The San Francisco call., 1899-09-29

phere and along contiguous lines
and over adjacent territory this
country has continuously expanded. II is
also true that the territory acquired was
either already largely occupied by, or in
ev1tably would in the immediate future
be occupied, in controlling degree by
American citizens. 1t was not, therefore,
a question of assuming forcible jurisdic-
ton over millions of people, who would
continue to be in subsection to our su-
premacy TO the end of time, but it was
always question of acquiring more ter
rltory for more American citizens and
more states. 1t might be admitted that IN
these proceedings, as in most others of
national moment, there may have been
involved some degree of theoretical wrong
or injustice, bu the great controlling pur-
pose was in favor of and consistent with
the justice Of the proceeding. and there
fore the precedent has no possible applica-
ton where the great body of the inhab-
itants are being subjected to our contin-
ued arbitrary rule. A policy that may
contain some wrong is not a justification
Of policy that is all wrong.
No house can be constructed so that 1t
is not in a degree unhealthy. No water is
chemically pure; yet we of necessity live
in houses and drink water, at least some
of US do, which is never thought to be q
justification of the idea that we should
all live in sewers and drink swin. The
acquisition of Louisiana is about as much
parallel case to the acquisition OF the
Philippines as would be the occupation OF
house in which disease might be bred
and the voluntary taking up Of ones
abode in a sewer.
What the American people should do at
this time is TO quit talking about mag
mary providence of God and the irresisti-
lenses as to duty TO the people We are
engaged at present in killing off and
abandon all sophistical arguments in re-
gard to having purchased a wrong and
acquired a right, and come soberly and In
telligently to consider whether the juris-
diction over the Philippines is worth the
price of a SubVefSion of the doctrine OF
rule by the consent OF the governed, Is
worth the price of a great standing army
and militariSm in our republican country
is worth the price of continued warfare,
and whether or not it would not be wise,
humane and eXpedient for this Govern
ment to return to it's suitable jurisdiction
and 10 the western hemisphere for the ex-
ercise thereof.
1t is pointed out that the nations are
engaged in the partition of tropical and
Oriental countries; that there is a great
deal of wealth, trade and power TO be d.
vided, and We must get our share. Thls
reminds me of story of a municipal OIL
Ger in a neighboring State. 1t was reput-
ed on good authority that there was a
large sack on hand to be divided among
the officers upon the letting of a contract
to certain parties. The officer in question
was keen on the scent of the sack but
was unable TO find it. He finally conclud-
ed that his associates had formed a trust
to carry the scheme through and he was
left out, and he became so angry that he
went out on the streets and announced
that there was a sack and his associates
were not doing the fair thing, and that
he would be banked if he did not get his
share. In other words, something was TO
be stolen, and the official was going TO
have his share, and so he announced 1t
publicly. And II is announced that the
brown and the black man, along with
few odd ends of the white race, are TO be
partitioned and divided up among the
crowned heads of the Old World, and ii is
also announced that this free demo-
cratic Government hitherto respecting
the rights of man and not participating in
the spoils of nations, is behind the age
and unwise if ii does not get its share OF
the spois-all of which, TO my mind, is
unwise and Improbable and an inhuman
suggestion. The money we have, the
property we have acquired thus far is
honest money, earned In manly way we
have by our own hands titled the soil,
opened mines, extended the commerce OF
this country in fair competition, and by
honest industry have advanced our posi-
ton among the nations of the world. But
we are told this course is impracticabie
and should not be further pursued; that
subjugation and the commerce that fol-
lows the flag where the flag follows the
sword.
The so-caled and self-styled practical
men of every nation in this same way and
in the interest of greed have destroyed
every nation that has suffered destruction
practical men; they are hasty greedy
and impractical. More of solidity and
more of wealth always results, individu-
ally and nationally, from following an
honorable, consistent course based upon
principle Even If from greed or spoliaton
to the individual or the nation there comes
wealth and power 1t is put tenn temporary OF
We are therefore face to face with crit
ical situation and great problem that we
must solve. / have great confidence in the
the American people TO solve 1t right, and
while the policy of expansion may result
to the temporary advantage OF the Re
publican party, as a Republican and as
a member of that party l am unfalterlngly
against it, for the reason, among others,
that / believe it will lead to the ultimate
defeat of the Republican party.
We must all frankly admit that the sit
uation at present is grave. The further
difficulty and uncertainty. The expansion
lists say that there is now no possible
course but to fight the war to it's end and
then determine what we shall DO; that
win the victory. My own view of the situ-
alton is that our national honor is. not
honor is alone involved in the issue as to
how we conduct ourselves as nation and
as people in, determining this question
Obviously defeat cannot Tan result from IN
prolonged-and l think and trust not
very iong-the Filipinos cannot defeat
this country. We know and the
world knows that we cannot, in the
sense the word is usually used, win
any victory in this war. So the war can
result in neither defeat nor victory, and
honor in either event is impossible. To
assume that this nation can win any
distinction or honor in this war is alb
surd. individuals by the performance of
individual duty may win as much honor
in this war as in any other, but to as
sumo this great country, the fathers Of
which. 100000 strong, won victory over
the then greatest nation Of the world
and have since prosecuted great wars
with great nations to brilliant success,
could win honor and victory in fight
with a lot OF Malays in malarious tropi-
cal swamps is about as ridiculous as it
would be to assume that the most sue
cessful gladiator in the Roman arena
could have won honor by sticking a pig.
II we are TO grant the Filipinos ulti-
mate independence, why not grant 1t now?
We are told that the war is on, and that
Ii must be ended; but if the war is wrong
1t cannot be ended too soon. And the
contention that we would suffer appar
ent defeat is too absurd for considera-
ton. In this war we cannot suffer ac-
tual or apparent defeat, and to deter
mine that the F'ilipinos of right ought
to be granted the privileges of -self-gov-
ernment and at the same time determine
that before we can grant 1t to them we
must to the extent of almost extermina-
ton defeat them at the expenditure of
much money and the loss of many Amer