Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1899-02-23
imuerlaIism.

j ne treaty OF peace Win Cpdlu mas Deeu
ratified; We have put a stop to Spanish
oppression in the West Indiss and Philip
pines and have complaicentiy entered upon
our mission of civilizing and christianiziDg
the Fiipinos by killing off some thousands
of them 10 the most approved military
style.
We have yet to pay Spain $20000,000
for the privilege of conquering a people
whom she was unable to conquer, and for
giving up territory for which she was no
more entitled to compensation than she
has Tor Cuba and Porto Rico, and we are
about to spend $44 000, 600 tor additions to
our navy, and our regular army is to be
increased TO one hundred thousand men !;
but we are bound to civilize and christian.
ize the Filipinos
True we have never been able TO civilize
some two hundred and fifty thousand
Indians whom we have had in our midst
dnribg the whole period of our national
existence. bat, no doubt we shall be more
successful with eight or ten millions of
savages on the other side OF the earth.
1t may be some encouragement to know
that if Oils keeps on, there won't be many
of these left to civilize by this time next
year.
Washington Irving sass our foTefatheTs
introduced medicines and drugs among the
ab0rigines of this country, and 10 order
that the poor creatures might appreciate
these blessings, they introduced the diseases
which the remedies were designed to cure
they also converted them to christianity
and prepared them for the next world, and
then hurried them into it with powder and
ball having previously removed the
temptation Of earthly things from their
pathway by robbing them of their lands.
That his is about the way we will
civilize and christianizsn the Filipinos is
more than likely. With all his boasted
civilization the Anglo Saxon is the most
rapacious creature on God Almighty's green
earth.
Not but what be has his good qualities
and more OF them than any other race, but
like the lordly Roman of old days, his good
qualities are not shown when he comes in
contact with interior races.
He delights to talk about freedom and
the rights of man, but when his high
sounding phrases are interpreted in the
light of his practice you find that he is
about the only man whose freedom and
rights interest him He feels called upon
to spread the gospel of peace and good
willn among the heatheD, but he is pretty
sure to back it up with rapid fire guns and
battle ships.
No one has higher ideals than the Anglo
Saxon. aud most especially bis American
offspring, but he has not yet reached the
point when he will live up to them when
they cobflict with what be thinks is to his
interest No doubt he will reach this
standard in time, but up to the present his
philanthropy is mostly theory, while his
ambition and avarice are stern realities.
No amount Of reason and argument will
convince the American lingo that we
should not abandon the principles that
have made us the richest and most power
full nation on the face Of the earth, and
plunge into career of imperialism and
important interference 10 the affairs of
others, but when we con to pay foI it all,
the better experience. Of high taxes may
accomplish what reason and the lessons of
history have failed to do.
Heretofore, our policy of peace and non
interference has given us an incalcuable
advantage over the war-like nations of
Europe.
The bulk of their male population mas
been withdrawn from the gainful occupa-
tions and kept in vast standing armies,
while the greater part of the earnings of
those who are not in the military service
has been absorbed in the support of the
soldiery Ia America, on the other hand,
practically the whole population has been
free to assist in increasing the national
wealth, while comparatively little has been
wasted in the support OF military non
producers This advantage we are about
to throw away. and while increasing our
national expenses we will diminish our
ability to meet them. As 8 natural conse-
quepee our progress will be checked and
taxes will go up
1t may be noted in passing that the taxes
of the future will probably be derived
mostly from internal revenue, and will
thus he more directly under the notice of
the people.
In the Dingley bill the protective tariff
system may be regarded as having reached
high water mark, and future changes will
be in the direction of free trade
Indeed, indications are not wanting that
there is growing sentiment among
ultra protectionists that the tariff system
has served its purpose, and should be
gradually abolished in order that our
manufacturers may have cheaper raw
material and wider markets
When the bulk of the taxes are raised BY
the internal revenue system, it will be no
longer possible to fool the tax payers into
the belief that the foreigner pays the
taxes, and we may look for a vigorous kick
when he finds his burden increasing every
year He won't be so anxious to expand"
when he realizes how much it costs
Ia the meantime John Bull must be
laughing in his sleeve at Uncle Sans
antics under the influence of little Judi
cious patting on the back and little 'soft
sawder.n
Time was when John Boil regarded his
American offspring with iealonsly and
contempt; while Uncle Sam looked upon
John with cold suspicion, and did not
hesitate to call him down when occasion
demanded.
of late years, however, John has found
himself friendless aud alone in the Euro
pean family OF nations. and so when Uncle
Sam became involved in the Spanish war,
John automatically threw out some vague
hints about helping him in case of need,
and tlattered him little. and 10 in few
short months the erstwhile peaceable
Samuel has become a staggering bnlly
anxious only to pattern after John Bull
and to win his approval Some of these
days he will find himself so involved in
foreign complications and disputes that he
will he obliged to form a defensive and
ofeDsivs alliance with John and help pull
the latters chestnuts ont of the FIRE In
Africa and Asia, and the Lord only knows
where else-which is precisely the object
that the willy ]. B. has had in view all
along.
As for the Filipinos, their action in re-
sisiing American authority is iust what
ours would be under the same cireum
They have been fighting years
for independence. and have no more con-
sented to be subject to the United States
than they consented to be subject to Spain
What is it cur business if they should
fail to govern themselves according to our
ideas We have, in many particulars,
failed to govern ourselves according to the
European idea but we have always stoutly |
maintained that it is nobody's business but
our own.
Suppose that, at the close of our revo-
lutionary war, France having enabled as to |
throw off the British yoke, Just as we have
enabled the Filipinos to throw off the
Spanish yoke, had undertaken to keep us
IN subsection. Suppose she had said these
Americans are, no doubt, incapable of self
government they have no Divinely ap-
pointed king to tule over them, and they
will certainly fall into a state of auarchv