The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-02-15


The president has asked for a stand
ing army Of 100000 men. We cannot
say: 1--WE must keep still on this for
fear 1t will distract public attention
from something else" We have got to
meet it now. And I am glad that the
Democratic party stands as one man
against militarism in this country. I
am glad that the Democratic party op-
poses the increase In the standing
army. l am perfectly willing that the
president shall be permitted to recoup
an army of occupation to serve outside
the United States for a limited period
| until the policy Of this nation Is de-
termined and until the people have
chance to decide how many soldiers
they need for outside purposes.
But, my friends, there Is nothing
that know of that justifies an increase
IN the standing army in the United
States. They did not ask for 1t in 1896.
What has happened since then to JUS
tify it? We have had nothing since
1896. except Republican administra-
t1cn; and Is Republican administra-
tlon 80 good that 1T requires more SOL
d1ers than 1t ever did before to make
the people enjoy it to it's full extent?
What Is there in this country that JUS
titles the demand for an increase in the
regular army. SO far as our domestic
affairs are concerned? Nothing. And
1 rejoice that our party stands as a
unit against this increase in the stand
ing army; and 1 am glad that on this
subject the silver Republicans and the
Populists are with us.
QUESTION OF IMPERIALISM.
There is another question that we have got
to meet-the question of Imperialism We
cannot put that off, either; we cannot post
pone 1t to more convenient season; we
have got to meet 1t now, and am glad that
on that subject the Democratic party Is
also practically unit am glad that when
the question comes (shaH we maintain the
doctrine of the fathers or desert it, that
the Democratic party stands true to the
doctrine Of the fathers. There was some
difference of opinion among Democrats as
rejected. I was one Of those Democrats who
believed that we should ratify the treaty
and make our fight upon resolution declar-
ing the lnI policy Of the nation. or upon law
pinos / say that was my view of it. 1 may
be right or may be wrong. Abraham Lin
coin, In his first. inaugural message. used
an argument condensed into a single SEN
tence-an unanswerable argument. He was
arguing with the South. He suggested to
them that If we had war it must come to,
an end some time that il we separated we
h mad to live side by side; and then he said,
can aliens make treaties easier than friends
can make laws?' I repeat the same idea.
ippine Islands by treaty from Spain "a hostile
nation) easier than we can grant it by
law OF our own, with nobody to consult but
the American people9 Can aliens make trea-
ties easier than friends can make laws?
(Applause.)
I. was not willing to put the fate of the
Filipinos in the hands Of Spain. 1 was
not willing to trust this question in the
hands Of commissioners after we had seen
what the commissioners ideas were on the
question. I was willing to trust this ques-
ton in the hands of congress, knowing that
If congress- did not obey the will of the Amer
lean people there was q power that made
congresses and would create congress that
would obey the will OF the American people.
(Applause)
PEOPLE TO BE HEARD YET.
This question is not settled. my friends.
1t is not settled I believe that, instead
of closing the door to hope, the ratification
OF the treaty opens the way to the settle
ment Of this question. 1mperialists may be
willing to deny to the people Of the Philip
pines the right to govern themselves, but
| hope that the tmperialists will not deny
the American people the right to decide the
policy of this nation in regard to the Philip
pines.
yet. Until they act we do not know what
they will do, but We all guess, and
when we come to guess would rather guess
that they would stand by what they be.
loved in the past than 10 guess they wculd
change. I would rather guess they wouid
remain true to the history of the nation than
principles that they have always opposed
before. If must guess, I will guess they
stlll believe In "a government Of the people,
by the people and for the people" I will not
guess that they are going to play the prodigal-
son act and go back to England and ask how
to run nations on colonial plans. (Applause.)
2 friendly nation, was our ally in securing
Independence, and to commemorate that fact
the people Of France joined with the people
Of the United States and placed in New York
harbor a statue of liberty enlightenins the
world. What shall be our policy as ma
TOM TOM Shall we send the statue bark 10
statue of William the Conqueror? Or shah
We SO act that the people of the United
States can join with the people of the Philip
pine islands and place in the harbor of Ma
Mia another statue of liberty enlightening
the Orient and giving to them the liberties
that we enjoy? Great applause)
OPPOSED TO COLONIAL POLICY.
What shall be the policy Of the United
States? 1t is a question, my friends, that
the people must determine, and the people
have never been called upon to determine
more important question. To my mind 1t
Is impossible to have two theories of COVE
eminent living side by side. The Repub-
licans said that double standard in money
was impossible, and yet they believe that a
double standard in government Is easy
thing. Qaughter) We want two dollars
representing unit. They want two separate
and distinct ideas of government living upon
possible. The colonial policy, the policy of
force AND conquest is a policy Numerically
opposed to the theory upon which our gov
eminent Is founded. We say government by
consent; we say that government comes up
from the people. You cannot have two gov
ernments, one coming up from the people
and one coming down from force. And the
very fact that the people in this country talk
OF government by force is evidence that
they are getting tired Of government that
rests upon the consent of the governed.
And why is it that the Republican party Is
getting tired Of a government by consent?
Because it is afraid that it cannot obtain the
consent of the people to the kind Of govern
ment that the Republican party wants
REPUBLICAN DIsTRUsT.
You tell me that you are astonished that
Republicans will he willing to deny to the
Ftlipinos the right to govern themselves;
tell me that you are surprised that they doubt
the capacity of the Filipinos for self-govern-
ment. 1 tell you it is only two years since
Republicans doubted the capacity Of $780, 900
citizens to participate in government
1t was that distrust that led the fnancier
to compel the borrower to vote, not as the
borrower wanted but as the financier wanted
him to. 1t was that distrust that led the
not as the employe wanted to, but as the
employer wanted him to. l say, my friends,
that We dare not establish In the Philippines
or anywhere else under our flag the doctrine
OF force. We cannot afford anywhere to
deny the equal rights Of men, and the right
OF men to choose their own government. Be-
cause II you plant that kind of q government
IN the Philippine islands and protect it with
the American flag, monarchy will travel
eastward from Manila faster than democracy
will go west from San Francisco. (Applause)
Why. think of it! year ago who my
friends, would have declared in favor of
the forcible annexation OF territory? If there
principle we'll settled in this coun-
try it was that this nation would have moth