The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-01-08

people of the United States but they are
competent to govern themselves. It is not fair
TO compare them with our own citizens be-
cause the American people have been eduoat-
Ing themselves In the science of government
for nearly three centuries and while we have
much TO learn we have already made great
improvement The Filipinos will not establish
a perfect government. but they will establish
government as nearly perfect they are
competent to en1ov. and the United States
can protect them from molestation from with
out.
The Republicans Of Illinois, of course will
not expect the Filipinos to select legislature
equal to the last Republican legislature in
fidelity to the public welfare. Illinois became
a state nearly q century ago, and the legis-
lature which enacted the Allen law was, as
it were, the rpened fruit of long experience
Give the Filipinos time and opportunity and
While they never will catch up with us,
less we cease to improve, yet they may some
day stand where we stand now.
What excuse can be given for the adoption
or colonial policy2 Secretary Gage dis
closed the secret in his Savannah speech. I
think We might be justified in calling Mr.
Gage the key-hoe of the administration be-
cause we look through him to learn what is
going on within the executive council cham
Der. He suggested that philanthropy and
8 per cent would go hand in hand In the
new venture. These are the two arguments
which are always used in favor of conquest.
Philanthropy and per cent. The one chic
reforms the conscience of the conqueror ana
the other picks the pocket of the conquered.
Some say that philanthropy demands that
while others assert that we must hold the
islands because of the pecuniary profit to be
derived from them deny the soundness of
both arguments. Forcible annexation will not
only be criminal aggression Ito borrow Mr..
Mckinley'S language Of year ago), but it
will cost more than it is worth, and the whole
people will pay the cost while a few will
reap ali the benefits.
Still weaker is the argument based upon
religious duty. The Christian religion rests
upon the doctrine of vcarious suffering and
atonement; the colonial policy rests upon the
doctrine of yicarious enjoyment.
When the desire to steal becomes uncon-
trol1able in an individual he is declared to be
kleptomaniac, and is sent to an asylum;
when the desire to grab land becomes uncon-
trollable in a nation are told that the
currents of destiny are flowing through the
hearts of men," and that the American people
are entering upon their manifest mission.
Shame upon logic which locks up the
petty offender and enthrones grand larceny.
Have the people returned to the worship of
the golden calf? = Have they made unto
themselves a new commandment consistent
with the spirit of conquest and the lust for
empire? Is thou shalt not steal upon
small scale to be substituted for the law of
Moses?
Awake. oh, ancient law-giver, awake
Break forth from thine unmarked sepulchre
and speed thee back to the cloud-crowned
summit of Mount Sinai commune once more
with the God Of our fathers and proclaim
again the words engraven upon the tables Of
stone-the law that was. the law that is
nation can violate with impunity.