Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1899-11-17
SENATOR EDMUNDs ON THE SITuA-
TIOND

SENATOR EDMUNDs ON THE SITUA
TlON."
The following excellent remarks of
Ex-senator Geo. F. Edmunds, with COM
ment upon them, are from the editorial
columns of the Burlington Free Press.
We most heartily endorse both Mr.. Ed.
munds remarks and the comments of
the Free Press upon them, and are
some such line of policy as here sug-
gested.w will be adopted by congress in
its coming session.
And we believe that such a course would
be practically universally satisfactory to
Vermonters. For the instincts of Liberty
are very strong in all Vermonters. 1t is
possible that some of the very wealthy in
our large cities, of that class that are
ready to see their daughters married for
titles, and those that ape their manners,
or follow in their wake, may prefer the
English or imperial principles TO the
American, and have ceased to believe in
our Constitution and Declaration of In
dependence. But this is not true in
Vermont. The feeling of Liberty stands
as strong, we believe, as in the days of
Ethan Allen, and 1t is recognized that
this principle extends, or should extend,
to all. And therefore the natural sem
timent of Vermont is against policy of
subjugation of the Philippines, or any
other distant peoples, the same as that of
Massachusetts as expressed unanimously
in her recent Republican convention,
and in favor of a settlement of the
present unpleasantness In those distant
and moist islands, in accordance with Mr..
Edmunds suggestions. or any other fair
and honorable manner.
The Free Press has thus voiced the
peoples wish, and it is to be hoped that
other Vermont papers, all the other
Vermont papers, will do the same.
think, said ex-senator George F. Ed
munds in an interview. published in the
Philadelphia Ledger, Of the lOth inst, that,
inasmucn the senate of the Uniiei States
ratified the treaty with Spain, and thereby
the United States bees me the sovereign over
the Philippine Islands, the situation must be
dealt with a- it is, ana we might wish it
should be.
/ spain, at tie time of the treaty, was, in
the International sense. the sovereign of
those islands, for The rebellion, however
strong and however good its prospects of
success. might have been, had not reached
that stage of success which had produced the
recognition OF the powers of even a state OF
Oelligerency, 50 far rs know.
The const quence is that the United States
l. respOnsib c as sovereign to all other ma
tions Tor the secGiity of their subjects, and in
, sptct to all international rights
But ii is entirely consistent with the right
and duty of congress to determine whether
it will compel the people of the Philippine
/ Islands 10 be our subjects or citizens, or
whether II will say to those people that if
they will cease hostility ana co operate with
us in preserving peace and order until they
, can establish, with our assistance and III der
our projection, n government of their own,
and ena lie us to have the right to see to ii
that thew do, when their governments are so
established, preserve peace and order and
deal justly with our citizens and those of
other countries, we will aid them in every
proper way to accomplish that purpose.
think the short question for the congress
and people of the United States is whether
the principles upon which our government
was founded and the principles upon which
three'fourths of a century ago we recognized
and assisted in setting up the Central and
South American republics are still true ones,
and ought TO be followed. | think it mis-.
take to suppose that these principles and
policies are out of date.
If the right of self-government were tested
by the highest standards, it would be difficult
to maintain that even the people of the
United states were capable of il, for we all
know TINT inimany instances our own self
government goes wrong ana Goes not defend
equality ana execute instice among men.
Hut no such standard can be applied in this
age. as il never has been. A standard must
be practical. and ii does not follow that a
people is incapable of self government be-
cause sometimes and possibly often, it fails
to accomplish the ends for which il was es.
tablished.
If the Flipnos, therefore, are willing, unon
the conditions ! have suggested, to have
peace ana be helped 10 try their experiment
ofeelf government, and be assisted and pro
tected in dong so, think congress ought to
make provision to that end. The enormous
difficulties in continuing them as mere sub
jects of the United States, or in n condition
Of territorial citizenship, seem o me to make
ii the pialn duty of cons ress to try the means
have suggested of letting them try to govern
Themselves.
II this can be accomplished, which only
can be known when the effort is made, there
will tie saved thousands of lives Of our
, soldiers ana sailors, and millions upon mil.
lions of expenditure from our treasury in.
definitely prolonged, while every material
interest of the United States, in respect to
, trade and commerce, and the advancement
OF civilization will be maintained.
The Free PIess's comment is as
follows
II seems to us that this is a calm, conserva
tive and statesmanlille view of the situation,
and of what will be The duty of congress. If
the war in Luzon has not been brought to a
, close, by the overthrow of Aguinaldo, before
congress assemblies, congress will no doubt
be asked to declare the purpose and policy of
the government, in regard to the Philippines
That purpose and policy, as il seems to us
and many others, should be, not TO subjugate
and hold as slaves unwilling subjects the
peoples of those Islands, but to assist them
to form a government OF their own, such as
they are capable of exercising, under our
protection and with our guidance and as
sistance, as we are guiding and assisting the
Cubans.