The Irish standard., 1899-01-14
VIEWS OF PRESIDENT NcR1RRcP.

the Yale alumni, President Cyrus North
rop. of the University of Minnesota, de-
livered an address on territorial expan-
sion. which was published last Sunday
in the Minneapolis Tribune and St. Paul
Pioneer Press. The utterances of such
man as President Northrop on any oc-
casion are worthy of respect, for he is a
robust American of broad views and
scholarly attainments.
He did not speak as a political par
tisan, and what he said in the main
could be Endorsed by Republicans and
Democrats alike without sacrificing any
principles. But when he came to dis
cuss the question of retaining the Phil
ippine islands he was just as much at
sea as was Dooley, the Chicago humor-
list. when he said to Hennessy, I'VE
have tho Philippines. Hennessy, just as
Casey had the bull doggy the teeth"
President Northrop said substantially
the same thing in the following words:
las for the Philippines, l have never
desired that the United States should
control and govern and own the whole
archipelago. But we are in a condition
in which it is exceedingly difficult for us
to say at the moment what is best to be
done. 1t may be dangerous tc hold on.
but it may be unwise to let CO.
Dir. Northrop stated fact when he
RI
be willing that the Philippine islands
should again be restored to Spain. How
ever. instead of saying that they proper
ly belonged to the inhabitants thereof.
who are entitled to govern themselves to
the best of their ability without any in
reference from foreign nations. Presi-
dent Northrup interrogatively exclaimed
lis it not worth while for us to set
up in IuZon American institutions, to
set up there an object lesson for the
whole archipelago and show what lib
erty and justice and free institutions can
do for people and guide by example
the natives under our protection to free
governments"
Why did not President Northrop an
swer his own question and show whether
or not it is worth while for us to do any
such thing? Instead of replying to the
question, he said that 1.-THE course of the
president thus far has been eminently
WISE" that we cannot outline the flu
ture by simply looking at the past; and
that we cannot determine our duties
in the twentieth century by studying the
deeds of century ago With all due
respect to DIR. Northrop, whom we high
ly esteem we cannot agree with him
that Mr.. Mckinley's course in relation
to the Philippines has been eminently
wise. BY his action he has brought
around a condition Gin which it Is ex-
ceedingly difficult for lis to say what Is
best to be done. 1t may be dangerous to
hold on, but it may be unwise to let 60"
1t is not "eminently wise for Mr.. Nc
Kinley or any other American in au-
thority to place this republic in such a
predicament
Again, Dr. Northrop declares we can
not outline the future by simply looking
at the past In that statement he is in
direct opposition to Patrick Henry, who
said I'VE must judge the future by the
past" AS we SOW we shall reap. and
like causes produce like results. or
course, DR.. Northrop and Patrick Henry
may have reference to different matters.
but the latter was speaking from the
light of experience, while DR.. NortHrop
is contemplating an cventuality about
which he is entirely in the dark.
If we start at the opening of the
twentieth century on an untrodden path.
beSet with danger. to rule inferior races
in the Orient against their consent by
military force, we cannot predict the
consequences with any certainty. We
cannot determine our duties by studying
the deeds of a century ago when the
founders of this majestic republic de-
clared to a listening world that govern
mcnts are instituted among men, deriv-
ing their just powers from the consent
Of the governed"
President Mckinley owes such "a de-
cent respect to the opinions of man
kind including the Filipinos whom he
desires to govern, that he ought to an
nounce what form of government he in
tends to establish in the islands. Does
he propose to force these rty-oving
people into subsection without consult
ing them? And If he shoots them down
when they resist the American yoke, Is
he going to extermnatc them in the in
tcrest OF humanity and civilization?
The eggs Matched by our eagle in the
Philippines will develop into dragons
teeth. The inhabitants are ready to
dispute our authority to the death and
no genuine American who remembers
the glorious deeds of his forefathers can
reasonably blame them. 1t is not be-
coming for this powerful republic to
force any form of government upon an
alien people. Is 1t humanity or cupidity
that actuates the men who stand behind
President Mckinley in this unprecedent-
ed experiment?
DR.. Northrop knows ancient and mod
ern history far better than the writer of
this article. Does he forget the fate of
the republics of the past when they en-