Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-12-01
Nuts for ExpansiOnists.
An OId-TIme Wilmington Correspon-
dent Presents the "AntI" side OF Our
Problem In the Philippines.

An Old-Tlme Wilmington Correspon-
dent Presents the "AntI" side Of Our
Problem In the Philippines.
When Thomas jefferson wrote the
Declaration of Independence, did he mean
that all men are created equal, with GER
tain inalienable rights, among which are
life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,
and that governments derive their just
powers from the consent of the governedp"
or did he mean that some men have such
rights, and some governments derive their
just powers from the consent of the gov
erned, having reference only to the
American colonists then at war with Great
Britain? As the third president of the
United States has never been accused Of
deception or hypocrisy, we shall have to
accept his language as representative Of
his thought.
Suppose that during the war of the Rev
olution, some foreign power had bought
the colonies, and Great Britain then turn
ed them over with their inhabitants to the
purchaser; would it have been the duty
of the colonies to lay down their arms and
submit TO their new masters whose de-
mand would have been unconditional sur
render? The colonies were struggling for
independence, and the sale of their terri
would not have diminished their deter
mination nor their right TO be free.
If the Filipinos had the right to fight
for freedom from Spain, have they not the
right to fight for freedom from the United
States? II not, why not? 1t is said that
the Filipinos are rebels, and it is the duty
of the President to conquer the rebellion.
They are fighting for the "unslienable
right TO govern themselves; their new
masters are fighting to prevent that con-
summation, and claim 1t TO be a political
right Thus we face the startling anti
nomy of two peoples fighting each other,
and both of them are in the right. Just
now that ugly Declaration of Independence
appears to be very much in the way, and
refuses to resign its authority. Moreover,
| is shooting a weak, inoffensive people
struggling for independence, who would
| gladly accept our protectorate as did Cuba,
in accord with the precepts of the gospel?
| With assurance of our assistance in gain
| ing their freedom, does any one doubt that
gun need not have been fired?
| Laying aside the moral aspect of the
subject, and viewing the acquisition of the
! Philippine islands as a source of wealth,
there are few things, aside from the mil
! lions spent in their conquest, that will
initiate against this side Of the case as IL
now appears. Northern people can live in
! that Asiatic climate but few years, es-
pecially il an attempt Is made TO labor.
+ A standing army will be necessary, how
I long nobody has the prescience to decide,
and pension list will be created tina. will
| last a century. Moreover, the products of
the islands, some of them, will come in
dangerous competition with the products
| ~ . nj hot
by any stretch OF the constitution the is
lands can be brought under tariff regula-
tons. Senator Lodge says, ''they should
not be brought within the tariff"
We are assured that destiny" demands
the conquest Of the Filipinos, and "desti-
N.Y. must not be disobeyed. Napoleon l.
believed that phantom demanded the con-
quest of Russia. So he raised an army of
100000 soldiers, and reached Moscow in
September 1912, intending TO make that
city his winter quarters, and be ready for
an easy conquest in the spring. But
tickle ''destiny" was captured by Russia.
Oct. 10 the great warrior turned his face
homeward, and, when he crossed the Bere-
sina, he had but q, 900 soldiers alive
Quite likely the Filipinos can be conquer
ed, and adverse destiny" be delayed for a
season. In that event does it become evil
dent that this relic of barbarism is a safe
guide for a great, civilized nation of
schools and colleges in these declining
years OF the 10Th century?
The Republican party has been a party
of noble aims aud great achievements, and
will have place in history. II conquered
rebellion without parallel; not a re-
bellion TO enlarge the area of freedom,
but rebellion to perpetuate an strength
en- the institution of human slavery, and
for the dismemberment OF contiguous
states. But now the maxims of the
fathers of the Republic that have carried
us through a century of unexampled
prosperity have become obsolete in the in
sane rush for foreign territory, and the
subjugation of an alien race that can only
be ''assimilated' by determination. The
dear, young Republic, while in its promis-
ing, experimental stage, is merging into
an empire, with territory in every cline,
and armies not dreamed of under our
system of government.
II expansionists would read history
whose latest chapters are being written in
characters of cruelty and blood, in the
spirit of patriotism, they would avoid the
path that has led to the corruption and
decay of nations that coveted the earth
and gloried In the slaughter of their fellow
men. Our country Is large, rich, I'M
developed, and requires all the efforts of
the people and the fostering care of the
government to develop its great posi-
bilities, and teach foreign nations the arts
of peace, self-government and national
honor. s. e. c.
Wilmington, Vt.