The record-union., 1899-01-23
VOICE OF THE PRESS.
EXTRACTS FROM EDIToRIAI
EXPRESSIONS.
State and Coast Opinions on SUBJ
jects Of Living News
Interest.

4ntex0ugs
Plumas National Bulletin: Senator
stephen M. White is reported to have
expressed the. opinion that the pro-
posed expansion program will prove
disastrous to the republic as such. =
Well, Stephens prophetic visions usu-
ally nave streaks of mud in them.
OUR POLICY IN THE PHILIP
PINES.
San Jose Herald: President McKin-
ley's proclamation to the natives of the
philippines is clear cut document
which raises a square issue with them.
1t announces in plain terms that the
United States has succeeded to the
sovereignty of Spain over the islands.
1t means, not whatever actual control
Spain may have exerted over the whole
or any part of the archipelago, but the
entire nominal, political sovereignty
claimed or exercised by Spain. 1t abso-
lutely ignores any claims of the Fill
pinos to independence. These of them
who have been in rebellion against
Spain are now in rebellion against the
United States unless they lay down
their arms and submit to American au-
thority. The fact that the proclama-
ton announces that 1--WE come not as
invaders or conQuerors, but as friends,
to protect the natives in their homes,
in their employment and in their per-
sonal rights" does not affect the main
proposition one iota. Nor does the
further declaration that it shall be
the earnest and paramount aim of the
Administration to win the confidence,
respect and affection of the inhabitants
of the Philippines by assuring to them
in every possible way that full measure
of individual right and liberty which Is
the heritage of free people and by prov
ing to them that the mission of the
/ United States is one of benevolent as
similation, substituting the mild sway
of justice and right for arbitrary law"
derogate in the slightest degree from
the determination of our Government to
exercise all the functions of sovereignty.
A GOOD BILL TO PASS.
Stockton Mail: One of the first bills
that will be introduced in the Legis-
lature will be one providing for the ap-
pointment by the Governor of COM
mission for the inspection of foods,
drinks and drugs in this State. The
| eAA~
members, who shall serve without
compensation, but be reimbursed for
travelling expenses. One is to come
from the northern part Of the State,
one from the southern and one from
San Francisco. The board shall ap-
point a Chief Inspector, chemist and
an attorney to attend to the prosecution
of cases under the pure food law. These
| <5. !, ,1,,-f -f~,7 Of
] There is no matter to come before
the Legislature of more Importance
than this. The food articles on sale
generally in this State are largely
adulterated. In most cases the ad-
mixture of foreign ingredients sold as
the original are damaging to the health
of the consumer. Many of the sub
stitutes are simply slow poisons. When
one thinks that these abominable con-
coctions and compounds are fed freely
to children by innocent parents, the
need of some interposition to check the
iniouity and punish the rascals be-
comes too apparent to need discussion
HUMANITY" AND EXPANSION.
Fresno Republican,: Any suggestion
| that the policy of tropical colonization
| is in the interest of humanity and CIV
iilization is likely to be met with scoff-
ing incredulity. Let US be honest,
say the skeptics, land if we must have
a hand in the international grab game,
| let us at least not be hypocrites about
I it, but frankly acknowledge that we are
taking possession of the Philippines
simply because we are strong enough
| to do SO, and think it will pay"
| Well, let us be honest, then. Let us
concede that pure missionary. enthusi-
asm has very little to do with the case;
that the fate of the individual Filipino
! is not of the least consequence to us,
! and that we might never have con-
cerned ourselves about the fate of the
whole race if the fortunes of war had
not put that fate in our hands. Does it
follow that the interests of civilization
have nothing to do with our colonial
ambitions?
Civilization, especially transitional
civilization. is not always good thing
for the individuals affected by it. Often
it is q fatal disease instead. Yet it is
| in the interest of human progress that
civilization be spread, even where it is
curse and a blight. 1t was good
thing, and pleasing to the Lord, when
and sword and stole their lands from
them 1t was good thing-in fact, it
was the best one thing in history-when
the aboriginal inhabitants of Europe
were extermipated by the Aryan immi-
grants, and it was a good thing, not
for the Indians. but for civilization and
the world, when the same process was
Erepeated by their descendants in Amer
ice.
THE ESSAYISTS.
Colusa Sun: Now is time when
every man who can afford it ought to
| read the leading magazines of the
country. They are all having articles
by the very best thinkers of America,
| with an occasional one from English
statesmen. on the Philippine question;
and every man ought to try to have a
good basis for the opinions he must,
as citizen. give expression to. No
man can now avoid responsibility in
the matter Politicians do not lead,
but are led by popular sentiment,
whether that sentiment is led by rea-
son, instinct or prejudice. The steps
we are taking, or are likely to take,
must lead to great good or 70 great
dangers. 1t is good deal like a
farmer mortgaging his home to buy a
farm in another county He should not
| make the mortgage simply TO satisfy
an instinct to have more land. Every
nation, every individual, wants more
lland-nature built them that way-but
we must reason about it.
DISARMAMENT.
Oakland Tribune: In reply to the
Cars appeal for information as to