The Republican journal., 1899-03-23
The First Republic in the Far East
BY FRANK W. GoWEN.
PAPER NO. ".

'7A'
In my last paper | referred to President
Mckinley address before the Home Mar
ket Club in Boston on February 18TH and
said that it would rank in history with
Lincoln's immortal words at Gettysburg;
and if any of your subscribers have not
found time to read it | would advise them
to do so, for | know nothing in modern
times that is peer to it. Mr.. Bryan, in
his reply to our President, demands that
be shall indicate his policy with reference
to the Philippines, and it seems to me that
the asking of such a question furnishes
clear insight of the calibre Of this states
man, who would like very much to man
age the affairs of our government from
the White House. l would like to know
what right our President would have.
under our constitution and our laws. to
dictate to Congress, which is the peoples
representative, the kind of legislation we
are to enact in reference to those islands
IN the far east Whether we shall annex
them, or grant the natives independence
or protectorate, is not for him to decide;
that matter is in the hands of Congress-,
and he can go no farther than he has gone
IN enforcing the authority Of the United
States, preserving the peace, and protect
ing life and property in the Philippines
In retaining those islands we know very
well that we have assumed mighty re-
sponsibility, and it will cost time patience
and money, and the loss of life and blood.
to civilize those people; but shall we
shrink from our great task like towards?
Shall we say now that we do not owe
those poor ignorant natives the best that
civilization and progress can accomplish?
Shame on such an idea! We are in duty
soften their hearts and polish their man
ners; and, as the poet says,
TO raise the virtues, animate the bliss
And sweeten all the tolls Of human life"
[ remember in reading one of Edmund
Burke's speeches some time since that he
said: ''War never leaves where it finds
nation and | am thoroughly convinced
that the thoughtful citizen feels that we
are on the eve of momentous events, and
the problems the like of which we never
had before are confronting US, and if
there was ever need of craftsmanship,
that need is most urgent now. In my
opinion we have ample ability to govern
our colonies with conspicuous success; ,
but this great problem resolves itself into
two propositions:
1st Do we intend to send carpet bag
gers and ward heelers to take charge of
our new possessions, or are we going to
send able and clean representatives of a
great people?
End. Do we intend to legaize the liquor
traffic in the Philippines, and then have
those tribes give themselves up to beastly
drunkenness and debauchery?
Our safety in the far east lies in the
rigid application of the merit system as to
all official appointments-an not in the
political spoilsmen system-and in the
prohibition of the awful traffic in liquors
If we infict the saloon upon the Filipnos
we will not only bring ruin upon them,
but also on our soldier boys and greatly
injure honest industry and legitimate
commerce everywhere in those islands.
1t was only yesterday that | witnessed a
sad sight in Broad street station in Phla-
delphia as l was taking train, the arrest
of young officer of our army for drunk
enness. The tears filled my eyes, for
could not help it as | thought of the ex-
perience of the year just passed, viii Oh
has shown that rum is itself the greatest
curse of the army of the United States.
| will protest against the legalizaton and
perpetuation of this awful traffic in the
Philippines, for it will jeopardize the
security and happiness of the people
there.
VIM. Pitt characterized the attempts of
the British Ministry to tax our colonies as
miserable financerng; so | say our rev.
enue from the rum traffic in the Orient
would not only be miserable inancering,
but an outrage In the name of Almighty
God and humanity, let the liquor traffic,
which is the greatest enemy of our race,
be forever prohibited for beverage pur-
poses in the Philippines. The Boston
Herald of 10th inst. lies before me and 1
regard it as one of the ablest advocates of
what appears to me the wrong side of the
question of which l write. One of the dis
tnguished orators who spoke at the ban
quet of the Massachusetts, Reform Club
held in Boston the 9th inst. touching on
imperialism said
"Our government is engaged in the
murder of men in the Philippines stand
ing up in defence of their homes and
liberty. He referred to President McKin-
ley's visit to Boston and the statements of