Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-03-21
TO ma DISCUSSED LATER.

PIP" ~
Ont by one the positions taken by tho
anti-~.xpansionists nave been forsaken for
new ground. First they took station on the
emphatic declaration that the annexation
OF Hawaii. Porto Eico and the Philippines
was. forbidden by the national constitution.
Driven from this. they next set up the plea
that expansion is contrary to the spirit of
the American republic. Here. too. they met
with fgnominious defeat. for II our coun-
try has had any spirit at all it has been
the genius OF growth and territorial assim-
~tlatfon. At last, driven hi,her and thither.
they, have settled down to two prime OBJ
~jectfons to the annexation of the Philip
pines. with nothing at all to say about the
annexation of Hawaii and Porto Rico.
The first of these objections is a senti-
mental one. 1t is founded on the belief
that the Filipinos are a heroic people who
are fighting for liberty. II sets up that
what We are doing in the Philippines
amounts to nothing more nor less than
giving these people a change in masters.
1t involves the unpatriotic admission that
our system Of government is no better than
the Spanish system. 1t adheres to the UNI
philosophical notion that If the islanders
are not given full national rights their con-
dition will not be bettered. 1t assumes that
any people. nc matter how wild, barbartc
and unfit, have primarily the right to run
any kind of government in any manner
they may choose. and that the world at
large can nave no interests Of sufficient i'm
portance TO warrant any interference with
this right. In short. it is predicated on the
unyielding theory that any given commun-
ity Is, or should be, exempt from all re-
| sponsibilities to every other community.
I'M that the world has no right to demand
any concessions from 1t.
The second of the two objections may
rave real substance. 1t is based on the
belief that It is not good policy for the
United States to attempt a distant colonial
government. II from the first the anti-ex-
pansionists had relied on this objection for
the creation of public sentiment they would
have Jared much better at the hands Of the
American people. Even those who are
strongly Of the opinion that great Ameri-
can profit lies IN the annexation of the
Philippines would have been ready to ad-
nit that this was a question eminently fit
for discussion. But when this objection is
introduced as a reason for opposing the
campaign now being waged by the Ameri-
can government in the Philippines it comes
at an inopportune time and is entirely out
of place.
The question of whether or not the
United States can AFFORD to establish a
colonial government in the Orient cannot
rightly be regarded al having any bearing
whatever upon the. problem Otis is now
solving on Luzon- IL. every, man in the
United States believed fully that we wanted
nothing NJ. all. to do with distant colonies.
our duty in the premises would remain I'm.
changed. Those who most vociferOusly ad.
vance this objection talk as though the
United States need only turn its back and
sail away with troops and ships. They tall
as though this were a possible, decent, law
full. honorable thing to do. They brush
lightly aside every obligation Of inter
national law. of duty, Of honor. and ash
that our country shall do this monstrou:
thing.
II the United States should abandon tn,
Philippines without first reducing them t.
peace and order. 1t would be false alike t.
what It owes the world and the people o
|. the islands. Having destroyed the las
vestige of former governments 1t must sta!
right there until a peaceful government 1
once more established. The kind an
character of this government is not a par
amount topic of discussion SO long as Al
: upstart. revolutionist is keeping the land i
q state Of anarchy. The time to talk abou
our interests in the premises will com
when peace once more reigns and We ar
> able to look about unvexed by the din O
war. If in due time 1t becomes apparen
that 1t is best to withdraw from the arch
ipelago. then w shall withdraw. But tn
!. possibility that such a time may come doe
. not in any. manner justify the belief tina
We should withdraw now, nor does 1t max
less necessary the reduction Of the Aguir
= aldo rebellion with all tho vigor at on
command.
e EDITORIAL NOTES.
a. mt hntI