Iron County register., 1899-11-16
As to eIf-Government.

The elections last week have caused
the administration to give it out semi
officially that its policy toward the
people of Cuba, Porto Rico and the
Philippines is because they are no,
capable of self-government; that were
they left to themselves there would be
hurtful strifes for political supremacy.
and that the course of the Washing.
ton government is approved by the
business men of the commercial GEN.
ters of the several islands. Had the
people OF the states holding elections
on November z given a pronounced
assent to the presidents policy, as pro-
claimed by himself on very many oc-
casions, the excuse that the inhabitants
| OF our new possessions are not mental
| ly and morally equal to self-govern-
ment would not be given. 1t must not
be supposed, however, that the presi-
dent has abandoned his original pur-
pose to make dependencies OF the
islands and mere subjects of their
people. This talk about lack of ability
of the inhabitants to manage their own
political concerns is to deceive. and
the disgrace of it is all the deeper be-
cause the excuse the president gives
for depriviug them of political rights |
is precisely the same that Spain al
ways put forth.
For over century in the Philip
pines and for fully half century in
Cuba revolution followed revolution
for independence, and Spain never
offered any excuse or explanation for
denying the inhabitants more political
rights other than that they were not
capable of self-government, and now
President Mckinley sings the same old
song, only that he contradicts the de-
clared word of congress that the Gu
bans are fully capable of maintaining
an Independent government. If the
Cubans are not equal to the burdens of
IN independent nation. our declaration /,
IF war against Spain was a national ,
olunder. But congress solemnly de- |
'lared them to be capable. and be- | |
,ause they were capable congress di-l q
ected the president to send the army
md navy of the United States to Cuba t
o see that their independence was q
by Spain. Thus congress C
declared the Cubans to be fully equal .
0 the demands of an Independent gov t
and Admiral Dewey officially
eclared the Filipinos to be very much
1ore capable than the Cubans to
republic.
President Mckinley says Aguinaldo :
J a disreputable character; that his q
Ulcers are the same, and that his lit a
9 army is composed of the rabble of Y
uzon. That is what George III said u
Washington, his officers and his \
rmy. President Mckinley SAYS the NJ
ealth holders and business men of
anava, Manila and the other COM
ercial centers of the possessions are :"
yal to the United States. and want 10
e its sovereignty established, and no 0e
'ubt he Is as right as George III was :"
ght when he said the wealthy and
lsiness class of Boston, New York,
Baltimore and other -
nerican cities were loyal to the Brit !
4 throne and wanted to see the el
arch-rebel Washington and his rab- tt
e" exterminated. President McKin- Il
: says only small percentage of the
.fpinos are in revolt, which is no -
ubt true, as it was true that of the ST
0,000 men capable of bearing arms 6,
orge Washington could never per-
ade more than 80, 900 of them at one IL.
ne to help achieve their country's WI
President Mckinley do
oints with priden to an offer by one T
Aguinaldo's lieutenants to betray -.
chief. George III ..pointed with ye
de" to one Benedict Arnold. who II
uld betray Washington for hire.