The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-04-21
GEO,ROBER7S WRITES
Telling and Convincing Argument on
the Expansion Question.
ARTICLE OF INTEREST,
Letter Written by Geo. Roberts for Re
publican Columns of the Dow
City Enterprise.

The following letter was written by
Hon. Geo. E. Roberts. Director of the
United States MINIS, for the republic
can column of the Dow City Enterprise.
1t is a thoroughly convincing argument
from one whose opinion is valued
throughout the United States. In order
to give it the widest possible circula-
ton among the people of this county
it is re-publshed in the REVIEW.
The editors of this column have ask
ed me to write an article for it upon
the policy of the administration toward
the people of the Philippine Islands. l
comply with pleasure, prefacing it with
the statement that speak only for my
self and do not pretend to forecast the
future policy of the republican party.
The policy of the administration has
been waiting one. 1t has not tied it.
self hard and fast to one course. 1t has
done from day to day what its duty un-
der the conditions of the hour has re-
quired. 1t keeps in view certain re-
sponSibilities which have fallen to this
government, and meets them. 1t is
endeavoring to inform itself accurately
and fully upon the needs and views of
the people of these islands and will be
governed by the information it receives
1t is said the administration Is con-
Quoting war of subjugation against a
people struggling for freedom and in
dependence, a policy of aggression, I'M
| justifiable and inconsistent in the peo-
pie of a republic. 1t is affirmed that
the acquisition of the Philippines is I'M
desirable, that the islands are not
worth to us the 100000 to be paid or
the expenditure in life and money they
will occasion.
The reply to this is, first, that we
could not consistently relinquish the
Philippines to Spain. No considerable
number of people believe that with the
power in our hands to relieve these is
lands of the cruel yoke they had borne
we should have returned them to theil
oppressors. The payment of $40, 100000
was not for the islands, but liberia
compensation to Spain, prompted by 3
spirit of justice, for the public property
such as buildings, docks. and perman
, emit improvements of various kinds
;, Germany made a concession to Franc,
when the latter coded Alsace and Lor
aine. So far the administrations
; policy has been supported by larg
majority of those who oppose the re
tention of the Philippines. The rea
. antagonism is against all efforts t
+ maintain our authority against put
!, ting down what on one side is regarde
as rebellion and on the other side
. struggle for liberty.
n The claim that Aguinaldo represent
n even numerical majority of the in
d habitants of the Philippine Islands
s purely an assumption. No election ha
4 ever been held. He Las nothing t
d support his claim, but an army whic
e he gathered to fight the Spaniards, an
o which partly by lying misrepresenta
@ tions and partly by threats, he ha
o turned against their liberators. Their
t is no question that large majority o
: the property owning people in the is
f lands, and of educated classes, the PEG
b pie who are capable of government
u who have something at stake, and VIII,
r desire peace and stable government il
L order that industries may be carried on
$ do not desire the authority of tn
o United States withdrawn. They d.
: not want to be left to the mercies o
Q Aguinaldo and his army. They do no
: want him for ruler. They do no
d have faith in him or his ability to Civ
g them security. They know that tn
form of government maintained in TIL
United States is not possible at TIL
present stage of advancement of tn
people of the Philippines, and that TO
fhn Int Tot %- A..