The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-21

Shall the Philippine Islands Be
Annexed?
The Stylus.


great question now agitating the
political world, the disposition Of
the Philippine Islands; not with
any hope, of course, of being able
to clucidatc the subject. but simply
for the purpose of exchanging ideas
with your readers. We believe
that no national question to-day is
more important than this: Shall
these islands be ccdcd to the Uni
ted States: and if so, what shall
be their position in the Union:
Their rejection would evidently
mean some incxcusablc vacillation
on the part of our government in
usmuch as their ccssion was sug-
gcstcd and demanded by It's in
structcd representatives and, con
scqucnt y, Il rc-opcning Of the war
with Spain; their crssion on the
other hand, an expansion OF our
limits beyond the Western Cont
ncnt contrary to our treasured tra-
ditional views; our ENHANCEMENT,
it may be, in the jNalousics and
contentious OF eastern nations; en-
largcd governmental powers; prob
ably larger standing army and
navy; and Il possible increase of
taxation beyond any present COM
putation. Thus the honor, genius,
and stability Of the Union, and the
material welfare Of all its people,
are involved.
We are now standing on the
shore of an unknown ocean, and
no vision is Capable of penetrating
the boundlcss cNpansc before Us
and of saying wha, storms may not
buffet the Ship Of Statc,i launched :;
nor what rocky reefs may impcril
its existence. The farther shore
may, for aught we know, DC rock
bound, bleak, and dcsolatc; or it
may offer the balmy ports Of abound
ing peace and plenty.
We do not, therefore, wonder
that our ablcst statesmen are now
pausing in pcrpIcNi,y and dread :;
and that contrary opinions are held
by those equally wise and patriotic.
But in proportion to its impor-
tancc, we think it incumbent upon
these statesmen TO study and en-,
dcavor TO solve the problem indc.
pcndently of our traditions and
their local and political differences.
Whatever may have been the past
new fields Of action evidently dis
similar to anything behind us now
lie "bcyond the a lps,' where, by Il
higher type Of craftsmanship, We
may win fresh laurcls, or by Our
failure prove our incapacitv for :,
noblcr destiny.
Nations are like individuals.
There is Il period of childhood and
scClusion within the nurscrv. when
empty baublcs and deceptive tale,
Of nurses suffice to furnish amlsc.
mcnt and employment then OF
youthiulncss, when actions are
prompted rather by passion than
by sense and Justice; and tlcn
sometimes also of maturcd man.
hood, when the enlightened indl,
vidual, considering the object OF
his existence here, stands forever
for God and humanity, regardless
of his ease and personal interests.
These last are the only irccmcn
having won their freedom through
the knowledge and love of the
truth. For them, there is no pleas.
urc in worthless baublcs and tn,
deceptive tales of nurses; passion
mas yielded at length to Judgment
and the false teachings Of the past
like wclI-nigh irrcprcssiblc Banquc
ghosts, no more disturb their senses.
We hope the Union has passed
entirely through the first two pc,
riods of her existence; and is now
prepared to assume her duty undo,
the guidance of Providence IN
broader fields of usefulness. This
hope becomes more fcrvcnt tn,
more we consider the fact, that
growth of intellect requires pro
grcss in knowledge, which is i'm
possible without a rclinquishmcnt
Of exploded theories, no matter by