The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-06-27
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
Our Greatness.


preston OF their opinion upon the policies
of government, either through the press OF
through pu0lc speeches, to their lelio"-
men without this liberty for Its citizens
no renubiic can exist Truth is more oi'eu
found through the dissemination OF many
opposing Views than by the strlhihs oi
It's fires from a solitary mlnu. ine w
right. the honest and the patriotic man mas
no objection to the most searehlhs "a
yestigation into the principles and pollcles
which represent his political conviction
1t is not necessary to the stability OF the
United States government that all her
citizens should be unanimous In their po-
lftieal convictions That we should De
divided as regads the issues OF the war
between the United States and spain 10
moi al all strange. The anti eXpanslonlst
is not traitor 10 his country's goou, De-
cause he is opposed TO expansion. ms
writer Is opposed to expansion as pro.
posed by those who favor the annexing OF
Cuba without allowing its inhaoltahts inc
choice between establishing an independ-
ent government and of annexation to the
United States. And / am also opposed 10
the annexation of the Philippine ISLANDS
without the consent Of its inhabitants l
do not feel that my approval OF sucn
policies incapacitates me for citizenship or
in the least affects my loyalty to the con
stituton of the United States
These are questions of public policy, OF
justice and of humanity. And ] propose
to consider these questions in the order
as named: l. AS a question of public
policy | have not been able to see the
numerous blessings which are said Will
accrue to us by annexation OF these is
lands by expansionsts The strength of a
republic depends uron The mutual prlvi-
leges and mutual interests Of its citizens.
Fdrcible annexation as proposed by eX-
pausiCnlsts can not, in my estimation,
bring with It mutual privileges and rlu-
tual interests. From the very nature of
such arrangement the present inhabitants
of these Islands can not be allowed any
voice in their government. The possession
of territory by the United States. with
its inhabitants barred the privilege of ever
joining the sisterhood of States. as ad-
vocated by exparsionists. can not con-
tribute to the peace and security Of the
Union. our political connection with the
inhabitants of these islands should be
upon the broad basis of equal rights and
equal privileges with ourselves. or we
should abandon all pretensions to patriot
ism and integrity Our purchase Of the
Philippine islands from the Spanish gov
eminent, without allowing the Inhabitants
OF those Islands SO much as the privilege
of making a bid for the purchace Of their
country, is as despicable in us as a people
and government as it was selfish and des-
potic, Had we the good of those people
at heart, could we desire their debasement
as a people? | think not. Men do not
usually treat their friends thus. In the
purchase Of the Philippines we purchased
with them the robes Of SPANS tyranny
over these islands And in trying to sub
1ugate them We are perpetrating the in
fanny of her policies It is useless for us
as a people to argue of the goodness of our
intentions toward the people Of these is
lands when all our acts speak to them of
the contrary. Opposition Of the Filipinos to
the United States gG,2rnment arises not
from the sympathy of any anti-expansion-
list in the United States, but from that in
born principle of the soul--a love of lib
erty.
2. As to the question Of Justice, do not
think any liberty loving man can doubt
for moment that We ought to Civ. the
people Of Cuba and of the Philippines the
same liberty which We required of the
English for ourselves. If It be considered
Just to free the colored race and en-
dow them with the full attributes of ciu-
zenship in the face of the constitution of
the United States how much the more
then Is 1t our duty to give liberty to these
people. Previous condition OF seryitude
ana color of skin should not be the limit
OF our sympathy toward mankind We
should extend our charities upon broader
principles and leave higher example to
future generations.
D. AS to the question of humanity, have
we pursued course humane toward these
peoples? The Cuban we have doniineered
INTO compliance with our wishes. they
being too well aware of their inability TO
cope with the United States. Acquiescence
III anything the United States might do
was their only hope, They have undoubt-
edly surrendered themselves to the 'sten-
der marcies" OF the United States. What
mat VIII be, time must prove, for there
seems to be no settled conviction as TO
What shall be their final status. The
Filipino is receiving the full benefit of our
II humane sympathles now Chased from
ms nome as II he were a wolf or some
other beast OF prey We fire whole platoons
OF humanity into his carcass with as lfttle |
injunction of conscience as IL we vera
engaged in slaughterng the man-eatinp
uger OF midas iuugles. And all for ,ybat9 |
simply to show those poor creatures fhe
strength of the United States government
simply to show these people who meyer
sought the relationship we are seeking m |
impose upon them that we can ana win |
mem, what glorious mission .
we nave IN this our new possession. Wbot (
honor, what greatness shall we not attain /
20. II the heavens fall not and Sc sun
p r{St not 10 send his genial rays, where |
1 nn our greatness receive its limit? Or
"nen VIII the world cease ringing inc /
-ocstn OF our martial grandeur. when tbis
y, ~ isHly event mas been consummated? I,ot
me gods stand in awe and the warId
lrsmhles at the accomplishment q, this
m'snty EVENT. Truly we are great
Quincy navt5so, p