Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1899-11-09

count upon tue people, as soon as drop
OF blood has been shed, to uphold the
usurpation and to cry down everybody
who opposes it as a traitor and all this
because I'VE are in it!' Can you conceive
a more baneful precedent, more prolific
source of danger to the peace and security
OF the country? Can any sane man deny
that it will be all the more prolific Of evil
il in this way we drift into foreign
policy full Of temptation for dangerous
adventure?
"We have often been tainted with hav.
ing no positive policy to propose. But
such policy has more than once been
proposed, and can only repeat it.
"Let there be at once an armistice be-
tween our forces and the Filipinos. Let
the Philippine Islanders at the same time
be told that the American people will be
glad to see them establish an independ-
ent government, and 10 aid them in that
task AS far as may be II, cessary; that if
the different tribes composing the popu.
laton Of the Philippines are disposed, as
at least most Of them, If not all, are likely
to be, to attach themselves in some way
to the government already existing under
the presidency of Aguinaldo, we shall
cheerfully accept that solution OF the
question, and even, if required, lend our
coed offices to bring it about; and that
meanwhile we shall deem it our duty to
protect them against interference from
other foreign powers; in other words,
that with regard to them We mean hon
estly to live up to the righteous principles
with the profession of which we COM
mended to the world our Spanish war.
"And then let US have in the Philip
pines, to carry out this programme, not
small politician, nor a meddlesome mar
tinet, but statesman Of large mind and
genuine sympathy, who will not merely
deal in sanctimonious cant and oily prom
ises with string to them. but who will
prove by his acts that he and We are hon.
est who will keep in mind that their
government is not merely to suit US, blu
to suit them, and that it should not be
measured by standards which we our.
selves have not been able to reach, but
be a government OF their own, adapted to
their own conditions and notions wheth.
er it DO true republic, like ours, or bet.
ter, or a dictatorship like that Porfirio
Diaz, in Mexico, or an oliearchy like the
one maintained by Us in Hawaii, or even
something like the boss rule We are toler-
ating in New York and Pennsylvania.
"Now, what objection is there to the
policy dictated by our fundamental prin-
ciples and our good faith? I hear the
angry cry: what? Surrender to Aguin-
aldo? Will not the world ridicule and
despise us for such q confessiol Of our
incompetency to deal with so feeble foe?
What will become Of our prestige?' No,
we shall not surrender to Aguinaldo. In
giving up criminal aggression, We shall
surrender only to our own consciences, to
our own sense OF right and justice, to our
own understanding OF our own true inter-
ests, and to the vital principles of our
own republic. Nobody will laugh at us
whose good opinion We have reason to
cherish. There will, Of course, be an out
cry OF disappointment in England. But
from whom will it come? From such
men as James Bryce or John Morley, or
any one OF those true friends Of this re-
public, who understand and admire and
wish TO perpetuate and spread the funda-
mental principles Of its vitality? No,not
from them. But the cutlery will come
from those in England who long to see us
entangled in complications apt to make
this American republic dependent upon
British aid and thus slbservient to Brit
ish interests. They, indeed, will be quite
angry. But the less We mind their dis
pleasure as we'll as their flattery, the
better for the safety as we'll as the honor
OF our country.
"There are some American citizens who
take Of this question purely commercial
view. l declare I am ardently in favor
OF the greatest possible expansion Of our
trade; and am happy to say that, &C.
cording to official statistics, our foreign
commerce, in spite of all hindrances
raised against it, is now expanding tire.
mendously. owing to the simple rule that
the nation offering the best goods at pro-
portionately the lowest prices will have
the markets It will have them without
armies, without war fleets, without bloody
conquests, without colonies. confess
am not in sympathy with those, If there
be such men among US, who would sacri-
flee our national honor and the high
ideals Of the republic, and who would in
flict upon our people the burdens and the
demoralizing influences Of militarism for
a mere matter Of dollars and cents. They
are among the most dangerous enemies
Of the public welfare.
"Some say that We are here to fulfill
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