Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-09-14

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provisional government at Csvite in the
summer of 1893, in the presence of our
army and navy, and issued to the world
q declaration of Independence much in
the manner of our forefathers in lT7G.
This proclamation Of their purpose
must have received not only the ap-
proyal but the active encouragement
and aid of the American officials then
on the islands; for the soldiers of this
new government, having been partly
armed by. these officials, took their
places as our allies at tho posts of
greatest danger, with the sole object
seemingly of driving the Spaniards
from their country, and maintaining
the independence which they had thus
proclaimed.
If, therefore, the Filipincs are hon
estly fighting for the establishment of
a government to be administered by
their own people, and for their own
freedom and happiness. then their
purpose must commend itself to you
as to all friends of liberty throughout
the world. And | do not hesitate to
say that, in my Judgment, such is their
purpose, and their only purpose, in
resisting forcible subjugation. And
my belief in their sincerity is not of
the sickly and sentimental kind. IL is
that irresistible conviction which
grows out of an unprecedented examina-
ton OF facts. Those facts, | fear, are
in some measure purposely concealed.
They cannot be concealed from the
general public much longer.
Your second proposition is that il the
Filipinos were able to achieve their
purpose, they would themselves DO far
worse off than under the rule which we
intend to bring them.
| do not doubt your own good inten-
tiops; but may | ask you to specify
with some degree of precision the char
acter of that beneticent rule which you
would bring to this unhappy people?
l must take it for granted that you
mean self-government for the islands
that you would follow the unbroken
presidents of our political history, and
pledge to these new citizens of the
republic all the guarantees of the
Federal Constitution. Upon their
application you would, no doubt,
promptly admit them as States on an
equal footing with the 40 States now
constituting the Union Their popu-
lation is sufficient, and they have sealed
with blood their devotion to freedom
Uu nunurbuS OF DHUII6 QblQS,
The single island Of Luzon contains
100000 inhabitants, emitting it,
under our present apportionment, to
II or is members of Congress, and
the two Senators as fixed by the Con-
stitution. If it be your intention to
| accord these people the full rights of
American citizenship, you but follow
| the doctrine of the fathers. This is in
l nhpn t,t
of our Supreme Court. Such has been
| the insariable practice in all the de-
| partments of our government, and such
has ever been the teaching of our
statesmen and of the accepted COM
| mentators on the Constitution.
But, whatever may be your charita-
BILE intentions toward the Philippine
| people, you must remember that you
are but single unit in this great
aggregate of T5.000,000 of our popu-
lation. It is unfortunately not good
time for reason. Peace must first rule
the day before reason can rule the
mind; and peace is not possible SO long
as we continue to demand uncon-
ditional surrender or total destruction
of an entire people, We arc in the
midst of war, and in such times the
brutal instincts of human nature assert
their supremacy. and the ardor of con-
test always clamors for victory, right
or wrong.
Congress- alone is authorized to de-
clare war, under our Constitution.
Congress did declare one war, but that
was against Spain. That war has long
since been closed BY treaty of peace. A
war declared by nobody. but far greater
in its proportions than the Spanish
war, still goes on in its relentless
career of blood and ruin. A whole
nation OF innocent people are being
slaughtered, seemingly because their
total destruction is necessary to the
enjoyment of their possessions pos
sessions whose occupancy by Americans
is absolutely forbidden by natures
God. Why this war began is mys-
terry; wheE it shall end seems to
depend upon the discretion OF a nerve
less President. Unless specially called
by the Executive, Congress cannot
convene before next December. In the
meantime we shall continue to hear
but one side. On that side are sense
force as that the flag wherever planted
must wave for ever. - Admit this
doctrine, and England is now the law.
full owner of Cuba and tho Philippine
Islands, for she once took them from
Spain and fioated her flag over both
il taking q single city means dominion
over continent. Admit tho doctrine
and we must retake Mexico, Algiers,
and Canada. who will dare haul
down the American f1ag?" That in.
solent and impairment question, en-.
tirely worthy of a Tipperary bully, will
continue to yex the ear. If these people
are to be American citizens, entitled
to all the civil and political rights
given them by the Constitution, ther
the flag to them may be blessing.
The flag and the Constitution, how
ever, must go together. Take away
the freedom which the flag symbolzes
and it becomes bloody rag, meaning
nothing better than conquest ant
slavery.
For what purpose then arc we con
quering the Philippine people? Ant
how are they to be governed wher
passed under the yoke Of subiugation
These are the great questions which
sooner or later we must solve for our
selves, and which the Philippine peopl
have propounded to our rules, begin
, ming with the President, and goinI
down to the captains of companies
whose only reply has been TO NOV
them down by thousands with tn
destructive arms Of modern science
Shall these people be citizens of tn
United States, free to come and g,
from State to Slater Shall they b
governed by local Legislatures of thei
! own selection, represented in tn
Federal Congress, and clothed will
all the rights of American freemen
l h +bo ia1a