. They want but few man
ufactured products. Trade with them Is
one-sided. There is no exchange of prod
rct as between civilized peoples, because
they want nothing but cash and a few
simple articles Of manufacture in return
for their indigenous exports. Tropical
countries export more than they import
and their trade in the aggregate amounts
to but little as compared with that carried
on between civilized people living in the
temperate zones.
The jobbery, corruption of morals ard
manners. taxation to support immense
land and naval armaments, TO govern and
guard our dependencies, will be enormous
and demoraliZing.
We want no pro-consuls to p,under dis
tant provinces nor armaments which can
be turned against our own liberties. We
want no outlying possessions which will
sooner or later test the strength and abil-
ity of our nation to maintain and defend
The way to keep out of fights is tc
avoid bad company. The nations OF Eu-
rope are snarling over their possessions
robbed from defenseless people. If We
want to keep out of danger let us keer
out of the company of the robbers. les
We fall by the ears concerning our spoils
I'VE have all the trade and commerce
by peaceful methods which our industry
and capacity entitle us to.
Trade is the handmade of peace-wai
and conquest do not make for trade"