Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-09-29


Of modern warfare.
1t has been often proclaimed in the pub
lie press that all territory over which our
flag has been raised, must be pcrmanent-
ly held. This proposition is illogical and
Suppose that Watson's fleet
had been despatched to the coast of Spain,
as was contemplated. and had attacked
and captured Cadiz, and unfurlcd our flag
upon its public buildings, must we per-
hold the city when peace comes
because we have once occupied 1t? We
do not hold Cuba and Porto Rico by right
of conquest. We have never captured
them. Our title comes by the voluntary
of tho islands as the price de-
for our agreement to treat with
Spain upon the subject of peace. We hold
Manila by the same right. What shall
be done with all three is matter for fu-
ture discussion.
Ours is q government by the people
The people govern Themselves. This theory
is accomplished i'm our territorial organi-
zatlon by creating Il territorial Lcgisia-
turc with jurisdiction to make laws un-
til the territory is fitted for Statehood
The moment any of our territory Is or
ganlzed the right of sclf-govcrnmcnt at
taches. Cuba and Porto Rico are close
to our shores and can be easily defended
against hostile aggression. Both have u
soil of unsurpassed fertility. vast
acreage of the most valuable timbcr-lands
mines and genial climate.
With these thinss as the temptation, 1t
may bc safely assumed that American en-
tcrprisc will speedily appropriate and
Amcricanize the islands, so that they
may be safely given the right of sclf-gov-
crnmcnt. We started out with the prom
isc to give Cuba n stable government. If
her people could establish and maintain
such government, we have no further
duty in the premises. If they are unfit
ted for 1t. we must supply II until such
time as they can be fitted for 1t. That
time undoubtedly will he when American
shall control the island. The
more serious question is presented by our
partial control of the Philippines. Con-
fcsscdly the people of these islands are
utterly UNIT for self-govcrnmcnt. We
owe them no duty because we never es-
pouscd the cause of the insurgents there,
and no complaints of the arts of Wey-
lerlsm practCed upon them by Spanish
officials were ever made. That oppressive
eXaCtions have been made both by church
and state is abundantly shown. But
these cXactions have been no more op-
prcssiVc Of latc than for a hundred years
past. Spain has tho right to suppress
revolution in her colonies by using the
methods of civilized warfare precisely to
the same extent that wo have to suppress
miral Dewey was sent TO these islands,
not to capture them, but to capture the
fleet stationed there. This mission was a
means TO the great end proposed when
war was declared, namely to give Cuba
a stable government freed of Spanish con-
troll, ard every obstacle in our way must
be overcome. What excuse can we OFFER
then, when peace comes and Cuba is freed
of Spanish control, for permanently hold
ing the Philippines? Our national honor,
our future status at the bar of the public
opinion of the world demand that con-
sistcnCy and justice shall bc the guiding
stars of our action from the opening 10
the concluding chapters of this history.
We may rightfully hold the Philippines
for the purpose OF collecting their rev.
cnucs TO DC applied as an indemnity for
the expenses Of the war; and be justified
by the usaSes OF civilized nations Beyond
this we cannot 80 unless by treaty stipu-
latlon We receive them In fee as the price
OF indemnity. If offered or claimed Tor
this purpose the question is purely bus
mess one TO determine whether they can
be OF substantial value to us, If We as,
sumcd the responsibility of their govern
ment. ON this basis it must he conceded
that these islands have yielded to Spain
very large net revenues, and as net in
come Is Il fair measure of the value of
the property producing II, it might bo ar
gucd that We could make Il profitable bar
gain hv occentiny tho islands An, !, ia
To he remembered that the large revenues
received hv Snain have NOT como la. logiti.
mate and normal methods but by the stand.
and-dcliVer methods used by orprcssors
upon their victims. This is the same pol
icy that Spain has adopted in ali her co..
oniCs for centuries. The growth and de-
Nclopmcnt of every industry In the island
have been choEcd to death ty the Opprcs-
siyo tribute exactcd of the p,onlo moth
bv the home roycrnucnt and III. bo,n,
churcb excrcisinc nhsoIute rover a, tbs
islands
Shall the Tinted Stntcs nt this lnte dn y
IN its nistorv a,uuirc tcrritorv for no mr..
ms. Of grinding tba faces of its n.onIa .
DO VIC pronosr IN nrnct,cc tho nrts a,
wholesale robbery tn rerlepish our OK.
chcou,rq Revcnuo so,lact.d In tho phil.
ippin,s in INC Same n,oderrta ron,rihutiou
as I'm normal itmes is pndc b,, tho N, n.
ple of the nitcd states would no, nay
,he c>nenses of thcir rovornment M,
could we hone that in tho fu,rrr uuv
substantial ,ncr,oen Of rovenuc co,ild Il,
shown D,stoncc climate and tho chor.
octer of tbc n,,,,,o nnn,,l,,inn v.;,i mo.
cIude American immit,rntinn and wo ,yilI
bn Iof, Tn ~. Ioubtrri ma d,nnn,o,,. ~.
nerimcnt of moI,inr nn ,innr"orsssivc ,s, and
cmi-b., ~harous reonIc in,n Snod i,,rlIi.
cent lmericnn ririzans cnneh,n ~, srls.
envcrnmont ana ,,t,acbad to ,ho rrinci,
nles OF orr consti,rtion t;od s,,.c IN,
mark
If wa norpo,n.p,I, t,i,o th, p,t,,,,ir.,
vo viii ha comn,llod tn ,,o,,nr, ,h,,, In
M, without ,hoi. ,,,,rs,,,, ~. -, -, ,,,,,,
bo Tio, viii no, H., an nn,,,n, ,'rrl,at',i II
itv be ohl, to qovcrn thoms"Iyo" ,rd ,nn,