The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-13

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Il is not necessary to dig into ancient
history for facts 10 show that a republic
cannot maintain a government against the
consent Of the governed. We have seen
in our own country, within the last thirty
years, that a forced government. alien to
the wishes and best interest of the people,
could not survive, even when propped up
by the bayonets of federal troops. Fol
lowing The close of the war Of secession
the Republican party. in its eagerness 10
retain control Of the federal government,
used force 10 foist negro and carpet-bag
rule upon the states that had seeded and
been brought back into the union. In do
ing this that party violated the consttu-
ton and the spirit Of American liberty,
and the great American principle that gov
emments derive their just powers from
the consent of the governed.
But the efforts Of the Republican party
failed. Americauism prevailed. The
negroes and the carpet-bsggers were
ousted from their position. 1ntefli-
gence, true liberty and right came to the
front, despite force laws and federal bay
onets. and the wisdom of the doctrine of
the consent of the governed was vindlcated
Is there reason for thinking that we
should be more successful ia forcing an
allen government upon the Philippines
than the Republican party, with the back
ing of the whole federal power, was in
forcing such rule upon the South? Any
colonial government which we could give
TO the islands would be carpet-bag gov
eminent 1t would be wholly foreign in
race, sympathy, language and customs
to the Flipinos. If the intelligent is
Understand a large number Of them are
intelligent and educated-have made up
their minds 10 establish an independent
government. it would take hundreds of
thousands of American soldiers hundreds
Of millions of American dollars and years
Of war TO bring them into subsection And
all of the time We should be undermining
our own political system by militarism,
Increasing taxation and a disregard of
those principles under which we have
lived and grown great.
All of the trouble, the expense and the
danger to Our country could be avoided Il
Congress would give the Filipinos official
assurance that it is not the purpose of this
government to hold their land longer than
may be necessary to restore peace and
good order. Would it not be better to have
an Independent and grateful nation as our
friend, than to have several millions of
enemies in Islands thousands of miles
away and whom il was incumbent upon
us TO keep whipped into subsection? Are
We prepared to send the flower of our
young manhood to sacrifice their lives in
an effort to crush and kill people who
merely ask for the rights and privileges
which we demand for ourselves?
1t sometimes seems that certain parts of
the country had gone mao with the greed
of gain; but II is a hopeful sign 10 see
such leaders of the North as George f.
Edmunds, George F. Hoar and Eugene
Hale, disregardng party, arise to defend
the republic against its enemies and the
Philippines against spoliation. Men of the
South can afford TO lay aside party ques-
tons and stand shoulder to shoulder with
these wise men of the East in the defense
of their country.
The time has arrived when the patriot
ism of congressman will be tested. Those
who love their country and its institutions
will be found voting and working against
the dangerous, destructive policy of expan-
sion and Imperialism, and defending the
constitution as it was written and inter
preted by the fathers of the republic.