St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-03-22
SPEECH OF HON. c. A. PROUTY.
Delivered Before the Brooklyn, N. v, Society
OF Vermonters.

speech OF Hon. Charles A. Prouty, inter
state commerce commissioner, before
the Brooklyn Society OF Vermonters. AS
this address is being widely circulated
throughout the state some think it will
become Mr.. Prouty's platform in sena'
torial contest. The address was delivered
about two months ago.
at had been asked to speak upon this
subject two months ago, the question
would have been, shall we take the Phil
ippines? That is no longer in doubt. 1t
never could have been to thinking man
the subject Of serious doubt, The United
States entered upon a righteous war.
b. the most brilliant event OF that war
it came into the possession of the Philip
pine Islands. We as Vermonters, GER
tainlv cannot repudiate the victory OF
Dewey, nor as American citizens can we
refuse to undertake the responsibilities
which it entailed upon us. Humanity
forbids alike that those islands should be
RENTED to the tyranny of Spain or lett
a prey to internal discussions and the ra-
pacity OF European powers. Even Mr..
BRYAN says ratity the treaty. We shall
ratiiy the treaty, and this means that
we have the Philippines.
There still remains the more embar-
RAISING question what to do with them
1t is said by some people that under the
constitution of the United States this
nation has no power to take and govern
them. This proposition may trouble
some acute constitutional lawyers, but
it will hardly trouble the people as a
whole Thomas Jefferson said over his
own signature that the United States
had no power, without an amendment
to the constitution, to make the LOUISE
ana purchase, but he himself bought it
and paid for it, and we have managed to
hold it ever since.
Another class declare that we have no
moral right to govern the Philippines for
the reason that the right Of government
springs in all cases from the consent OF
the governed, and that the future OF the
Philippine islands must be determined by
the wish OF the inhabitants of those IS
lands themselves. But does this neces-
sarily follow? Some races are incapable
of selfgovernment, and to such races in
dependence is a curse. Touissant Low
erture ranks among the disnterested pat
riots of the world, but it may be doubted
whether the freedom which he secured
has not injured rather than blessed those
who possess it. If these people are in
capable of self government, is it not the
clear duty of the United States to assume
that function which they cannot dis.
charge and to which we have properly
succeeded? To perform a national duty
is not, however, imperialism, but Ameri-
canism.
The individual is apt to see his duty
through the spectacles OF selfinterest.
All the more is true of people in whom
the idea OF an individual responsibility is
lacking. When, therefore, the facts are
known, this nation will be still largely
influenced by what is believed to be for
its interest in the matter, and that ques
ton is fair one for discussion now.
Leaving out OF consideration the Phil
ippines, not inquiring for the moment
what our duty to that people may finally
dictate, having reference entirely to the
future prosperity OF the American nation,
what ought to be our course? From that
point of view / believe, so far as have
been able to reflect and determine, that
the less we have to do with the Philip.
pine Islands the better for the United
States of America. That may be rather
hazardous statement to make, for ap-
prehend that majority Of the people of
this country at the present time think 9th
erwise, and person ought not to make
it unless he can state reason for the
faith that is in him-a task that would
require much more time than is at my
disposal tonight. can, however, state
in a single word the situation as it
strikes me, and state it from the stand
point of Vermonter, who, before he
undertakes any business enterprise gen.
enally considers whether it is likely to
pay.
What shall we do with the Philippines
for one am perfectly content to leave
that question where the law leaves it
with the present administration. Pres
dent Mckinley was elected as the repre-
sentative of a party; he stands today
upon this war and the issues Of the wal
more nearly as the representative of tn,
entire people than any president upor
any great issue since Abraham Lincoln
This question, however, is not to b,
settled by any one man, but by the yer
dict of the whole nation, and when thai
verdict is given, it will be right. Thu
American people acting after full dis
cussion and with deliberation alway
do what is right. 1t may not accorc
with your judgment or with my judg
ment, bnt the opinion OF this people i
worth more than that of an individual
or individuals; either this or the Unite
States has no future which care to cor
template.
What shall be done with the PhiiI
pines When the facts are known, it ma
be necessary to exercise over them pa
ternal government. For one, hope OIL
erwise. l hope that when the record
made up it will be found to comport wit
the dignity and honor Of this great natio
asI believe it COMFORTS with it's interest
say to those millions whose destiny h;
been placed with us: We come to you nj
as conquerors, but with the right hand
fellowship. In that hand we bring yC
not a code Tor your compulsory COVER
ment, but rather that blessing whic
when feeble, we bought with our bloc
which now, grown mighty, we estee
above all price, the blessing of liberty al
selfgovernment.