The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-05

that the example set by our great democ-
racy would be an inspiration to those strug-
CLING for liberty the world over; and 1 mean
those enemies who hate republican govern
ment and who long to see the American
people diSgraced and Inundated. So they
think; / know it from my own correspond
enCe Nothing has in our times discredited
the name of republic in the civilized world as
much as the Dreyfus outrage in France and
quest Juror more, because from us the world
hoped more.
mo, do not deceive yourselves. If we turn
that war which was so Solemnly commenced
to the favor of mankind as a generous war
of liberation and humanity into a victory for
conquest and ACKNOWLEDGMENT, we shall
have thoroughly forfeited our moral credit
with the world. Professions of unselfish
virtue and benevOlence, proclamations of no.
bic humanitarian purposes coming from us
will never, never be trusted again. Is this
the position in which this great Republic Of
ours should stand among the family of ma
tons? Our American Self-reSpect should rise
in indignant protest against it.
We cannot expect that the Porto Ricans,
the Cubans and the Filipinos will maintain
orderly governments in Anglo-SaXon fash.
ion. But they may succeed in establishing Il
tolerable order of things in their fashion, as
Mexico, after many decades of turbulent
disorder, succeeded at last, under Porfirio
Diaz. in having strong and orderly gov
eminent of her kind, not, indeed, such a
government as we would tolerate in this
Union but a government answering Mex
lean character and interests, and respectable
in its relations with the outside world. This
Will become all the more possible if, without
anneXing and ruling those people, we simply
put them on their feet, and then give them
the benefit of that humanitarian spirit which,
as we claim, led us into the war for the
liberation of Cuba. 70 this end should
keep our troops on the islands until their
people have constructed governments ard
organized forces of their own for the main
tenance of order Our military occupation
should not be kept up as long as possible,
but should be withdrawn as soon as possible.
The Philippines may as Belgium and
Switzerland are in Europe, be covered by a
powers most interested in that region-an
agreement which the diplomacy of the
United States should not find difficult TO
obtain. This would secure them against
foreign aggression. AS to the independent
republics of Porto RIGA and Cuba, our gov
eminent might lend its good offices to unite
them with San Domingo and Haiti in a
confederacy of the Antilles, to give them
a more respectable international standing.
StiDulatiOnS should be agreed upon with
them as to open ports and the freedom Of
business enterprise within their borders,
affording all possible commercial facilities.
Missionary effort in the largest sense, as
TO the development of popular education and
of other civilzing agencies, as well as
abundant charity in case of need, will on
our part not be wanting, and all this will
help to mitigate their disorderly tendencies
and to steady their governments.
THUS we shall be their best friends with
out being their foreign rulers. We shall have
done our duty to them, to ourselves, and to
the world. However imperfect their govern
nentS may sun remain, they Will at least
be their own, and they will not with their
disorders and corruptiOnS cOntaminate our
institutions, the integrity of which is not
only to ourselves, but to liberty-loving man
kind, the most important concern of all We
may then await the result with generous pa
tence-W1th the same patience with which
Tor many years we witnessed the revolution
airy disorders of Mexico on our very borders,
without any thought of taking her govern
ment into our own hands.
ASK yourselves whether a policy like this
will not raise the American people to a level
OF moral greatness never before attained
If this democracy, after all the intOxication
OF triumph in war, cOnScientiously remem-
bers its professions and pledges, and sober
~ reflects on its duties to itself and others,
and then deliberately ressts the temptation
of conquest, it will achieve the grandest tri-
umph of the democratic idea that history
knows of. 1t will give the government of
for and by the people a prestige it never
before possessed. 1t will render the cause
of civilization throughout the world a serv-
ice without a parallel 1t will put its detrac-
tors to shame and its voice will be heard
in the council of nations with more sincere
respect and more Difference than ever The
American people. having given proof of their
strength and also of their honesty and wis
DOM will stand infinitely mightier before the
world than any number of subiugated vas
sails could make them. Are not here our best
interests, moral and material? Is not this
genuine glory? Is not this true patriotism %