The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-01-12


Of government can not live together,
which one shall we choose? To defend
forceful annexation on the ground that
we are carrying out religious duty is
worse than absurd. The Bible teaches
us that II is more blessed to give than
to receive, while the colonial policy is
based upon the doctrine that 1t is more
blessed to take than to let alone. am
afraid that the Imparialists have con-
fused the beatitudes | once heard
of man who mixed up the Parable
of the Good Samaritan with the par
able Of the sword and in attempting
to repeat the former said A man
went from Jerusalem to Jericho and
as he went he fell among thorns and
the thorns sprsng up and choked him
We entered the Spanish war as peace
makers. Imperialists have an indis.
tinct recollection that blessing has
been promised to the peace makers and
| also to the meek, but their desire for
more territory has perverted their
memories so that as they recall the
former, It reads: Blessed are the
peace makers for they shall inherit
the earth
Annexation can not be defended
upon the ground that we shall find
pecuniary profit in the policy. The
advantage which may come to few
individuals who hold the Offices or Sc
cure valuable franchises can not pro-
perly be measured against the money
expended in governing the Philip
pines. because the money expended
will be paid by those who pay the
taxes. We are not yet in a position to
determine whether the people of the
United States, as a whole. will bring
back from the Philippines as much
as they send there. There Is an old
saying that 1t is not profitable to buy
a law suit, Our nation may learn by
experience that it is not wise to pur-
chase the right to conquer people.
Spain under compulsion gives us a
quit claim deed to the Philippines Ia
return for S2O,CO0,0O0; she does not
agree to warrant and defend our title
as against the Filipinos. To buy land
| 10 OAt NAlAA 81 w bNy pGOplt 10 ohONllGA
The land is inanimate and makes no
resistance to the transfer, the people
are animate and are some times un.
reasonable enough to desire a voice in
their own affairs. But whether, meas
ured by dollars and cents, the conquest
of the Philippines would prove profit.
able or expensive it will certainly
prove embarrassing to those who still
hold to the doctrines which underly a
republic. Military rule is antagonistic
to our theory of government. The
arguments which are used to defend
it in the Philippines may be used tc
excuse it in the United States. Under
: military rule much must be left to the
discretion OF the military governor and
this can only be justified upon the
theory that the governor knows more
than the people whom he governs, il
p than they are themselves, is entirely
in sympathy with them and is thor,
: oughly honest and unselGsh in his de
g sire to Go them good Such a comb
s nation of wisdom, integrity and low
j., Is difficult to find and the Republican
party will enter Upon difficult tasl
d when it starts out to find suitable mil
itary governors for our remote posses
sions. Even if the party has absolute
confidence in its great political man
. ager, Senator Hanna it must remem
Der that the people of Ohio have com
y PEELED him to serve them in tn,
O United States senate and inferior mel
must be entrusted with distributin,
justice and benevolence among the ma
y tions dark skinned subjects in tn
Pacific.
Q IF we enter upon a colonial policy
t we may expect to hear the command
y silence Issuing with increasing EN-
Y phasis from the Imperialists, when tn
4 discussion of fundamental principle
: is attempted in the United States. |
}, a member of congress attempts to crit
I icise any injustice perpetrated by
e government official against a helples
s people, he will be warned to keel
2 silent lest his criticism encourage re
y sistance to American authority in tn
/ Orient. If an orator on the Fourtl
: of July dares to speak of inalienabf
t rights or refers with commentator
to the manner in which our forefather
: resisted taxation without representa-
s tion, he will be warned to keep silent
e lest his utterances excite rebellion
t among the nations subjects.
IF we adopt a colonial policy AM
n pursue the course which excited tn
d revolution Of 1776, we must mullle tn
4 tones of the old Liberty bell and com
!. mune in whispers when we praise th
: patriotism Of our forefathers,
: 1--WE can not afford to destroy tn
u declaration Of independence; we cal
h not afford to erase from our constitu
n tion, state and national, the bill o
e rights; we have not time TO ransacl
y the Libraries Of the nation and purg
I them Of the essays the speeches an
d the books that defend the doctrine tha
e law Is the capitalization Of publ
Il opinion ra-ter than An emauato,
}, from physical power.
e But even If we could destroy ever
: vestige of the laws which are the out
J. growth Of the immortal documen
e penned by Jefferson; even If we coul
: obliterate every written word that ha
: been inspired by the idea that this /
h "a government of the people, by tn
y people and for the people. We coult
n not tear from the heart of the human