The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-02-04
EXPANSION AND POLYGAMY.

Among the questions presented by |
the Expansionists to the American peo
pie is the painful one Of the disposition |
of polygamy in the conquered territory |
of the Philippines. The prevailing OPP
inion among the statesmen is, that the |
Constitution covers all territory be- |
longing to the United States, and the |
inha bitants of such territories become |
American citizens, with the right to
move about, or reside in any part OF
the national domain.
Upon the ratification of the treaty
of Paris, the Philippines will become
tants citizens Of the United States. At
once, there will be added to our popu-
lation several millions of MOhammedan
polygamists, who will fiaunt in the
face Of Uncle Sam, the words Of the
great Prophet commanding plural mar
riages. Moreover, they will politely
but firmly inform Uncle Sam, in his
character as Missionary Of good gov
eminent, that they do not propose
to have their sacred institution i'm
paired by any new tangled expert
ments; that if the Occidental choose
to admit that in their boosted develop
ment one man can only manage one
woman, it remains for the Orientals
to show much higher capacity for
social organization, by the manage
ment of many women by one man.
What shall be the attitude of our
Expansionists? Will they have the
notices to be pasted upon the gate
posts and fences throughout the Phil
ippines in all dialects; ''polygamy
strictly forbidden on these premises, =
con and after date licenses to marry
only one woman issued, no good
government and polygamy can exist
together
Will the Expansionists turn loose
upon the cold Asiatic world some hun
dreds of thousands of helpless super
fuous wives, as the supert1uous wives
OF the Mormons were once driven to
the wall?
The British follow the simple and
worldly practice Of permitting the mis-
guided inhabitants OF their colonies
and dependencies to preserve and per-
petuate their own heather lnstltu-
tions. Idolatry is protected by British
bayonets. The great monkey temple
ot.o,l l,xrt l,n Pv.itJ oh
armies. Polygamists hold high office
under the British Queen. Even IN
Hong Kong, entirely British possess
sion, the Chinese are under no re-
.strictions regarding marriage.
Although the British policy in this
respect works admirably so far as
trade and law and order are concerned,
will the great American churcheS,un-
familiar with British worldly wisdom
consent to any virtual endorsement OF
polygamy, and servile imitation OF the
British? Will not bitter crusade be
made against the children OF the FRO
phet. on the ground that they vii
never be fit to rule themselves while
they permit too much marriage, a
Artemas Ward observed?
Again, if those Mohammedans become
American citizens, they will be enti
tied to protection if they immigrat'
with their wives to these Islands. :
British Mohammedan may temperate,
take his wives to London, and HI
RIGHT to his wives will be protected h.
gaw, but will it be permitted that
Mohammedan laborer or merchant ma.
emigrate to Hawaii and live there Wit
his plural family?
Should the Philippines become
part of our national territory, Con
gress may have to wink at Asiatic Pc
Iygamy, as one of those unfOrtunat
incidents that attend every great phi
aanthropic movement for the benefit @
mankind. In the records of the Oh
Testament for instance are recorde
very many winnings at the polyga
NOUS failings of the Patriarchs.
The great Denominations are dis
posed to sympathise with the Expan
sion movement, because it tends to Sc
cure for themselves a better footin
in the conquered lands. Have the
considered the polygamous aspects c
the case?