St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-02-22


reason, shall be secured and established
A reign of terror is not the kind of rule
under which right action and deliberate
Judgment are possible. 1t is not a good
time for the lberator to submit impor-
tant questions concerning liberty and
government to the liberated while they
are engaged in shooting down their
rescuers.
We have now ended the war with
Spain. The treaty has been ratified by
the votes Of more than two-thirds OF the
senate of the United States and by the
Judgment of nine-tenths OF its people.
No nation was ever more fortunate In
war or more honorable in its negotia-
tons in peace. Spain is now eliminated
from the problem. 1t remains to ask
what we shall now do.
| do not intrude upon the duties OF
congress or seek to anticipate or fore
stall it's action. | only say that the
treaty of peace, honorably secured, hav-
ing been ratified by the United States,
and, as we confidently expect, shortly to
be ratified in Spain, congress will have
the power, and am sure the purpose, to
do what in good morals is right and just
and humane for these peoples in distant
seas.
1t is sometimes hard to determine
what is best to do, and the best thing to
do is oitentimes the hardest The pro-
phet of evil would do nothing because he
flinches at sacrifice and effort, and to do
nothing is easiest and involves the least
cost. On those who have things to do
there rests a responsibility which is not
on those who have no obligations as
doors. If the doubters were in a major
ity, there would, it is true, be no labor,
no sacrifice, no anxiety, and no burden
raised or carried; no contribution from
our ease and purse and comfort to the
welfare Of others, or even to the exten-
sion of our resources to the welfare OF
ourselves. There would be ease, but
alas there would be nothing done.
But grave problems come in the life of
a nation, however much men may seek
to avoid them. They come without our
seeking, why, we do not know, and it is
not always given us to know; but the
generation on which they are forced cam
not avoid the responsibility of honestly
striving for their solution. We may not
know precisely how to solve them, but
we can make an honest effort to that
end and if made in conscience, justice,
and honor it will not be in vain.
The future of the Philippine Islands is
now in the hands of the American people.
Until the treaty was ratified or rejected,
the executive department Of this govern
ment could only preserve the peace and
protect life and property. That treaty
now commits the free and enfranchised
Filipinos to the guiding hand and the
liberalizing influences, the generous SYM
pathies, the uplifting education, not OF
their American masters, but of their
American emancipators. No one can tell
today what is best for them or for us.
| know no one at this hour who is wise
enough or sufficiently informed to de-
termine what form of government will
best subserve their interests and our in
terests, their and our wel-being.
If we knew everything by intuition
and | sometimes think that there are
those who believe that if we do not, they
dove should not need information
but, unfortunately, most Of us are not in
that happy state. This whole subject is
now with congress, and congress is the
voice, the conscience, and the judgment
OF the American people. Upon their
judgment and conscience can we not
rely? believe in them, trust them. l
know of no better or safer human tri-
bunal than the people.
Until congress shall direct otherwise, it
will be the duty of the executive to
possess and hold the Philippines, giving
to the people thereof peace and order
and bene6cent government, affording
them every opportunity to prosecute
their lawful pursuits, encouraging them
in thrift and industry, making them feel
and know that we are their friends. not
their enemies, that their good is our aim,
that their welfare is our welfare, but
that neither their aspirations nor ours
can be realized until our authority is &C.
knowledged and unquestioned.
That the inha bitants of the Philippines
will be benefited by this republic is my
mistaken belief That they will have
kindlier government under our guidance
and that they will be aided in every pos
sible way to be selfrespecting and self
governing people IS as true as tnat the
American people love liberty and have
an abiding faith in their own govern.
ment and in their own institutions.
No imperial designs lurk in the Ameri-
can mind. They are alien to American
sentiment, thought and purpose. Our
priceless principles undergo no change
under tropical sun. They go with the
flag.
why read We not the change1ess truth,
The free can conquer but to save"
If we can benefit these remote peoples,
who will object? If in the years of the
future they are established in government
under law and liberty, who will regret
our perils and sacrifices? Who will not
rejoice in our heroism and humanity
Always perils, and always after them
safety; ALWAYS darkness and Clouds but
always shining through them the light
and the sunshine; always cost and sacri-
flee, but always after them the frution
of liberty, education and civilization.
have no light or knowledge not com.
mon to my countrymen. l do not
prophesy. The present is all absorbing
to me, but l cannot bound my vision by
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES