The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-08-18
TIME TO DEAL JUSTLY,

be guiding power of every move of the American peo-
posed to primarily spring from the great masses of
uselves and is later delegated to those duly elected
*. Individuals are elected to Office for the sole purpose
of executing and putting INTO practice the wishes of the major
ity of the people, regardless as to what questions present
themselves for solution. The nation has seldom been con-
|fronted with a greater number of vital questions-each de-
manding earnest attention and careful study, and each
pressing for early solution-than at present. And among
these to THE. UNION there seems to be none more important
than that presented by our proposition in the Phiippnes-an
issue involving the sacrifice of untold life and the expenditure
of untold millions of money, with apparently no adequate re-
turn. That the attitude of the present administration should
be criticised is nothing strange or remarkable. This is SIM
ply the right of the people under the constitution, and the
application of such epithets as ''copperheads' and TRAITORS
to critics of the administration shows either a lack of know
ledge as to individual rights, or is evidence that those who
apply such names have allowed the prejudice to overcome
their better Judgment. Be that as it may, The UNION has
no epithet to hurl at the supporters of our present Philippine
policy. Every citizen, be he a critic or a supporter of the
policy, has the same right under the law.
But laying aside this phase of the proposition, The
UNION believes that America is in the wrong and alphabetically
so, in this Philippine proposition. The natives of those islands,
HNSSA 'Nv ~ Au'N AiSAIo NASA
this country, powerful though it is, ought to respect. That
these rights have been disregarded there is no room for doubt
or dispute. That the F,ipinos were entitled to as fair treat
ment as the Cubans cannot be gainsaid. The Cubans Joined
us in the task of crushing Spanish barbarity in the West In
dies and we threw a protecting arm around that devastated
island and gave freedom to her people. The civilized world
looked on and words of praise and admiration went up from
every quarter. The Filipino army joined our forces in Luzon
to crush out Spanish oppression in the far east. With the
aid Of our own brave Dewey SPANS suprenency ended-and
then what! The Filipino people have experienced simply a
change of rasters-from Spanish ownership to American snb-
1ugahon and occupation. We may point to what our coun-
try proposes to do when thase islands are "paci6ed, " but the
question will ever confront us: Why did we secure liberty for
the people Of Cuba, say to her people, BE free!' and then
turn the Gatling gun upon the native Filipino when he asked
the same blessed privilege at our hands?
Nor can we say a: this time that the Filipino is incapable
OF self-government and justify our action by declaring it our
duty to assume control Of the archipelago and administer gov
ernrent to its people. Every one of the score of letters
which have appeared in these columns from South Dakota's
gallant volunteers have asserted that the natives of those ISL
are as capable Of self-government as are the Cubans. the
people of Mexico or the inhabitants of the Central and South
american countries, Admiral Dewey asserts this and he is
Imported by practically all of the volunteers-heroes whose
opinions are not hampered by gold lace, epaulets or visions of
military promotion and increased pay.
Furthermore, our volunteers are almost unanimous in as
serting that should we finally succeed in '.pacifying' these
people by the sword, the acquisition would not be valuable to
the great masses of our people. True, American capital
could and, doubtless, would pour in there, develop the country
some extent and reap a rich harvest off the native cheap la
Dor, but are our individual citizens to be armed and sent into
he held to acquire territory for a mere handful Of American
nulti-nnlllionaires? And have the people whom the Creator
has N his wisdom placed upon those islands no voice in the
The administration says not.
HE UNION has read much about true patriotism and the
question has often been asked as to who shall haul down old
and statements that where the American flag has
zen raised, there must it stay, 9 etc. Much Of such talk is
imply unreasonable sentinnentality. Sentiment L Of this kind
ever solved a public problem nor has it ever guided the nation
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