The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1899-05-11
PRESENT DAY THOUGHTS
About the Campaign Of 1900.
THE PHILIPPINES TO BE CON-
SIDERED.
BY G. GROsVENOR DAVE.

editor writes me: "What have you
to say as to the legal right of the Uni
ted States to purchase 100000 per-
sons and to govern them without the
consent of the goyerned?" Just this:
That the United States has as much
right to purchase 100000 people as
it has the right to purchase one. But
the right to purchase one is non-exist-
ent, SO also Is the right to purchase T.
100000. Just one other element en-
ters into this dictum namely, that the
United States has neither purchased one
or 100000. To so phrase the COM
pact between the United States and
Spain in relation to the Philippines, is
a perversion of terms that is quite too
deep for the comprehension Of the aver
aged unbiased man.
It seems now to be thoroughly un-
derstood that the question of expansion
| Will be very vital element in the next
presidential campaign, and very fitting
| ly so, because 1t represents policy that
! while not new in the history of the Uni
ted States is new in this particular, that
| the expansion takes in territory that is
separated by vast stretches of water
from the Union Itself This is new in
our history, very new and as all new
things-new books, new bonnets, new
dresses, new babies-afe considered fit
objects for com ment and criticism there
will naturally not be a shrinking of eth
er,ofthe great parties from the fullest sort
of discussion in relation to new politics.
This is quite as it should be, for while
in the multitude Of counsellors there
is wisdom. there is also wisdom in the
conflict of thought.
x+F
The opposing notes prior to great
national election in this country re-
mind one strangely oi the discords that
characterize the few minutes prior to
the beginning of a concert. These
dicords, however, subside when the con-
ductor weilds his baton, and they give
place to the harmony that is possible
with all the instruments. Thus is it
with our paissant nation when an elect
ion is decided. Remember If you VIII
| fierce feelings that seemed to run riot
during the last presidential campaign.
Excitement was so intense that wise
| men and brave men feared violence
would be shown by whichever party
was defeated. Remember, too, that
two days after the election the excite
| mont had vanished and feelings we're
quiet.
Thus will it be in 1900, no matter
how fierce the feeling that may be
aroused. But as I remarked last week,
1t is essential in order that this country
may understand the full merits of tho
question and In order to act Intelligent
ly, that certain details dragged in by
writer's as If part of the main question
should be clearly understood as having
no connection with 1t at all. Such, for
instance, as the institution of like
ness between the struggle of Aguinaldo
and the struggle of George Washing
ton. This we touched on last week.
Now comes up the other one raised by
the friendly editor; question so
adroitly put that unless answered en-
phaticalIy and eliminated from next
years discussion Will make Americans
appear to themselves as national trail
fckers in human flesh. In Yankee
| fashion this question can best be ans
wered by asking another. When the
United States yielded to its expansive
| impulses, earlier in the century, by the
Louisiana or by other purchases that
| have made 1t what it is, are we to un-
derstand that the inhabitants of these
regions became mere chattles OF the
United States? This question shows
the trifllng character of the other for
while the United States was perfectly
| ready at times to defend its territorial
rights in such purchases and has de-
Tended its rights by actual force
| where the transfer of the territory was
opposed in any way, yet In no sense
and at no time has it claimed to own
the bodies of its new inhabitants To-
gether, in all cases, the old Inhabitants
and the new, accepting the logic OF the
situation and with as little friction as
possible have worked out their own
financial and political and educational
salvation, very much to their own BEN
eft directly and very much to the ben
eft OF the United States Indirectly.
| So long as the spirit of the United
States remains what it is-and added
be the brain that cannot see in the
Rheumacide is a thorough, perma-
nent, constitutional cure for rheuma-