The Irish standard., 1899-08-12
The Problem of the Philippines
Clearly Discussed.
M'KINLEY'S AWFUL RESPONSIBILITY
In Philippines on the Plea OF
The Highwayman.

AT meeting of the Anti-Imperialist
league, held in Chicago last Saturday,
Professor ]. Laurence Laughlin, del,v
cred the chief address and spoke in part
as follows:
Some wise persons object to any
public protest OF this nature because it
may possibly be interpreted as giving
aid and comfort to the enemy. Let us
lcok closer at this attitude and its con-
sequences. If the servants of the people
in short period OF office may be left
tree to inauguratc any new condition
whatever and then claim freedom from
criticism because the conditions of their
own creation have placed them in a
critical position, then there is all end to
free government by the people. There
is great principle at stake here for
which we ought to contend. Do the
sovereign people completely abdicatc
their sovereignty when they choose a
public servant? Why should they not
cry out in alarm at any surprising new
departure by their agents, especially
when we are asked to express Our opin-
ion publicly? II any particular public
servant makes a specially OF listening,
then it should be Our specially to let him
hear the voice of the people. This is the
more necessary under present circum-
stances, because the most momentous
question at issue since slavery has not
yet been passed upon by the ballot. But
objectors say we are attacking Our chos-
en- leaders i'll person. Not at all There
is no reason for any excitement or per-
sonal feeling. We are asserting great
and fundamental principles OF humanity
and liberty, and il in the support of these
principles men in office suffer, that can
be only because they have, OF their own
responsibility, put themselves in opposi-
ton to right and justice.
"If you please, let us try to get our
minds clear as to the real problem in
this Philippine war. This is not so
easy as it might seem, because some
persons evidently have something to
gain by confusing the public mind.
"First-They tell lis that forcib.e an
nexation' would be criminal aggression,
but we go on subduing the Filipinos by
force OF arms.
"Second-They tell us it is benevolent
assimilation but how charmingy we
are attaching the affections of an alien
race to our institutions and our religion
by leaving orphans and widows in every
Philippine hut as witnesses OF our kind
Offices to coming generations.
"Third-They tell us there is no I'M
pcrial policy settled upon, and yet every
day we are told we are traitors if we
protest against the policy OF creating
Subjects and not citizens in the Philip
pines.
"Fourtl,-Thcy tell us we are con-
quering the Fiipinos in order to spread
the gospel OF our Savior, the Prince OF
Peace; and daily we are filling their
hearts with the gospel OF hate and re-
vcngc.
"Fifth-Thcy tell us we are overcom-
ing the Filipinos in order to send them
the bible; instead we are giving them
the bayonct, looting their homes and
sending captured bibles home TO our
libraries.
"Sixth-rhey tell us congress must
settle everything, and yet 100000 for
eigncrs are being subjugatcd by cxccu
tive action, on the ground that conquest
is inevitable and legal.
".rhc seeming absence of policy is
after all but cloak for the most definite
plans to hold the islands at all hazards,
under theory Of false consistency. The
inconsistency OF words and acts dcccives
no one. In all our negotiations with the
Filipinos our government has said: Sur
render your aspirations for indcpen-
dcncc and liberty and we will give you
what wc-not you-think to be good for
YOU Bear in mind what that means.
Bear in mind Lincolns words: No
man is good enough to govern another
man without that others consent. When
the white man governs himself, that is
government; but when he governs
himself and also governs another man,
that is more than self-government-tfat
is despotism.' On Lincoln's own def
milton our government in the Philippines
is despotism. On the theory by which