El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-09-28

tries, the expressions OF the Spanish
despots became SO fntolerable that the
people were compelled to shake off the
foreign yoke almost as condition OF
| existence. In Cuba, the facts need DO
| recapitulatiop. Thus we observe that
in the CASE of the Thirteen Colonies
only was the revolt against the foreign
power followed by the esta blishment of
| stable government, independent and
OF such a character as would con form to
the principles cherished by the people
of the United States.
Comparing now the cases cited with
the case of the Philippines and how
radically different do they appear! 1t
needs but a glance at the facts in the
| respective cases to show how d iss imilar
they are. and how irrational would be
any attempt to apply to them all the
same class of principles. The cases
cited were revOlts against monarchy.
The revolt against the Philippines is
against republican form of govern
ment. In the cases cited the revolts
were instituted and carried to sue
cessful conclusion because of the OPP
pressions of a foreign power,-and one
which was attempting to tighten the
people. The revolt in the Philippines
is against power which has broken
the yoke of the foreign oppressor. has
brought liberty to a long and severely
oppressed people. and is simply at
tempting to teach them the right use
of liberty. it's privileges and imita-
tions, and to secure them in the full,
perpetual enjoyment of it. That Is all.
That is all the United States is at
tempting to do in the Philippines.
Before the ponderous and dangerous
machinery of q manufacturing estab-
lishment can be placed in successful
operation, q suitable building must be
erected for it, So in case of independ-
ence-a dangerous power in unframed
hands, before it can be placed in sue
cessful operation, it must be inaugur-
ated under firm and stable govern
ment.3
Now when we come to look At the
case of the Philippines in the light OF
reason and candOr, we can readily per-
ceive that it cannot be governed by the
broad generic principles of civil liber-
ty, but must be regulated and control
led by the facts in the case itself or,
in other words, upon its individual
merits. 1t is special case and must,
therefore, be governed by special cir
cumstances. Simply on the informa-
tion that the Filipinos are
"Fighting for Liberty,-or
that some of the numerous tribes there
are engaged in an insurrection against
lands, does not by any means warran
US in abandoning the islands, nor in
granting summary independence to
the insurgents. We can act in this
matter only upon all the facts pertinent
to this particular case, and in accord
ance with our just obligations toward
the whole people of the islands
obligations we solemnly assumed by
the Treaty of Paris, and likewise in
or
perceive the absur-
dity of the contention. set forth
by the anti-expansionsts that because
certain tribes led by a professional
and rebel are engaged in an
insurrection against our authority, we
should, upon the great principles which
governed the cases of the Thirteen
Colonies and other cases cited, abandon
the islands and leave them to drift in to
q state OF anarchy, and eventually
reach condition far more wretched
and intolerable than before the guns of
Dewey's fleet sounded the death knell
of tyranny.
The only way in which we can at
tain just, rational, and honorable
solution of this grave and complex
question Is to regulate our course of
action by the facts in this particular
case, by the obligations which we
have assumed, expressly or by impli-
cation, toward the islands themselves,
and toward other nations. Theories
must give place Ito the facts, wisdom
must be preferred to sentiment or sym
patty, and righteousness and.judgment
must square our actions.
GEORGE A. BENHAM
Use Pillsrury's Vitos the ideal wheat