Iron County register., 1899-11-23
The Real Danger of imperialism.

Ex-senator Edmunds takes a con-
servative and very correct view of the
Philippine question. He contends that
our treaty with Spain makes this coun-
try Irresponsible as a sovereign TO all
other nations for the security OF their
subjects and in respect to all internal
rights" in the islands. But at the
same time he declares that
1T is entirely consistent with the
| right and duty of Congress to deter
mine whether 1t will compel the people
| OF the Philippine Islands to be our sub
| iects or citizens, or whether it will say
to those people that if they will cease
| hostility and cooperate with US in pre-
| serving peace and order until they can
| establish. with our assistance and un-
| der protection, q government of their
own, and enable us to have the right
to see to it that they do. when their
governments are SO established, pre-
serve 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 pur-
pose
Our treaty with Spain was both an
unfortunate and disgraceful affair; and
the matter was not mended in the least
by plunging into an unnecessary and
criminal war with the Filipiuos.
Instead of paying Spain $4,000, 900
for a sovereignty that she did not pos
sess, we should have made her pay an
indemnity covering the cost of the war
and the destruction of the Maine, and
relinquish' all claim TO sovereignty
prevented unpleasant complications
and left US free to act with the Filipi
nos as friends instead of bitter and IN
relenting enemies. We cannot admit
the Filipinos as citizens; the Imperial
lists themselves scout such an idea;
neither can We hold them as subjects
and semi-slaves without radically
changing our whole form of govern
ment, which the people of this country
will never consent TO do. In this
dilemma Mr.. Edmunds suggests the
only honorable course open to Us. He
says:
Il think the question for the Con-
gress and people of the United States
is, whether the principles upon which
our Government was founded, and the
principles upon which, three-fourths
Of 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 mistake to suppose that
these principles and policies are out of
date. y
By asserting these principles and
acting upon them in good faith, We
will instantly end the war and estab-
lish on the borders of Asia, under our
protection, a Republic that viii revoln-
tionize the despoiie governments of the
Eastern hemisphere and open wide TO
Us the doors OF commerce in all those
nations, without the expense and dan
ger OF MAINTAINING al army and navy
there. But this is not what the In
periaIists want. They were looking
for trouble from the beginning, believ-
ing that they could easily subjugate
the Filipinos aud that IN doing SO they
would have an opportunity to organize
and drill large army for home use.
The army is what they wanted-and
have got. The chief danger from I'm
lands. but at home; and the people
will find this out to their cost in due
Mississippi Val1ey Democrat and
Journal OF agriculture.
EaFe Ea1r vary 1azir1 HE !