Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-30

Senator Lndsays address at Buffalo
was of exceptional service in n particular
direction. 1t overthrow the pet dogma of
the anti-imperialists who are now urging
the REIMBURSEMENT of the Philippines on
the basis of 1.-The consent of the governed
principle. Quotation Is often an unfair
weapon. By dividing the context a phrase
or clause or sentence may be made to as
sumo a new and strange suggestion. Sem
ator Lindsay has drawn attention to the
fact that the Boston contingent has been
Juggling in this way with this consent Of
the governed declaration to the point of
confusing some minds and appearing to
score point against the administration.
That portion of the Declaration of indie
pendence which bears upon this matter
reads as follows:
THAT to secure these rights Qife. liberty
and the pursuit of happiness) governments
are instituted among men, deriving their
just powers from the consent of the gov
erned: that whenever any form of govern
ment becomes destructive of these ends, 1t
is the right of the people to alter or to
abolish it. and to institute new govern
ment, laying its foundation on such prin-
ciples and organizing its powers in such
FORM as to them shall seem most likely to
effect their safety and happiness. Pru-
dence, indeed, ~'ll dictate that govern
menLS long established ShOulO not be
changed for light and transient causes"
Thus it Is to be seen that this principle
in its entirety assumes that a government
must not be changed until it subverts the
three unalienable rights life liberty and
the pursuit of happiness. The United
States as successor to the Spanish SOW
ereignty, offered to the Filipinos stable
government. The United States stood be-
tor and conservator of popular rights.
There was the best reason for them to be-
lieve that under American sovereignty the
evils which had led them to protest against
Spanish rule would cease to exist. There
was no prospect that the government in
stituted by the new owners would become
destructive of the unalenable rights. and
every prospect that those rights would be
ensured to the people.
Therefore. says Senator Lindsay, the
consent of the governed was to be as
sumed. as 1t was in the case of the inhabi-
tants of Louisiana. Florida, New Mexico
and Upper California. 1t was assuredly
assumed in the of the aborigines in
that portion of the continent wrested from
the natives by force of arms. A superior
intelligence appeared and proceeded to
clear the pathway for civilization. Had
the colonists offered a more barbarous
condition than already existed. they would
have been usurpers. But they offered
lightenment. government and order, and
history justifes them as benefactors Of the
human race.
Senator Lindsay fully answers the charge
of the anti-imperialists in this sentence:
Orderly government faithfully admin
istered in the interests of the governed
suDerinduces consent
And so when this consent argument is
used 1t will be well TO ask the one advanc-
ing 1t to quote the Declaration further and
to explain how the entire principle applies
absolutely complaint against the United
States. They can give even no assurance
that they represent the people of the is
lands. They have no commission to show
that the natives have given their consent
to the institution of government to be
opportunity to test the sentiments of
all the people, for the Americans to
give the least demonstration of their pur-
poses and principles. They have at every
turn subverted the very rights which the
DecaEation of Independence declares to be
stitution In the archipelago of a govern
ment which shall guarantee life, liberty
and the pursuit Of happiness"
Senator Stewards opinion that the United