Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-09-28

NOnultlOnS IN CuDa tenQ 10 snow the
inability of the mixed population of that
island to institute and maintain a local
government that will afford protection to
the lives and property Of the people, and
throw around the investments of foreign
ers the necessary guarantees of safety.
Yet, the democratic press censure the adj
ministration of President Mckinley for
not withdrawing the authority of this
country from Cuba-even when Dewey
says the Cubans are less fitted for self
government thar the F%ilipinos, who have
not exercised the functions of self-gov-
eminent for more than three hundred
years!
Bourbon overlook the great
fact in civilization that the day of the
hermit nation is passed. The interests of
the commercial and Industrial world, the
instincts of a progressive age, are against
isolation. Nations can no more build
; around themselves the walls of exclusion
| IMAM Cdu Tie lIlulN luudl Ill d community
of his Fellow beings. To talk about leav-
ing an incompetent people to their own
devices, when, in the nature of things,
the vested interests of other nations are
involved, and trade rights n property
rights are in issue, is unadulterated folly.
For the American government to aban-
don its authority in Cuba, or in the Phil
ippines, on the theory advanced by the
Standard that we have mo right to deny
to them the privilege of trying and doing
the best they can," would be to ignore
sacred responsibilities which circum-
stances compelled us to assume, place
a check on progress, allow the destruc-
ton Of property acquired in good faith.
interrupt the Well established trade rela-
tions Of the world, and lay the founda-
tons for distrust and turmoil and war.
1t is only when conditions in Cuba are
such hat a stable self-government can
be established and maintained tina
American authority can with safety and
iloiloI We WllHuTaWn. lnQer the reSOlu-
ton adopted BY congress that course Of
procedure will be followed, whenever the
United States can properly lay down the
burdens which We're assumed when wal
against Spain was declared.
-
But with the Philippines, other points
Of equity are involved. Through Dewey's
great victory at Manila those islands
finally became the property Of the Amer
purchase from an empire that had held
a titled approved by the world for more
than three hundred years. From the
standpoint of ownership, the title of the
United States to the Philippines is as
good as its title to Alaska, or to any
other territory acquired by purchase af-
President Mckinley, in his capacity of
chief executive. has invoked the military
arm of the government to protect our new
possessions from the assaults of men who
refuse to recognize the rights acquired
by our government, and who murder our
soldiers and fire upon our flag. He is
doing precisely what he would be eX-
pected to do We're there an indian upris-
ing in this country, under some chief who
declared that his people were the original
inhabitants and had never voluntarily
surrendered possession!
Aguinaldo, in fact, has less claim to
Independence" on such grounds than the
Apache ndian would have, for the So
called rebellion which he had fathered
had been satisfactorily settled and he had
retired from the scene.
1t was not until opposition to the hold
ing of the Philippines lar developed in
this country, through the copperhead ut
]terances of the democratic press, that the
whilom rebel, Aguinaldo, again decided
to institute another rebellion. The man.
ner in which he brought this movement
about is a matter of history. So much for
the equities of the case. When congress
meets-that body, upon which rests the
responsibility of determining the future
policy of the nation in the Philippines
the capacity of the Filipino for s~elf-gov-
eminent doubtless will be thoroughly
discussed. and such legislation will be
provided as will best conserve the true
interests of that people in the future, by
promoting civilization through just and
equable laws for their government.