The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-01-19

i
. now or forever hold it's peace. A large
= standing army is not only an expense tt
the people, but it Is menace to th1
= nation, and the Democratic patty will
: be unit in opposing it.
ga word III regard to imperialism
Those who advocate the annexation OF
the Philippines call themselves cxpan-
sionists, but they are really imperial
lists. The word expansion would de-
scribe the acquisition of territory to be
populated by homogeneous people and
to be carved into States like those now
in existence. An empire suggests Va.
ricty IN race and diversity in govern
ment. The imperialsts do not desire
to clothe the Tilipinos with all the
rights and privileges OF American citi-
zenship they want to exercise sove-
rcignty overan alien :acc and they ex-
poet to rule tho new subjects upon q
theory enllrely at variance with con-
stitutional government. Victoria Is
queen of Great Britain and empress
Of India shall we change the title of
our executive and call him tho plesi-
dent Of the United Statos and emperor
Of the Philipplnes1
Tho Democratic party stood for the
money Of the constitution in 1896 it
stands for the government of the con-
stitution now. 1t opposed an Eng gllsh
financial policy in 1896 it opposes an
English colonial policy now. Those
who in 1896 were in favor OF turning
the American people over to the greed
of foreign financicrs and domestic
trusts may now be willing to turn the
Eilpinos over to the tender mcrclcs
Of military governors and carpct-bag
officials.
"rhose who in 1896 thought the
people of tho United States too weak
to attend to their own business may
now think them strong enough to at
tend to the business Of remote and
alien races, but those who in 1896
fought for independence for tho Amer
ican people Will not now withhold in
dependence from those who desire it
elsewhere.
owe are told TINT the Filipinos are
not capable Of sclf-Sovcrnmcnt; that
has a lamiinr ring. Only two years
ago heard the same argument made
against very respectable minority Of
the people of this country. The money
loancrs, who cocrced borrowers, did it
upon that theory the employers who
cocrccd their employees did it for the
, same reason. Sclf-govcrnmcnt in
= creascs with participation in govern
, mcnt. The FllipinOs are not far
| enough advanced to share in the gov
y crnmcnt of the people Of the United
:. States, but they are competent to gov
crn themselves. IL is not fair to com
G pare them with our own citizens be-
{ cause the American people have been
Y educating themselves in the science OF
g government for nearly three centuries,
o and while we have much TO learn we
n have already made great Improvement
c The Fillpnos will not establish per-
c feet government, but they will ostab,
lish government as nearly perfect .,s
they aro competent IL enjoy, and the
: United States can protect them from
. molcstation from without.
, "The Republicans of Illinois OF
, course will not expect the Filipinos tc
t select legislature equal to the las,
: Republican Legislature in fidelity to the
, public welfare. Illinois became &
Q State nearly century ago, and the
Legislature which enacted the Allen
/ law was, as it were, The ripcncd fruit
OF long experience. Give the Filipinos
time ami opportunity, and while they
never will catch up with US, unless we
cease to improve, yet they may some
day stand where we stand now.
"What excuse can be given for the
adoption Of II colonial policy2 Sccre-
tary Gage disclosed the secret in his
Savannah speech. think we might
hc justified in calling Mr.. Gage the KEY
hole Of the administration because we
look Though him to learn what is 10
ing on within the executive council
chamber. lo suggested that 'philan-
thropy and five per cent would 20
hand In hand in the new Yentare.
These nro tine TWO arguments which
are always used in favor of conquest.
Philanthropy and five per cent. The
one Chloroforms the conscience Of the
conqucrcr and the other picks the
pocket Of the conquered.
"Somc say that philanthropy de-
mands that we govern the Filipinos for
their own good, while others assert
that we must hold the islands because
of the pecuniary profit to be derived
from them. I den, the soundncss Of
both arguments Forciblc annexation
will not only bo criminal aggression
Ito borrow Mckinley's language Of
year ago) but it will cost moro than it
is worth, and the whole people will
pay tho cost while few will reap all
tho benefit.
"Still weaker Is tho argument based
upon religious duty. The Christian
religion rests upon the doctrine Of VI
carious suffering and atoncmcnt the
colonial policy rests upon the doctrine
of vicarious enjoyment.
"When the desire to steal bccomes
uncomfortable in an individual he is
declared to be klcptomaniac and is
sent to al asylum when the dcsiro
to grasp land becomes uncomfortable
in nation wo are told that the scur-
rents Of destiny are flowing through
| the hearts of mon, and that tho Amnr