The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1899-08-09
PHILIPPINE WAR.
Fundamental Principles Involved
in Question.
SUGGESTS WAY TO LET co"

TO Guarantee Filiplnos inoe'
pendence on Same Terms
as the cubans.
VIM. 'J.;Bryan discusses the Philip
pine question in this weeks New York
Independent. He says:
."The Philippine question is impor.
tant because fundamental principles
are involved in its discussion. There
are two sources of government, force
and consent. Monarchies are founded
upon force, republics upon consent.
''The declaration Of independence as
serts that governments derive their just
powers from the consent Of the gov
erned, and this is the doctrine to which
we have adhered for more than cen
tury. It is the doctrine which has dis
tinguished US from European countries
and has made our nation the hope OF
humanity. The statue in New York
harbor typifes the nations mission.
''If the doctrine set forth in the de-
clarstion of independence IS sound,
how can we rightfully acquire sover.
eighty over the Filipinees by a war OF
CONQUEST. If the doctrine set forth IN
the declaration of independence is
sound, how.can we rightfully purchase
sovereignty from a Spanish sovereign
whose title We disputed IN Cuba and
whose rebellious subjects we armed IN
the Philippines?
'sIn the resolution Of Intervention
congress declared that the Cuoans were,
and of right sht to be, free. Why?
Because governments derive their just
powers from the consent Of the gov
erned, and Spain has refusei to re.
spect the wishes of the Cubans. Ii
the Cubans were and of right ought to
be free, why not the Filil ioos?
''In the beginning Of the Spanish
war congress denied that our nation had
any thought Of extending its territory
by war. If we then had no thought OF
securing by conquest new territory IN
the western hemisphere, why should
we now talk Of securing in the eastern
hemiphere new races for subjugation?
"An Individual may live q double
life when only one life is known.
When both lives are known he can lead
only one life and that the worst. A
republic cannot enter upon colonial
policy. It cannot advocate government
By consent at home and government by
force abroad. The declaration Of ince-
pendence will lose its value when we
proclaim the doctrine familiar in Eu-
rope but detestable here, that govern
ments are round in shape, abaut 13
inches in diameter and fred out Of a
cannon.
"For more than century this nation
has been travelling alosg the pathway
which leads from the low domain Of
might to the lofty realm Of right, and
it's history has been without a parallel
in the annals Of recorded time. What
will be our fate if we turn backward
and begin the descent toward force and
conquest.
1T is not sufficient to say that the
forcible annexation of the Philippine
islands is benevolent undertaking en-
tered upon for the good Of the Filipinos.
Lincoln pointed out that this has al
ways been the argument of kings. To
use his words, they always bestrcde
the neck of the people, not that they
wanted to do it, but because the people
were better off for being ridden.
''It is surprising that any believer IN
seif-government should favor forciole
annexation, but more surprising that
any one who believes in the Christian
religion should favor the substitution
Of force for reason in the extension OF
our nations influence.
eff we adopt the guupoTder gospel
in the Philippines how long will 1t be
before that principle will be trans
planted in American soil. So long as
our arguments are addressed to the rea-
son and the heart our progress is sure,
but can we, without danger to Chris
tianity, resort to the ancient plan OF IN
iecting religion into the body through
bullet holes?
"The question is frequently asked,
What can we do? Nearly two months
elapsed between the signing Of the treaty
and the beginning Of hostilities in the
Philippines. During that time the
president and congress might have
given to the Filipinos some assurances
Ct independence that was given to the
Cubans. Such assurance would have
prevented bloo6shed. Iftae doctrine
Of self government is sound the Fill
pinos are entitled to govern themselves,
and the president can now promise
them independence as soon as stable
government can be established.
IF the president is not willing to
take the responsibility Of enforcing the
doctrine set forth in the declaration OF
independence, he can call congress to-
gether and let them take the response
bllity. A special session would be less
expensive than the war, not to speak OF
the principles involved.
"Our nation is protecting the repub-
lies of South America from outward in
reference while they work out their
destiny. We can extend the same doc
trine to the Philippines, and, having
rescued the inhabitants from foreign
yoke, We can guard them from molesta-
ton while they develop a republic in
the Orient. They will be our friends
instead Of our enemies We can send
school teachers to Manila instead Of
soldiers and the wcrld will know that
there is reality in the theory Of gov
ernment promulgated at lndependence
q y.