The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-05

government OF the United States"
The Philippine Policy.
Mr.; Hartman then read that section
OF the declaration of independence de-
caring that all men are created equal
and entitled to life. liberty and the pur-
SUITS or happiness and that govern
ments are instituted among men de
irving their just powers from the con-
sent OF the government" These truths
he held to be the foundation of the revo-
luton and the republic.
He reviewed the incidents leading up
to the Spanish American war and the
destruction of the Spanish fleet at Ma
Mia. He then took up at length the
questions embodied in the present stu
alton as to the Philippine islands.
He submitted several propositions.
First. that even if we have right
to take and keep the islands, as a pure
~ commercial proposition we cannot
afford to take them.
Second, the government of the Unit
ed States does not require these islands
| for national defense.
Third. that we have no right legally
or morally to keep them"
He declared that If they are taken
they become either a part of the United
States, with opportunity for admission
to statehood, or become colonial pos
sessions, which latter condition for
ever denies to the inhabitants the
equality of right and citizenship" He
| denied the truth of the assertion that
the islands would give employment to
the American unemployed, pointing out
| they are already denSely populated. He
| spoke of the bad character of the eli
mate and cited 1.-The awful mortality
| among our gallant soldier boys, direct
| ly due to the climate" in proof of his
assertion. His seventh proposition was
| that, If annexed, the people of the ISL
ands must have citizenship conferred
upon them, and that we do not wish
to add 100000 of them to the body of
the American citizenship" Failure to
admit them, he held, would be in vio-
lation of 'the right of representation"
for which our forefathers revolted. AS
an eighth proposition he argued. at
| length that the commercial expansion
| of the United States will not be achiev-
| ed by either annexation or colonial sys-
| TEN, giving statistics on exports and
| imports in proof. The annual charge
against the United States as a result
of taking the islands he placed at
| $3.50, 100000.
Must Repair the Wrong.
Continuing, Mr.. Hartman said:
But it has often been said that We
| cannot honorably withdraw from the
| Philippine islands now; that having
gone there, we must stay. My friends,
| the American nation is too great, too
grand, too strong, too honest and too
honorable act. If we have made a
mistake, let us rectify it. If We have
| done a wrong to a weak, defenceless
people, let us be manly enough to re-
pair the wrong. If there has been mis-
understanding between Aguinaldo and
the Washington authorities, whether it
be chargeable to either or both, let the
authorities at Washington, by their
deeds as well as their words. assure the
Filipinos that they will not only be per-
mitted by the United States to estab-
lish a government of their own choos-
ing, but that the United States will
see to it that no other nation inter
feres until such time as the govern
ment may be fully equipped and in op-
Grafton. Let the United States secure
such military, naval or coaling sta
tons as she may require, and leaving
only sufficient force to appropriately
operate such stations, withdraw from
the islands, and in the language Of the
Cuban resolution, leave the government
and control of the islands to it's peo-
pie. 'rs
with appropriate apologies to those
who, in the name of manifest destiny
propose to re-esta blish the American
government in the slave business, l
quote from the language of the great
emancipation: I believe that this gov
eminent cannot endure permanently
half slave and half free. Nor do I.
American government can endure half
republic, half empire"
Going on with his argument Mr.
Hartman pointed out that every trop-
ical colony on the face Of the earth has
been source of expense and a net loss
to the government owning or control
ling it. The argument that the owner
ship of the islands would render d.
vision of the national naval forces nee
essary and would thus enfeeble the pro-
tecting powers of the country was
dwelt upon. Taking up the question of
the Filipinos' ability for self-govern-
ment, Mr.. Hartman said:
Il confess that l share somewhat in
the apprehension as to the permanency
of either the present Filipino govern
rnent or any other which may be es-
tablished, but the United States does
not stand in the attitude of a guar
antor Of the permanency of the Fill
Pine government and she has no busi-
ness to interfere lin the capacity of
dictator or otherwise in any expert
ment which the people of the Philip |
pines may see fit to make in the direc- |
ton of the establishment of a govern
ment. When the United States pro-
tects her citizens, her property, her !
honor, her dignity, she has performed |
her full duty. She is not charged with |
the duty, as a nation of going to and |
fro among the civilized, half civilized |
her peculiar kind of government on |
them and inject her special brand of |
liberty into them with 13-inch gun, |
and it is observable that the leading |
spirits who advocate such an interior
ence on the part of the United States, |
are men who expect, and are likely to |
receive, valuable concessions in the
archipelago which may be exploited at |
great profit to themselves, but to the
detriment and at the cost of the inhabl-
tants of the islands.
For nearly a century and a quarter
the republic has stood as the exponent |
and champion of the rights and hber-
tites OF mankind. Indicative of her po
sltiOn there stands at the mouth of |
New York harbor the beautiful statue
of Liberty Enlightening the World. 1t
stood there on the 9Th of last February,
when in the Philippine islands the
slaughter of 1900 men, women and
children, fighting for the precious heri-
tage of liberty, took place-took place
in the name of manifest destiny: took