The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-01-13

GU ScudtOT lTOm massachusetts asked
the senator from Connecticut (Platt)
what he was going to do with this SEN
tence, that all just powers of govern
ment are derived from the consent of
the governed he answered: From the
consent Of some of the governed
NH. President, when any great
cause, which is agitating the mind of
the people, needs for it's defense such
shallow and un-American evasions as
this, that cause will not live long in
the minds of intelligent people. We
cannot amend that sentence now, and
! when We all shall have mouldered
in forgotten dust, this sentence will
live n continue to burn, a menace to
tyrants and a beacon of hope for the
down-trodden and the oppressed.
The Philippine is beginning to treat
with us as to his own n he ac-
knowledges our gallant service; there
Is no honest commercial treaty that an
honest nation could ask that he is not
willing to consent to. He wants liberty
as we did and when 70, 900, 900 people
have heard his cry for mercy and in
dependence the father in New England
will plead for the father in Manila; the
mother in Illinois will pray for the
poor mother in the and of the sea;
the fathers will vote as the mothers
pray; the poisoned views of se1fshness
II nave Aoo u ldhS III 0Oo ACip liz
party that urges war on the
native who defends = only his
liberties and his home. All, ah! Mr..
President, have we got to fight n
plead for these people as we did for
Cuba? Are We to hear A~guinaldo n
his followers called robbers and cut
threats, as we heard Of the brave Gar
cha and his followers within the last
twelve months in this chamber? Why
not make them our friends forever in
stead of our enemies? Why stingily
withhold the jewel of independence?
Why not finish this wal a. we began
it-for h~umanity's sake? Why not
with a free and open hand give to
them what wehave promised to give
to Cuba? Then we have kept our
promise; then have we bound them to
us by hands stronger than steel, and
then car we answer the SANDERS of
Europe, who called us 1and-grabbers.
Pointing to Bedloe's island, we can say:
See the liberty cap is not a crown!
See, the goddess has turned on her pc
destal and, with her search light.
swept the continent! See, ten thousand
miles across the water, the seed sown
at Concord has taken roo there and
faunts it's dauntless flag of self-gov-
eminent at the very portals of the
Orient
That we ave so far assisted the
Philippines n are entitled to fair
treatment from them is true; that by
taking possession in stress of war of a
part of the islands and driving the
~Spaniards out has placed certain re-
sponsibilities upon us, cannot be de-
MED. But I contend that there is no
more right or necessity of governing
the Philippines than there is of our
l governing Venezuela, Brazil, Mica
ragua or any other South Ameri-
r ~ -ta4a, rr;fho,,t fho onncnnf Of fhc
people. Certainly we ave no more
right to govern the Philippines than
I we have Cuba. There is no such thing
as teaching the art of self-government
with a MauSer gun. There is but one
and only one way to learn the art
that is, through the gate of response
bility, and along the rough and rugged
road of experience.
1 But distinguished gentlemen whC
D. claim a monopoly Of patriotism, wht
don't seem to observe the difference be
= tween expansion n expulsion, sa!
= that we who believe in getting tn
Z consent of the governed before w
owe them, want to give back tn
L Philippines to Spain. Every one VIII,
makes this statement knows that w
want nothing of the sort. Mexico wa
invaded by the French and we sail
: to them: Go; 1t is covered by tn
Monroe doctrine France withdrav
her troops and the brave ~strugglin
republic is climbing up the scale O
IS civilization-slowly and surely. Tha
le is h expansion I believe in. That i
't the imperialism that Monroe taught us
e Referring to the statements that tn
Americans intended to give the Philip
; pines liberty, - Senator Mason said
IL How is liberty to be established? ]
l. it to be done hypodermically, with
u 13-inch gun? Are not our men an
q ships lying off Iloilo? Did not the ma
g tive who has been our ally drive tn
Spaniard out? Are they not in pos
, session of their w land, their wv
). homes? Are they guilty Of any crime
n except the love of home and country
IL Having worn the Spanish yoke S
l. long do you wonder at their fear c
ours? Shall we shoot them and bur
N their homes, because God Almighty ha
i'd planted in their hearts and on the
Of lips the sweet song Of liberty? Forbi
it, Almighty God!
is but, MI. President, we are told thu
at we must civilize them. Which part {
E. our civilization shall we give thel
Il first? Shall we show them how to ru
is municipalities with Doodle aldermen
W I see the chief of that great ethic:
he society, known as Tammany Hal
lie says: Keep the islands, hold them
J. Shall we send him to teach the III
taught Philippines cleanliness in mi
nicipal politics? Shall we teach the
I'd to worship money, or the man who he
as it? Shall we have special instructor
T. to teach them how to kill postmaster
a. and their wives and children becaus
w of their complexion? Shall we have /
Illustrations showing enlarged picture
"a of the works of our mobs within the la.
"a ninety days in North Carolina, Sout
Carolina and Illinois? Shall we teae
:. them how to organize trusts so tn,
:. one or two men can raise the price
the necessaries of life to all the Pc
pie?
& "Shall we amend and print Lincoln
Gettysburg speech SO that it will reaa
1t "A government of all the people by
10 part Of the people for a few Of IL
people?'
lr Gentlemen may say I belittle o,
ne own ~stitution Oh. no, I simply ca