Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-02-16
measure

The Madison Democrat OF Sunuhy
last contained an excellent commune
cation from Prof. Parkinson, OF the
chair OF political economy ut the state
university. He deals with the subject
of the settlement OF affairs In the Phil.
ipines which we hold by the Incidents
OF war. He says:
The present condition OF things in
the Philippines Ii strikingly anomal-
Gus. We arc technically Mt war with
Spain, and shall be until she has rati-
fed the treaty of peace and ratiilca-
tions have been exchanged, But we
are really at peace with her, with no
prospect of the renewal of hostilitics,
because we have no motive for renew
ing them, and she IL unable to do so II
she would. On the other hand we arc
practically Mt war with the subjects of
Spain In the Philippines and she Is
powerless to stay their hands.
We hold the city and harbor OF
Manila by right Of conquest, with
prospective right to the islands them
selves, by treaty of ccssion. Having
temporarily displaced the authority ct
Spain we are morally bound to substi-
tute some other equally efficient.
What she cannot do in restraint of
her own subjects upon territory In our
possession we have right to do, In
self-protection and for the prescrva-
tiOn OF law and order. Had the SEN
ate refused to ratify the treaty OF
peace, further complications would
have followed. The treaty should
have been promptly ratified when 1t
was received from the hands of the
commissioners, whether with or with
out IA previous declaration OF policy.
True, we would have been more con
sistent, aud would have stood better
In the eyes OF the world To say moth
ing OF the saving OF hloodshcd had
we made at once plain statement OF
intention with reference TO the Philip
pines. But action Mt least, action
prompt and decisive, was the thing
then demanded. The results of delay,
whoever was ut fault, have been de-
plorable. But ratification, although
tardy, has partially cleared tho at-
mospherc. 1t virtually assures the
legal transfer OF sovereignty over
these islands to this nation. What
ever authority Spain possessed we
may now fairly assume she has sur
rendered, The legal ~ we'll as the
moral responsibility for peace and or
der now rest upon us. They must be
met at whatever cost. Tho Filipin0s,
by their inconsiderate action. have
shown themselves wanting In the chief
requisite OF Independence self-con-
troll. The chastlsement they arc now
receiving Is severe, but the lesson In
the end may be worth all 1t has cost.
Are these people, however, wholly to
blamcY They have been schooled to
be suspicious. They naturally meas
ure by the Spanish Standard. Their
leaders have repeatedly asked for II
declarations Of our intentions toward
them and we have uniformly evadcd
an answer. How much longer can we
honorably pursue this policy? Some
OF the CHASTITY consequences have nj
ready ensuod and others may be ex-
pected To follow. What the senate,
with some show OF reason, refused TO
do before treaty ratification congress
doing now. IL IL not " question OF
treating with rebels is arms or of low
ering the standard OF authority
one OF parleyling with crafty and
ambitious leaders--but merely " ques-
ti0n OF open, honest dealing with a
supplemented but misguided people
We began the war with Spain on hu.
manitarian grounds. No other motiv,
was limited ut. Congress by its resolu.
tions, protested that 1t was not TO be Il
war Of conquest and the president has
said that such war would be a
criminal aggression" We hold the
Philippines by the incidents Of war,
but II we were absolutely honest In the
beginning, VIZ are morally bound t.
accord W their people the same rights
and opportunities We pleged to the
Cubans, W. are at present In right
full authority In all these islands bu
from a moral standpoint there mr.,
general conditions and time limits Il
that authority. These are expressed
in the bond In the case OF Cuba
There Is absolutely no excuse TO
further concealment In the case OF til,
Philippines. All discussion OF tn
commercial advantages of tn
possession Of these islands is just no,
out Of order. The sober, secon
thought OF the nation, without regar
to the currents OF destiny" wi
oppose their permanent retention b
force OF arms, For the present thei
inhabitants must submit to authority
whether with or without their consent
but they should be made to feel tina
this authority while IL lasts will b
tempered with reasonable forbearanc
and genuine magnanimity.
These people must be assured thf
they are on probation-that the WA
TO Independence IL chiefly OF their ow
choosing, but that we will do all |
our power to guide and direct then
What Is more, they must learn, an
learn early, the first lesson In civ
liberty. self-restraint.
This is q great nation. II stant
just now at the parting Of the way
Let II go right and be true to Its pr
fessions and It's power and inhuen'