The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1899-01-09

zenship. they want to rule the new sub
iects upon a theory entirely at varianc
with constitutional government. Victor
Ia Is queen OF Great Britain and Empress
OF india. shall we change the title Of ou
executive and call him the president o
the United States ana Emperor OF tn,
Phllippines2
"The democratic party stood for tn,
money OF the constitution In 1896; 4
stands Tor the government OF the con
stitution now.
1T opposed an English financial pollcy
IN 1896 Il opposes an English colonial pol
icy now Those who in 1896 were IN favor
or turning the American people over tr
the greed OF foreign hnanciers and domes.
tic trusts may now be willing TO turn the
Fuipluos over TO the tender mercies OF
military governors ana carpet-bag ofn.
cials.
"Those who IN 1896 thought the people
Of the United States too weak 10 attend
10 the business Of remote and alien races;
but those who IN 1896 fought for inde-
pendence for the American people viii not
now withhold independence from those
who desire II elsewhere.
THE FIL1P1Nos.
1
capable OF self government. that has a
familiar ring. only two years ago heard
the same argument made against a very
respectable minority OF the people OF this
country The money loaners, who coerc-
ed borrowers did It upon that theory; the
employers who coerced their employees
did it Tor the same reason. Self govern
mcnt Is constant education; the capac-
! ity for self government increases with
participation in government. The Philip
pines are not far enough advanced to
share In the government of the people OF
the United states, but they are competent
TO govern themselves 1t Is not fair to
compare them with our own citizens be-
cause the American people have been edu-
eating themselves IN the science Of gov
ernment for nearly three centuries and
while we have much to learn we have
already made great Improvement The
Filipinos will not establish perfect gov
ernment but they VIII establish n gov
ernment as nearly perfect as they are
competent to enjoy and the United States
can protect them from molestatlon from
without
"rhe republicans Of illinois, OF course.
will not expect the Filipinos to select a
legislature equal TO the last republican
legislature In fidelity to the public wei
fare. Illinois became a state nearly a cen
tury ago and tho legislature which en-
acted the Allen law was. as II were. the
rpened fruit Of long experience Give
the Filiplnos time ana opportunity ana
while they never Will catch up with us.
unless We cease 90 improve yet they may
some day stand whore we stand now.
What excuse can be given for the
adoption Of a colonial polcy2 Secretary
Gage disclosed the secret in his savnn-
nah speech ! think we might be justi-
fed IN calling Mr. Gage the key-hole OF
,..e administration because we look
through him TO learn what Is going on
within the executive council chamber. Ha
suggested that philanthropy and fve per
cent could go hand In hand I'm the new
venture These. are the two arguments
which are always used IN favor Of con
quest. Phllant- opy and five per cent
The ono chloroforms the conscience OF
the conquerer and the other picks the
pocket OF the conquered
GOVERN THEM FOR THEIR OWN
GOOD
Some say that philanthropy demands
that we govern the Fnipinos for their
own good, while others assert that we
must hold the islands because Of the oe-
cuniary profit TO Do derived from them.
J deny tho soundncss Of both arguments
Forcible annexation VIII not only be Grim
inal aggression fto borrow Mr.. McKinley's
language Of a year ago}, but It VIII cost
more than IL IS worth, and the whole
people VIII pay the cost whila a few will
reap all the benefits.
"still weaker 81 the argument based up
on religious duty The Christian rollg-
ion rests upon the doctrine of vicarious
suffering and at6nemont. the colonial pol
leo rests upon the doctrine of vcarious
enjoyment
When the desire to steal becomes nm.
c0ntrollable I'm an Individual he ~ declar-
ed 20 be n klsptomaniac and "a sent 10
an asylum; when the desire TO grab land
becomes uncontrollable in a nation We
are told that the currents OF destiny are
flowing through the hearts OF mon and
that the American people are entering
upon their manifest mission.
shame upon a logic which looks up
the petty offender AMI enthrones grand
larceny. Have the people returned 60 'ha
worship OF the golden oalf2 eve they
made unto themselves new Command
ment consistent with the spirit Of con-
quest and the lust substituted for tho law
OF Moses2
Awake. o, ancient law-giver. as1ake
Break forth from thine unmarked sepui-
chre and speed thee back TO the cloud
crowned summit Of Mount sanai: COM
mune once more with the God OF our
fathers and proclaim again tho words
engraven upon the tables Of atono-the
law that was, the law that n t5Aay--the
law that neither individual nor nation can
violate with impunity."