The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1899-01-12
LET rHEpnILlppINss BE FREE.

LET THE PHILIPPINES BE FREE.
One hundred and twenty-five years ago
the cause of the American colonies, re-
voting against oppression OF the moth
or country, was almost hopeless. The
little band of patriots who still chung to
the hope of liberty, lay naked and
starving in their huts at Valley Forge.
Their immortal leader, Washington,
was the object OF abuse and accusations
OF incompetency by men in the highest
authority. Almost within hearing, the
British danced and dined with the fair
est daughters OF Philadelphia, only a
short time before the American capital.
The cause would probably have been
lost, had it not been for the arrival of
the French fleet, which brought guns
and ammunition, and above all, renewed
hope and courage TO the hearts of the
despairing c~olonists.
Why this retrospect? 1t is simply to
prove, by a case so aptly in point that
It's force cannot be denied, that the at
tituds assumed by the United States
toward the Philippines in the Treaty of
Peace with Spain is neither right nor
American in spirit. Suppose that
France, when she came to make peace
with England at Paris in 1888, had
said, ut was through us that your
power In the American colonies was
overthrow, and we will give you 800
GOO, 900 for your title Then suppose
England had agreed, in spite of the
protests Of Benz. Franklin, our Agon-
clio, and France had sent a fleet and
troops to this country to enforce her
authority. Would Washington and the
American people have submitted? Or
would they have resisted as Aguinaldo
and the Fiippinos are resisting Ameri-
a sovereignty to-day? There is but
one answer, and yet some of u lead
ing journals and statesmen are advo-
eating the application of a policy to the
Philippines to which we would never
have submitted ourselves, and the Ad-
ministration has already taken steps to
carry it into execution. Are we going
TO substitute In these closing days of the
nineteenth century the old principle OF
the Dark Ages, that might makes
right, for that glorious principle on
which our own government Is founded,
that the right to rule depends on the
consent OF the g~overned?n II 30, let
Columbia hang her head in shame.
We see no reason why the United
States cannot apply the same policy to
the Philippines that it has to Cuba and
thus siirk non of the responsibilities
which 1t assumed when 1t destroyed the
Spanish sovereignty, and at the same
time gain oil of the advantages which
would result from annexation, without
any OF the strife, expense and loss Of
life, which is sure to attend an armed
occupation OF these tropical islands, and
also without those social, political and
industrial problems that must present
themselves for solution IL 9, 900, 900 peo-
pie OF an alien and lower race are grant
ed American citizenship. The Flip
pinos would no doubt gladly refund to
the United States the 500, 00O, 600 to be
paid to Spain, would grant us a naval
station, and would insure to US CONNER
cial advantages in return for protection
against foreign aggression. What mere
do we want, will som ultra-expansion-
ist inform us?
The Treaty of Peace was commune
Gated to the Senate last Wednesday.
Let Nevada's Representatives vote to
ratify 1t, say We, but only with the ex-
press understanding that negotiations
shall be commenced at once to establish
Philippine Independence with some such
concessions to this country az we have
suggested above.