West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1898-10-20

creasing taxes and exacting rurther
tribute from the people.
The cost OF the war to October 1.
1898. was. in round numbers. $140. 000.-
600.
/ do not question the righteousness
OF the war with Spain. IL was fought
in the cause OF humanity. and was de-
clared by Congress. both parties sup
porting such declaration. But Il de-
volved upon the party In power TO
prosecute the war. and they alone arc
responsible for its conduct. The mis-
management has been nagrant: our
soldiers have suffered untold and I'M
necessary hardships: disease has pre-
vailed and increased wherever cam
paigns have been conducted or camps
established. Ten men have died IN
Tho hospitals to every soldier lost in
battle In many Instances untried
and unframed men have been placed.
through favoritism, in positions OF
great responsibility; neglect has often
been the rule. while extravaganza and
peculation have prevailed In many
quarters.
THE PHILIPPINES.
Under the excitement and impulse
of victory the present administration
has made the war with Spain n OF
conquest. and the Republicans now ad-
vocate the retention of all the con-
quered territory. This means n colon
ial system, a new and dangerous prin.
ciple in u government, a radical de-
parture from our traditional policy, ell
together inconsistent with the Monroe
1A,et. .N.N. A. -. -. fn..a nAQ
deserving of our sympathy.
In proclaiming war Congress die
claimed all Intention OF acquiring ter
ritory, and told the world we were in
tent only upon aiding in the emanci-
patton OF an oppressed people. seeking
liberty and self-government. In the
progress OF ven our navy achieved
a remarkable and magnificent victory
over the Spanish feet nj Manila, in
the Philippine Islands. a Spanish coli
ony eight thousand miles from Cali
fornia. Troops were SEM across the
Pacific and the city and harbor OF Ma
Mia are now controlled by forces.
The Republican parry with It's ten
dency towards a strong central govern
mcnt, is unable TO wishstahd tic
temptation 10 commit the country TO a
yin vi III AAfNA4 TN
multiplying thar they propose TO re-
tain these possessions and make the
United sta es Responsible for the gov
eminent and conddct OF their inhahi-
tants. Thore are a .hou3api islands
with n population OF eight or ten mil
lions OF people. most OF them living IN
a state OF standardization. with all the
passions and impulses of a tropical
race. They are totally unfit for self
government. and can be controlled only
by force. The United States has had
this problem before IL in the cas- OF
the American Indians, and every one
knows the result OF the efforts to bring
them within the laws and customs OF
our civilization. III we found this ques-
tion so troublesome az home, what
should we expect with a people less
tractable than the Indians, and nearly
half way round the globe from us? The
Territory OF New Mexico has long had
sufficient population for Statehood, but
the greater portion of the people speak
a foreign tongue, come. from a tropical
race, and the government OF the
United States Is d~istrustfuI OF their
ability TO govern themselves. Yet they
are far superior TO the inhabitants OF
those far-off islands.
Should we retain the Philippine Is
lands supremacy there can be
maintained only by the exercise OF
military power. Our soldiers, lily fit
10 live in such a warm latitude, must
be kept there for all time. and the
waters must be continually patrolled
by our naval force, all at great cost OF
money and lives. We would be con-
stantly watched and harrassed by EN-
ropean powers and the danger OF an
other war with some distant country
would be always imminent. England
has many colonies and dependencies,
most Of them very expensive. and only
a few self-sustaining. She has none
that are as troublesome to her as these
islands would be 20 us. There could be
but little supervision by the govern
ment at Washington OF the officers sent
to administer the affairs Of a people so
far distant, and we would have the I'M
American phrase OF THE Home Gov
eminent" Corruption would be sure
70 follow, and these distant posses
sions would be a source of continual
irritation and trouble in our form OF
government. We can have all the adj
vantage Of victory over Spain in
the Philippines without the evils which
WONit IOiiDW tutlF TeleillOu. we can
make one OF the conditions OF the
treaty OF peace the free commercial in
t%ercourse with the inhabitants of the
islands, and insure their trade 10 the
same extent that we could II they were
in our possession.
LARGE STANDING ARMY.
We already see evidence OF the ten
dency to greatly enlarge the regular
army. which has been more than
doubled IN the past few months. with
these distant possessions this would he
q necessity, and It would not be long
before we could find ourselves in the
position Of the European countries
where self-preservation requires the
maintenance Of large standing armies.
Look for a moment at the number
Of men IN some Of the armies of tho
Old World. ia peace times, and the cost
Of their maintenance. The figures arc
for the yea 1897: Russia, 17490O
men. annual cost. 1927. 900. 900; Ger
many, Coz 900 men. annual cost, s110.-
10000; France. $4,000 men. annual
cost. 1886 100000: England, 22I.O00
men. annual cost. sol. 600, 900. Com
pare these with the size OF our regular
army I'm 1897 and its cost Of mainten-
ance: United States, 1900 men, ex-
uorar cor nro 0no