The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-09
Expansion md subiection.

To the Editor of the indianapolis Journal:
Conferring liberty on the FilpiRos by she'd
ding blood in subjecting them to civilization
is the phraseology in which a New England
writer emphasizes his hostility to the ex-
tension of the principles of government he
boasts as the best in the world Forcing
or subjecting an individual or a class to the
observance of the rights of others, and to
the principles which bring them to the en-
ioyment of the highest possible privileges,
is no hardship, nor does it take from them
any Patufal rights. Rather, II restores to
them the natural rights from which they
have fallen or have never possessed. Life
liberty and the pursuit of happiness come
in the observance of the rights of others
and not in the liberty" to rob and murder
The consent of the governed" is another
phrase used, and is wholly removed from its
relation by other noted New England people
Consent to what, pray? Consent to give
up barbarism? Many of the FIlipinos may
not readily do that. According to anv civ
ilized ethics known no people have anv
natural right to forms of barbarism, lust
as they have no right to propagate Asiatic
cholera ana spread it to others. For more
than hundred years the consent of the
governed who have not kept pace in ad-
Vanclng civilization and human betterment
nave cfumDled away and come under the
sway and authority of those who have That
is the fiat of the Eternal the natural order
and this Nation has been taking a hand a [
II ever since II was organized-with the In
uans the French people in the Louisiana
purchase. the Spaniards in Florida and else
where. The question of the consent of the
governed was never raised till we went ont
INTO the islands TO lift up humanity though
some nave always objected to expansion in
side of our coast lines. Even the whole of
Oregon Territory, then embracing much of
the present Dakotas. Montana idaho and
Washington, comprising now MANY of the
n nf 1n mic
gained off to Great Britain for small privi-
Ieges off Cape Cod by this same class but
was saved TO the Nation by Western man
VINO rode on horseback in the dead of winter
over the Rocky mountains from Oregon TO
WASHINGTON city. And now it is this same
Western spirit which, in broad contact. sees
Things broadly that is TO keep the Nation
on it's pace.
There are other reasons which suggest
hesitation in expansion to the far-away Phil
lppines. but there are none in the catch
phrases mentioned. We may shrink from
what seems 4 hard task But who will
haul down the American flag" as the Presi-
dent puts IL? This is the question and it
must be met squarely, and not with subter-
came to pass of which we had not before
dreamed. In other perpleXing hours of our
history. when things looked dark, great
man who became President said there is a
God, and the government at Washington
still lives. We may well abide i'm doing right
at the present moment and the next best
step VIII be made palmer by ii. IT'S the
divinity that stirs within us" One who IS
already President believes there is a God
and the helm Of the Nation at Washington
It valid objection. WILLIAM CANNON
Indianapolis, Jan. Z