Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-08-18
THE PROBLEM OF TIE PHILIPPINES.
Views of Hon. l.. d. Chittcnden- Anncxa-
ton of the Islands Foolish.
.,, Burlington, Aug. IS, 1898.

Burlington, Aug. Is, 1895
10 ne Editor of The Free Tress
? 1t Is the common opinion that in enter
ing upon the war with Spain with the
avowed purpose of terminating Spanish
rule upon the Western continent, the
United states not only had sufficient
cause, but was executing a great work
for humanity in conformity with the will
of the Almighty. While this statement is
probably true, and apparently confirmed
by the successes gained by our arms, the
work has its limits which cannot be trans
cended without involving us in dangers,
perhaps the most serious that have ever
threatened our country,
The history of Spanish rule in America
Is simply a repetition of acts of oppres-
sion and cruelty which have no parallel
in history. 1t commences when Spain
VAS the favorite of the Pope, and one of
tho Great Powers among the nations. She
controlled two-thrds Of South, nearly the
whole of Central America and the West
India Islands Its beginnings are chron-
icled by Las Casus, A Catholic bishop
whose account Of the treatment by Spain
cf the natives cannot be read today with
out thrill of horror. ny her cruelties
Spain collected from the natives Cargoes
of gold and silver, many of which were
lost by shipwreCk. but enough were saved
to enrich the nation. She signaliZed her
good fortune by the inquisiton, tho
slaughter of Protcstants and the horror.
of the reign of Philip the Second
Then began the downfall of Spain
From that era no success has attended
her arms. Almost every revolution has
cost her a province until of her maGnin
cent possessions only Porto Rico and hei
nominal hold upon Cuba remained. She
gained no wisdom by experience, but CON
! tinucd her atrocious rule until 1t became
national disgrace for us to permit tho
continuance of her atrocities almost al
our own doors.
We declared and have prosecuted TIL,
i war with the approval Of the civilized
, world Success has attended our arms
and peace comes with the entire with
drawal of Spain frop our continent, and
the attainment of an the ends for which
we prosecuted the war. We shall holt
! Pohto Rico, guarantee n stable govern
meut for Cuba, and as we shall have L
maintain our guaranty the result will al
most certainly be the annexation of Cub
and the organization of a tropical stat
with an undesirable population in tn
Antilles.
Here we should stop. 1t cannot he sSj'
! that Providence or the interests of human
lty require us to interfere with uncivi
/ lied Islands on the other side of tn
world and upon the shores Of Asia. w
have been compelled to annex Hawaii an
7 that annexation Is an accomplished fact
And there are americans who would hav
us make part or whole of the thous
and islands in the Philippine group
part of our free Republic. | confess tina
am amazed at the temerity of the propo
| sit!on. Until within three months W
have known these Islands only as the re
sort of pirates and savage tribes. T
take any of them under our charge an
undertake to civilizc their populations an
make them ut subjects for free reput
lie Is certainly task we should not cove
and which we may we'll leave to power
more hungry for territory than ourselves
] do not extend the argument agAns
the retention of the Philippines. Their
cannot be any necessity for 1t. | simpl
state the case because l would like to Sc
sich newspapers as the Free Pres
promptly take decided stand against
policy of extension of territory which
fear would be pregnant with danger fc
our future and which contravenes III
teachings of our statesmen and the polio
OF our Republic from its organization.
l.. l.. CHITTENDEN.