Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-08-09
DEBATE ON PATRIOTISM
Governor Shaw and Gen. Weaver
Discuss the Subject From Dit
fsrent standpoints.
Debate Turns Largely on the Cues
ton Of Expansion-Patriot-
ism in Philippines.
Weaver Attacks and Shaw Ably
Supports the Administration
and the War.
;pecial to Times-Republican.

and the War.
Special to Times Republican.
Colfax, Aug. 9.-Tuesday was patriot
ic day at the Epworth League assem-
bly, and the addresses on patriotism by
Governor Shaw and Gen. Weaver were
the main features OF the program. 1t
had been advertised as Joint debate,
but both speakers stoutly denied 1t was
such. However, as each speaker con-
fined himself largely to the question of
expansion the affair took on largely the
character of Joint debate and their
speeches may be taken as fair expo
sition of the Philippine question.
1t was discerned that the drift of sen-
timent among the attendance of Ep-
worth Park Is strongly toward the re-
tention Of the Philippines, and as this
is representative gathering OF Meth
odist hosts, 1t was somewhat suggestive
of the sentiment of that church upon
this question.
Gen. Weaver spoke first. He said:
Patriotism is that passion which moves
a person to defend his country. either
against invasion or in protecting it's
laws and institutions against encroach-
ment from without or bad policies from
within. 1t is q common erorr to think
that patriotism is a matter of guns and
armies; II may include such manifesta-
lions. but in a country like this we
should look to the public gathering and
political life of a great people for the
Hottest patriotism. One essential in
gredient is Integrity of convcton The
true patriot must necessarily be an In
telligent reformer. He must have the
greatest possible courage and endur-
ance.
That brings me to the Philippine
question. l fully endorse the maxim of
Commodore Decatur, My country'-ln
her intercourse with foreign powers
may she ever be right; but right or
wrong. my country. I endorse the sem
timent; / say if my country is right, i
will help her through; ii wrong, will
help her out.
The press says this question is be-
fore the people of the United States
for solution. If it Is. / want to say
that the man who says that loyalty to
the country requires that I shall APP
prove of any policy which my judgment
says is wrong, does not understand
what patriotism Is. ! must have my
Judgment. and there can be no such
thing as public sentiment unless every
man can have his Judgment"
Here Gen. Weaver read the testimony
of President Wooster of Michigan. de-
| claring that the Filipinos are capable of
self government: that more than half of
| them profess the Christian religion. and
| have been for years under the care Of
the Catholic church. They have learned
the principles of the sermon on the
mount Fully half of them can read
and write, and are anxious for educa-
ton Many of them speak three or four
languages. and handle English huently.
They are kind and hosptable, and their
family life is nothing less than ideal.
Their women are modest and chaste.
and In many cases act as the financiers
and managers of the household He al
so quoted from Gen. King and from DR..
Carpenter to the same effect Dewey in
| a dispatch said of the Flipinos: THESE
people are more capable of self-govern-
ment than the Cubans." Again, later,
he said:
| Further Intercourse with them has
confirmed my first opinion
He said this when Agunaldo haG
first established his government. and
when he supposed of course the United
! States would give them self-govern-
ment. The Cubans and Filipinos have
| many points In common. They were
/ both struggling for their liberties
against the same power. If anything.
/ the Filiplnos are the superior class
4 Now, II we give self-government to the
Cubans. what shall We say when we re.
fuse i. to the Filipinos? The fault is
In the government. II should say IL
them, Convene your congress, perfecI
4 your organization, and we will recog.
nize you. protect you and see that yo,
attain the place to which you are en-,
titled among the nations of the earth.
4 Al this point man in the audienc.
asked the general to mention Aguinal
DOS attempts to communicate with thi.
government. Cen. Weaver said the,
saw our star in the east, and wer,
come TO worship it; but we turned then
away Give these people the same right.
you gave the Cubans. Give them a,
/ opportunity to do what they can Yo,
say the steps we have taken are IRE
II traceable. There Is no trouble to d,
right. AT any moment you could hay,
stopped the war in the Philippines b,
Indicating purpose to grant them tn,
rights they demand. If we wish to re
turn to the principles of the constitu
ton, of the declaration of independence
4 of the Monroe doctrine. and of tn,
teachings of Christ, it will be no trou
Bile. The road TO the right is Away
open. would never throw one obstacl
In the way of people who desire self
}, government Governments deriv
their just powers from the consent o
the governed, is one OF the fundament
al maxims of this country, but HOY
have we lived up to 1t in this war?
Here General Weaver read the act o
congress declaring war. and the procla
nation of the president In furtheranc
} of this act He declared that by botl
the act and the proclamation this coun
try bound and pledged itself before tn
world not to engage In a war of con
quest.
Where do you get the authority t.
govern the Filipino against his con
sent?" Answer. I'VE bought them iron
Spain; she got them through 'divin
right There have only been two trans
fers. one from God to Spain, and on
| from Spain to U.S." Bah! this Philip
pine war is against the constitution. Ii