The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-08

must secure majority in both House and
senate for some definite proposition. The
god bugs understand this, they know that
az ambiguous platform is equivalent 10
Aoia-siandard platform. Mr. CieVeland was
clared for the use of gold and
silver as the standard money of the coun-
sold and silver without discrimination
against either metal or charge for mintage,
and yet Mr.. Cleve and found no difficulty
u supporting the single gold standard. The
Democratic parry viii not return 10 the
days of uncertainty and evasion. When the
opponents of l6 to I agree upon another IA
tfo IL Will be time enough TO compare the
merits of the new ratio with the merits OF
the old ratio, But they will not be permitted
80 suspend the party in midaiT, out Of reach
~ Us TO ] and out Of sight OF anything else.
. surrender the ratio is 10 accept the gold
The Chicago platform was good when Il
was adopted; II grows better with age. 1t
was strong in 1886, ii is stronger now.
NEW QUESTIONS.
But enough of ole issues. what Of the
new questions? Our party cannot ignore the
issues raised by the war. 1t must speak out
against militarism now or forever hold its
peace. a large standing army is not only
an expense to the people but it is a menace
10 the Nation, and the Democratic party
viii be unit in opposing it.
"A word in regard to Imperialism. Those
who advocate the annexation Of the Phil
81 pines call themselves expansionlsts. but
they are really mperlalis;s The word ex-
parsion would describe the acquisition of
elfttory TO be populated by homogeneous
People, and to be carved into states like
those now IN existence. An empire sug-
ecsts variety I'm race and diversity in gov
eminent. . he imperialists do not desire to
ciothc the filipinOs with all the rights and
privileges Of American citizenship: they
want 10 exercise sovereignty over an alien
race and they expect 20 rule the new sub
q isen ar va Tiq %
with constitutional government. Victoria
IS Queen Of Great Britain and Empress Of
tndla' shall we change the title of our ex
ecutve and call him the President of the
nitet States and Emperor of the Philip
The Democratic party stood Cor the
money Of tho Constitution in 1886. it stands
Tor the government of the Constitution
now. 10 opposed an English financial pol
icy in 1886, II opposes English colonial
policy now. Those who in 1896 were in IA
Vor OF turning the American people over to
TIC trusts may now be willing TO turn the
ftlpinos over TO the tender mercies OF miG-
tary governors and carpet-hag officials.
Those who In 1886 thought the people of
the United States too weak TO attend to
thelr own business may now think them
strong enough to attend to the business of
remote and alien races but those who in
1896 fought for independence for the Amer
Ican people will not now withhold indie
pendence from those who desire it else
where.
We are told that the Filipinos are not
capable Of self-government; that has
familiar ring. Only two years ago l heard
the same argument made against a very
respectable minority Of the people of this
country. The money loaners who coerced
borrowers did II upon that theory; the en-
ployerS who cOerced their employees did il
Tor the same reason, Self-gOvernment in
GIeaSeS with participation in government.
me tlhplnos are not far enough advanced
10 snare IN Inc government of the people Of
me United States. but they are competent
TO govern themselves. 1t is not fair TO com
pare them with our own citizens because the
American people have been educating them
selves III the science of government for near
~ three centuries, and while we have much
TO learn, we have already made great inn
provement The Filipinos will not establish
a perfect government, but they will establish
q government as nearly perfect as they are
competent to enjoy, and the United States
without.
The Republicans of Illinois, of course.
viii not expect the Filipinos to select
4-egisiatuIe equal to the last Republican
Legislature in fidelity 10 the public welfare.
Illinois became q State nearly century ago,
and the Legislature which enacted the Allen
Jaw was, it were, the ripened fruit of
long experience. Give the Fihpnos time and
opportunity and, While they never will catch
mp with US, unless we cease to improve, yet
they may some day stand where we stand
now.
What excuse can be given for the adop-
ton of a colonial policy? Secretary Gage
disclosed the secret in his Savannah speech.
l think we might be justified in calling
Mr.. cage the Keynote OF the administration,
because we look through him to learn what
is going on within the executive council
chamber. He suggested that philanthropy
and per cent would go hand In hama in
the new venture These are the two argu-
ments which are always used in favor of
conquest Philanthropy and per cent!
Jhe one chlOrOforms the conscience of the
conqueror and the other picks the pocket
OF the conquered
Some say that philanthropy demands
that we govern the FilipinOs for their own
good, while others assert that we must
hold the islands because of the pecunary
a ~ I no
Soundness of both arguments. Forcible an
neXation will not only be criminal agrees
sion ito borrow Mr. Mckiney's language
of year ago), but it viii cost more than
II IS worth. and the whole people wall pay
the cost. while few will reap all the
benefits.
still we llSer is the argument based upon
religious duty The Christian religion rests
upon the doctrine OF Vicarious suffering and
atoRement; the colonial policy rests upon
the doctrine of vicarious enjoyment
When the desire 10 steal becomes I'M
comfortable in an individual he is declared
to be a kleptomaniac and is sent to an
asylum; when the desire TO grab land be-
comes uncontronable in a nation we are
told that the currents of destiny are flow
ing through the hearts of men and that the
American people are entering upon their
manifest mission.
shame upon a logic which looks up the
petty offender and enthrones grand larceny
Have the people returned 10 the worship of
themselves a new commandment consistent
with the spirit of conquest and the lust for
empire Is 'th0u shalt not steal upon
small scale to be substituted fer the law
of Moses?
Awake oh. ancient law-giver, awake
Break forth from thine unmarked sepulchre
and speed thee back to the clOud-crowned
summit of Mount Sinai: commune once
more with the god of our fathers and pro-
claim again the words engraven upon the
tables of stone-the law that was, the
law that is tO-day-the law that neither in
oividual nor nation can violate with i'm
punity."
ATTCETDTSN E,XpoIrNDED