The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-03-05
THE DEMOCRATIC HOUSE RESO.
LUTIONS.

The Democratic members of the lower
House of Congress, forgetting that last
year they fairly raved in their cam
paign to force the Administration into
the war with Spain before the country
was ready for it, have now had the
effrontery to meet in caucus and pass
resolutions denouncing the policy of the
President-before they know what it
is in detail-and declaring that the
Constitution was ordained for free,
self governing people; that Government
derives it's just powers from the consent
of the governed and that they, the
Democratic Representatives, are unal-
terably opposed to establishing a form
of government over any people without
the consent of the people to be gov
erned, etc. Therefore they are opposed
to exercise of control permanently over
the Philippines, but that when an indie
pendent government shall have been
established in the islands, it must be
turned overto the people on terms that
will be reasonable and just to all whose
rights are concerned.
This resolution is either not enough or
1t is too much. If the preamble con-
is sound then We should not establish
government over that people at all, but
should permit them unaided to do 1t.
Secondly, If we are to establish a gov
ernment how is it to be an independent
one without the consent of the gov
erned? Thirdly, the resolution is far
away and indefinite concerning the
terms upon which the transfer of gov
eminent should be made
1t seems to have escaped the mem
DRY of these Democrats that we estab-
lished a government in America over
some millions of native peoples without
their consent, without asking it, and in
deed in the face of their armed protest
ment over the people of Alaska without
asking for or receiving their consent,
and in like manner acted toward the
people of every acquired territory we
have. In 1865 we resumed sovereignty
over the people of the South and die
tated their governing laws without ask
ing their consent or having it. Yet it
is matter of national pride and con-
graduation that now the people of the
South accept uphold and do battle for
that government.
The resolutions of the caucus fall
and this is a vital matter-to declare
that the people of the Philippines are
either capable of giving consent to
system of government which we would
deem free, just and correspondent with
the rights of other peoples, We're it laid
before them in detail to be voted upon.
On the contrary there is studious avoid
ance of that which the whole world
knows to be true, that these islanders,
divided into numerous antagonistic
tribes, warning with each other, having
each their tribal chiefs and distinct
forms of rule, are incapable as yet of
expressing in any practicable way their
consent to or criticism of any such
form as we might present for their
judgment expressed through the bal
lot box or otherwise.
The resolutions go too far for their
purpose by conceding that we must es-
tablish an independent formof govern
ment" for the Philippines. That would
seem to give away the whole question.
1t comedies the need of the present and
is crushing seif-answer to the opposi
ton, ill-concealed in the resolutions, to
the Administration. If we are to es-
tablish a government then We must
have the right to do so. If there are
rights involved which must be guarded,
and obligations running to Spain which
we must see respected and observed,
then it is granted that We are to plant
the government which it is demanded
in some future time shall be trans
ferred. How did We acquire that right?
BY the logic of war that these same
Democrats urged upon the country. BY
transfer of the sovereignty of a power
that ruled in the Philippines and had
recognition as such by all civilized
States.
What we have to deal with then is
the present, not the future. 1t is out
of order and untimely to raise the ques-
ton of the future control of the Philip
pines at this time. We are dealing with
present conditions and they are suffi-
cient unto the hour. These conditions
the resolutions of the Democratic mem
bers of the House admit are such that
we must control at least temporarily.
1t is the future control alone then, that
troubles our friends of the opposition.
II is suggested that raising the ques-
ton of the future in the face of the
aimed rifles and poised spears of an
enemy is trespassing upon border land
speculation, and not calculated to aid
the establishment of that temporary
control, which the resolutions concede
must take the form of IAN independent
government capable of transfer to
these islanders on terms that are rea
sonable. and just to all rights secured
under the cession by Spain.''
Here, then, it is admitted that there
were rights grounded under that ces-
sion; that there is yet to be settled the
of terms: that, indeed, there are to be
terms" But II the preamble declara-
ton that the consent of the governed
Is at all times and under all condi-