The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-11-05

of the Republican party is Numerically
opposed to the position taken by it in its
earlier days The Republican platform
of 1860, copied from the Declaration of
Independence its four great principles.
namely: that all men are created equal;
that they are endowed with inalienable
rights; that governments are instituted
among men to secure these rights and
that governments derive their just pow
ers from the consent of the governed.
Republican leaders are now amending
the Declaration of Independence to make
it read that governments derive Just
powers from the consent of SOME of
the governed. LiTcoln's eulogy i'm 1858.
when he declared that it was erected by
the forefathers 'as Il beacom to guide
their children and their children's chill
0ren and the countless myriads who
should inhabit the earth in other ages
contrasts strangely with the lam
gtlage of present day Republicans who
declare that our nation is too big to be
bound by the limitations imposed by the
doctrine of splf-goyeriment
One of the main arguments advanced
IN behalf OF the forcible annexation OF
the Philippine Islands is that we owe it
to the Filipinos to take them under our
protecting wings. tax them without repre-
sentation and govern them without their
consent. ON the theory that they are not
capable of seh-gover1ment.
In one Of his speeches just prior to the
war Lincoln said: These arguments
that are made that the inferior races
are to he treated with as much allow
ance as they are capable of enjoying;
~ L.
their condition win allow-what are these
arguments? They are the arguments
that kings have made for enslaving the
people in all ages of the world. You
will find that all the arguments in favor
of lIingctaft were of this class: they
always bestrode the necls of the peo-
ple--not that they wanted TO do it, bat
because the people were better off for
being ridden"
The Republicans who contend now that
amy criticism of the Administration poll
cy is unpatrotic and calculated to help
the Filipinos. have either forgotten, CT
never read, the speech made by Lincoln
in the denunciation of President Polk in
the midst of the Mexican war.
Those Republicans who would crush
the aspirations Of the Fifpinos for self
of 1853, in which Ire said:
"What constitutes the bulwark of our
liberty and independence? 1t is not our
fr0wning battlements. oalr briStlng sea-
coasts. our army and navy These are
not our reliance against tyranny. All of
these may be turned against us without
making us weaker for the struggle. Our
reliance is i'm the spirit of liberty which
4 Il fl,.,A IL No
in THE SPIRIT WHICH PRIZES
LIBERTY AS THE HERITAGE OF
ALL MEN IN ALL LANDS. EVERY
WHERE. DESTROY THIS SPIRIT,
AM. YOU HAVE PLANTED TIE
SEEDS OF DESpOTISM AT YOUR
y Nm DOORS"
SLAVERY IN THE PHILIPPINES.
TN rty-five years ago the Republicans
declared that no white man could own
4 black man under the American flag:
now some of the Republicans assert that
This nation can rightfuly purchase
brown people from an alien monarch at
two dollars apiece. and then put them to
death If they object TO the bargain.
The Republican party was largely in
strlmental in securing a constitutional
amendment which prohibits slavery Em
the United States, and get. according
to d recent report from Manila, the Adj
ministration has made n treaty which
recognizes slavery in the Sulu Arehi-
pelago, and provides Gn Article NJ that
any slave in the archipelago of SUN
shah have the right to purchase freedom
by paying to the master the usual MAI
ket price" Presto, change! But WI
III the Republicans change with the
party? w. j. BRl IN.
A guard chain should always be on
the watch.