The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-06-09

Freedoms battle once begun,
Bequeathed from bleeding sire to son,
Tho vanqulshed oft. is ever won.
Lyman j. Gage, in common with
many others, believes that the acquire
ment Of the islands will benefit the
American commerce. Seventy per
cent of the Philippine trade is with
England. All the European countries
insist on, and President Mckinley has
declared, "an open.door policy" which
means that all products aud maputao-
lures, be they from England, France,
Germany, United States or Australia
must pay the same tariff on entering
the ports OF the Philippines. That is,
the farmer of Australia, who trans
ports his products 5000 miles, will pay
the same rate Of tariff that the Ameri-
can does who transports his products
1000 miles. If by ship from New York
through the Suez canal, the shortest
water route, the American manufac-
turer pays the same rate of tariff on
importing his goods into Manila as
does the Englishman, the German or
the Frenphman, who is but 5000 Or
5000 miles from the islands. Where
is the great profit to the AmericauS
But why pay $40, 0oO, 900 and count
less lives for Il disputed title to a group
of far-otf islands in order that We may
experiment in building and peopling u
colony? Thomas B. Reed SAYS ''too
much food may neal indigestion, and
we are not to be hungered while the
middle Of u empire, perhaps in the
future, the richest part OF 1t, lies UNI
developed" We have a vast territory
to populate and develop. In the United
States there are but twenty-one per-
sons to the square mile; Germany has
$50 and England 80. A fraction of
the cost of increasing our army and
navy in maintaining control over the
Philippine islands would advance our
country decade. 1t would deepen our
harbors, connect the great lakes with
the Mississippi river and the Atlantic
ocean, thus shortening the distance
between New York and New Orleans
by 500 miles, and it would build the
Nicaragua canal,
The true test of the success of the
American is not in the colonies which
he has acquired, nor in the military
expeditions with which he governs
them, but in the manner in which he
has exerted his influence by attracting
the Inhabitants of other countries to
his own and teaching them the bless
ings of q republican form of govern
ment.
The eXpansionist declares the Fill
pinO unfit for American citizenship
and yet claims that has the
power to govern the territory and thus
~disqualify the natives. Great judges
OF the supreme court have declared
that ''the constitutional rights of
American citizenship, so far dis they
can be enforced without mechanism to
enforce them, belong to every person
dwelling in United States territory"
Another reading Of the supreme court
is that "eyery nation acquiring terri
tory, by treaty or otherwise, must hold
it subject to the constitution and laws
uf its W government and not accord
ing to those of the government ceding
it," Therefore the 10, ZOO, O0Q Filipinos
have not only their children horn with
all the rights of an American citizen
and eligible to any office, but they may
go at their own will or the will of an
employer anywhere in the United
States.
In establishing our authority over
the Philippine islands have we any pre-
cedent to follow? Was not a popular
vote taken in Texas to ascertain the
peoples wish in regard to apne.ation3
During the e&citementin San Domingo,
when General Grant was president. did
he not ser a commission to the island
to learn the people's wish, which we
know was negative? Was not a vote
taken in Hawaii concerning annexa-
ton? Could not the Filipinos refer
us to u declaration Of independence
and say, "You kept among us in times
Of peace standing armies and Quart
cred large bodies of armed troops
among us without the consent of our
leglslature?:"
But OF more moment, would we not
forfeit that famous protector OF the
American nation, the Monroe doctrine.
in abandoning our past home policy
and entering imperial ranks of the
Jealous, quarreling, thieyiug nation
dissemblers?
Above all, have we the constitution
al right to acquire these islands? SEN
ator Hoar exclaimed in a late speech:
When you raise the flag oyer the
Philippine islands as an emblem of
dominion and acquisition you take 1t
down from Independence hall"
The supreme court of the United
States, the highest tribunal in Anleri-
ca, whose decisions are respected
throughout the world and regarded as
the best, has declared: 'There is GER
t4inly no power given by the constitu-
tion to the federal government to es:
tablish or maintain colonies bordering
on the United States Or at q distance,
to be ruled and governed at its own
pleasure. No power is given to acquire
a territory to be held aud governed
perma nently In that character"
Our + orefathers learned two very i'm
portant lessons from the history Of
Greece, which they wished to ins till
in our minds-the danger of disunion
and domestic strife and an Indulgence
in the lust and greed of empire" We
have safely and happily passed the one.
Why hesitate before the Others:
But l believe the American people
will solve this momentous and serious
problem correctly aod with justice to
all and whatever the result, let the
thought foremost in the nina of every
American citizen be D%ecatpr's patriotic