The age-herald., 1899-08-06
LAUCHL|N ON
 IMPERIALISM The Seeming Absence of a
 Policy IS SIMPLY A CLOAK For Definite Plans to Hold the
 Philippines. THE $ INSPIRATIONS POLICY aTv
 S z IS~ Is C $ cry, Unfair, and Calculated z to Deceive.
 
$ cry, Unfair, and Calculated to Deceive.
AT PRESIDENT LINCOLN SAID
Speaker Brought Up the Late Civil War and Showed Difference Be- tween the Two-Uses Canada
 as Test of the Situation

Chicago, August 5.--A well attended meeting of the Anti-Imperalistic League was held tonight in Rosalie hall. Prof. H. Laurence Laughlin, of Chicago university, was the principal speaker. Addresses were made by Profs A. H. Holman and Paul Shorey, of Chicago university; Frank II. Scott and Sigmund Seeisler.
 Prof. Laughlin spoke as follows:
 Some Object to Protest
 'Some wise persons object to any public protest of this nature, because it may pos- sibly be interrupted as giving aid and com fort to the enemy. Let us look closer at this attitude and it's consequences. If the ser wants of the people in a short period of office may be left free to inaugurate any new condition whatever, and then claim freedom from criticism, because the condi- tions Of their own creation have placed them in a critical position, then there is an end to rec government by the people. There is a great principle at stake here, for which we ought to contend. Do the sover- eign people advocate their sovereignty when they choose a public servant? Why should they not cry out in alarm at any surprising new departure by their ignor- ance, especially when we are asked to ex- press our opinion publicly? But objectors say we are attacking our chosen leaders in person. Not at all We are asserting great and fundamental principles of humanity and liberty, and if in the support of these principles, men in office suffer, that can be only because they have, of their own sponsibility, put themselves in opposition to right and justice.
 "The seeming absence of policy is after all but a cloak for the most definite plans to hold the islands at all hazards, under a theory of false consistency. The consistency of words and acts deceive no one. In all our negotiations with the Filipinos, our government said: Surrender your aspira- tiohs for independence and liberty, and we will then give you what we not you, think to be good for you Bear in mind what that means. Bear in mind Lincoln's word: No man Is good enough to govern himself, without that others consent When the white man governs himself, that is self government; but when he governs himself, and also governs another man, that is more than self-gevernment-that is despotism.' On Lincolns own definition, our govern- ment in the Philippines is a despotism. On the theory by which we abolish slavery, our treatment of the Filipinos Is despotic
 Since conquest and expansion are un- doubtedly the milk in the cocoanut. there is nothing for to do but to discuss that policy squarely and frankly It should be- opposed on two grounds; first, 1t Is bad policy in the form of politics; and, second, it is wrong in the form of morals. First, let us brif1y consider the matter from the side of political principle. There are several possibilities open to us. If We have bought and now own the Philippines, 1t is open to us to give them away, like a humane slave- holder, who has bought poor slave, fn or der that he might have the technical power to give him his freedom, having bought the islands of Spain, the United States might give back the struggling Ffipinos their independence. If we should 4e this we would then stand before the monarchsts of the world as absolutely disinterestcd and humane in our war with Spain. It would be proud thing to have paid sec,oOa- 600 to be able to make a free nation. The statesman who would associate his name with that act would go down into history like Washington and Lincoln, like great liberty-making presidents to imperishable renown.
 Conquest and Expansion
 ''On the other hand, if our policy, no matter how disguised, is conquest and ex- pansion, then there are two alternatives before us in the Philippines. FnrSt, the an- nexation of these islands as an integral part of the United States, by which the natives become citizens like ourselves, with statehood in the future; or, second, the open adoption of the imperialistic poll icy of the colonies, by which the Filipinos become our subjects under an American governor, such was reported to be the terms last offerd by our officials.
 Let us discuss, in brief, the proposition to annex the Philippines, and give them territorial government like that of Alaska. IT we TeIuSe WluepeuutHC6 tO lnc AiipinOS, to give territorial government is then, in truth, the only and the inevitable policy consistent with our republican form of , government. But what does that mean? Folly-blind, unilumined folly. When we added the negroes to our electorate we created a grave problem, which we have not yet solved. But to go on. in addton to give Q territorial government to Porto Ricans and to 100000 of Malays and other races in all stages of civilization, and put them in line for statehood, is a proposition too appalling for any lover of his country to contemplate for moment. Think of our splendid country inextricably tangled in tine politics of islands, TOGO miles away! Multiply the difficulties of Ireland and England thousand times over,
 (Conlinued on Sth Page.)