Iron County register., 1899-11-09
EXPANSION IS DANGEROUS.
Gov. schoheId, of wisconsin, Says
America should Not Keep
the Philippines.


Gov. Scofield has written letter tc
the Milwaukee Journal on the Philippine
question in which he says it would be
dangerous to the republic to keep the
Philippines. The governor writes:
While the question OF the disposition to
| be made Of the Philippines is political in
the highest sense 1t has not become party
| issue, and, believe, is a question which is
to be settled in the near future. ] take 1t
| that the issue is not really one of expansion
or anti-expansion, so-called, and it is only
obScured by the talk of imperialism or
anti-imperialism.
| Tt is essentially a public question and
one which should be widely discussed. And
| let me say that the free discussion of it by
| a republican. whatever side he may take,
| IN no sense involves diSloyalty to the ad-
ministration. Every man of intelligence
| in the country, believe. is with the presi-
dent in his efforts to suppress the insur-
rectton; but what disposition is to be
| made of the new territory and the people
who will become dependent upon us is a
question to be settled by congress, and con-
| gress should express the will of the peo-
pie.
"The real issue presented is this: Shall
the government after it has suppressed the
tnsurrection plan to retain permanent pos
sission of the Philippines and make that
archipelago portion of~our territory and
its 100000 or more people part OF our
population? Is it expedfent for this coun-
try to permanently add to its territory
and its population those far-off islands and
their group of motley inhabitants?
IF we maintain control in the Philip
pines they must be directly and complete
ly subject to our authority; but we need
not trouble ourselves as some do with
the maxim that we must not attempt to
govern without the consent of the gov
erned. The consent of the governed in
such cases may be predicated upon the in
a fn rnft n 90
maxim, therefore, If it is applicable at all
to the case, may be used to strengthen
rather than weaken the side of those who
go in for policy of acquisition.
Leaving aside the danger which would
threaten US on the side of a vigorous cul-
tivation of the military spirit and stimu-
lated desire for acquisition, / do not be-
lieve this country can afford to assume so
enormous a responsibility.
I'VE may talk splendidly of the brother
hood of man, but before we extend that
principle we must conserve the existence
of men. Whatever is to be done by US in
the Philippines or elsewhere can only be
accomplished while the integrity OF our
own national existence is intact.
I'm other words, we cannot deal justly
with the Philippines when such dealing is
an injustice to ourselves.
Possibly 1 may be taking rather mel
ancholy view of the situation, but 1t seems
to me that the continued existence of our
present form of government is threatened
by this Philippine problem We are great
nation, but we have our limitations. Let
us recognize those limitations, and not al
low the spirit of speculation and gambling
to enter into the solution Of our govern
mental problems. Let us be as a nation
as upright as an ordinary business man,
and not expand beyond the capacity of our
capital.
1.-The People cannot, I believe, undertake
with safety the assimilation of 100000 or
more of foreigners, alien to US in every
characteristic. And it is folly to talk of
maintaining permanently our supremacy
over those people without working toward
assimilation; it is worse than folly-it is
criminal Supremacy over those islands
must mean either control having in view
the ultimate uplifting of the people to our
level, or a control for the purpose of en-.
riching ourselves materially at their ex.
pense.'