The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-24
THE NEWS AND OBSERVER SUNDAY MORNING. DECEMBER a. 1892

ceived this information direct from the
Almighty, or, if second hand what Re
publican endowed with the gift of pro-
phecy has revealed it. AS the Presi-
dent himself is responsible for every
act upon which authority in the Philip
pines is based, he ought to be able to
defend his course by argument or else
give conclusive proof of his inspiration.
The President dictated the terms of
the treaty. Why did he provide indie
pendence for Cuba and for the cession
of the Philippine Islands to the United
States? Why did he promise indepen-
dence to the Cubans and only "benevo-
lent assimilation" to the Filipinos? Con
gress was in session for nearly three
months after the treaty was signed. Al
he had desired the independence of the
IilpinOs he could have asked authority
to promise it. But instead of asking
authority, the influence of the Admins
tratiOn was used to defeat the Bacon
resolution.
A DISTINCTION BETWEEN GU
BANS AND FILIPLNOS.
According to the resolution of interven-
ton, the people of Cuba 'are and of
right ought to be free" and according
to the Presidents theory, the Filipinos
are and of right ought to be subjects.
When did Providence point out this dis
tinction between the rights of the Gu
bans and the rights of the Filipinos?
Must we hold the Philippine islands
permanently because Dewey destroyed a
Spanish fleet at Manila? Schley destroy
ed a Spanish fleet at Santiago, and yet
the President promised the Cubans in
dependence. Must we remain perma-
nently in the Philippines because Ameri-
can blood was shed there? American
blood was shed at San Juan Hill and ait
El Caney, and yet the President prom
ised independence to the Cubans.
RIGHTS OF THE GOVERNORS
AND THE Go, --AuNED.
Clay, in defending the right of the
people of South America to self-govern-
ment, administered a telling blow to the
doctrine that God made a few to ex-
ercise authority and the rest to be ser
wants of the few. He said:
1T is the doctrine of thrones thar
man is too ignorant to govern himself.
Their partisans assert his incapacity in
reference to all nations. If they cannot
command universal assent to the propo-
sitiOn it is then remanded to particular
nations, and our pride and our pre-
sumption too often make converts of us.
| contend that it is to arraign the dis
positions of Providence Himself to sup
pose that He has created beings incapa-
bic of governing themselves and to be
trampled ON by kings. Self-government
is the natural government of man."
After more than a century of con-
tention for the rights of man, our ma
tiont, under the leadership of the Re
publican party, is asked to turn its face
back toward the barbarOus doctrine that
might makes right.
The President says that it does not
seem desirable for him to recommend
at this time a specific and final form
of government for the Philippine Is
lands" He, however, describes in de-
tail the government established in the
island OF Negros-says that it is a
notable beginning and points to it as
being deserving of special considerat ton.
He says that the people of that island
adopted a constitution looking to the
establishment of a popular government,
but that it was impossible to guarantee
to the people of Negros that the Con-