Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-01-04
REPUBLICANIsM Oh IMPERIALlsM.

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REPUBLICANISM Or lMPERIALlSM.
Shall we hold the Philippines :?
Shall we annex Cuba? Shall we gov
ern Porto Rico or allow the people of
that island to govern themselves ?
These are the questions that are now
absorbing the attention of the people
of the United States; but the most
prominent of them all, just now is that
with reference to the Philippines.
Ifsthe Philippines are to be held;
then the next question to be settled is
how are they to be goyernedP One
proposition is to allow them to govern
themselves as a part of the United
States. This would be Republicanism.
Another proposition is to govern them
as they have been governed by Spain,
except, as a matter, of course, We
would be "more civilized" "more
just" "more humane"
Those opposed to the first proposi-
ton urge numerous objections. In the
first place they claim that the Filipinos
are, for the most part, only horde of
wild savages incapable Of self-goyern-
ment. Then, in the next place, on
account of habits, customs, religions,
etc., our form of government would be
totally unsuited to these people. Be.
ing wild, turbulent and unruly, they
can only be made to enjoy the bless
ings of good government, such as the
people of the United States can give
them, by force, and these people argue
in favor of imperialism"
That there are many objections to
the proposition to take in the Philip
pines as part Of the United States, is
quite clear; but these objections are
no clearer or more numerous than are
those to the proposition to establish
the imperial plan. Both ideas are at
variance with all American traditions.
In the first place, while the Filipinos
may not be capable of selfgoyern-
ment, there is little reason to believe
that they could ever become a homo
geneous people with US; and, in the
second place, there is little reason to
believe that this is desirable. And the
idea of attempting to govern these
people as Spain has governed them,
ought to be repugnant to every true
American. The moment this govern
ment sanctions the idea of attempting
to force foreign people to submit to
its yoke against the will of that people,
that moment will germinate seeds
which will eventually destroy, in this
country, the foundation principles laid
down by our Revolutionary fathers
government of the people for and by
the people,"
Those of,our people who have gath
cred the idea that the Filipinos are all
ignorant savages are very much mis-
taken Manila and other Philippine
cities can show up far more wealth and
grandeur than can most of the cities
in this country, especially in the
southern states. Throughout the is
lands there are many rich and pow
erful natives, and although their civil
ilization is very different from ours,
these people are satisfied with it. The
pictures of Filipino countrymen and
warriors that we see in the magazines,
give US about the same idea of the
country as would be conveyed of this
country by photographs that may have
been made of the streets of Yorkville
last week, and labeled celebrating
Christmas in the United States"
And here is one of the principal
secrets of the growing sentiment of
imperialism" in this country. Rather
than anything else, it is envy of the
Spaniards. For scores of years Span
ish captains general, with their nu-
merous retinues of changers on" have
been splundering and enriching them
selves at the expense of the Filipinos.
There are those in this country who
want to take the places of the Span
iards, and if they ever get the oppor-
tunity, although possibly they will not
be so cruel, they will be just as dis
honest. Such is Imperialism.
But this will not be the end of it.
Heretofore this country has been able
to govern itself with nominal army
only about $4,000 men. This army
has been used principally as nucleus
and to protect the frontier from the
Indians. 1t has never been used
against our free institutions but once,
and that was on the occasion of the
Chicago strike. The balance of the
time it has been useless, as should be
the case, in government like ours.
But to enforce imperialism in Cuba,
Porto Rico and the Philippines, will re-
quire large number of troops-it will
mean large standing army in the Uni
ted States; and with the growth of
imperialism in our "Possessions," and