Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-01-08

days OF uncertainty and evasion. When
.ne opponents OF l6 to agree upon an
other ratio IL Will be time enough TO COM
pare the merits Of the new ratio with the
merits Of the old ratio. But they Will not
oe permitted to suspend the party In mid
ar, out Of the reach of l6 to : and out OF
sight OF anything else. To surrender the
ratio is TO accept the gold standard as
final.
"The Chicago platform was good when
u was adopted: II grows better with age.
1t was strong In lS6; IL Is stronger now.
THE NEW ISSUES.
but enough of old issues. What OF the
new questions? our party cannot ignore
the issues raised by the war. 1t must
speak out against militarism now, or for
ever hold its peace. A large standing
army is not only on expense TO the peo-
pie. but IL is a menace TO the nation. and
the Democratic party will be a unit in
opposing It.
"A word in regard to Imperialism.
Those who advocate the annexation OF
the Philippines call themselves expan-
sionists. but they are really lmperalists.
The word expansion would describe the
acquisition of territory 10 be populated
by homogeneous people, and TO be carved
into States like those now in existence.
An empire suggests variety in race and
diversity in government The Imperialists
do not desire TO clothe the FiipinoS with
all the rights and privileges Of American
citizenship; they want TO exercise sove-
pect to rule the new subjects upon a
theory entirely at variance with consti-
tuuonal government. Victoria is queen
Of Great Britain and Empress OF lndia.
Shall we change the title OF our EXecu-
tive, and call him the President of the
United States and Emperor of the Philip
pines?
"The Democratic party stood for the
money OF the Constitution In 1886; II
stands for the government of the Con-
nnnnGn1
financial policy I'm 1896; it opposes an
English Colonial policy now. Those VINO
I'm 1896 were in favor of turning the Amer
lean people over TO the greed OF foreign
fnanciers and domestic trusts may now
be willing 20 turn the Filipinos over 70
the tender mercies of military governors
and carpet-bag officials. - o..,,
"Those who i'm 1896 thought the peopisS
OF the United States too weak To attehu
TO their own business. may now think
them strong enough 10 attend 70 ,le
business Of remote and amen iaceS out e
those who in 1896 fought for independence
for the American people VIII hot % nIw
withhold independence from those VINO
desire IL elsewhere.
THE SAME OLD CRY.
"yve are told that the F'ilipinos are not
canable OF seIf-government; that mas
familiar ring. Only TWO years aeV
heard the same argument mace asallSSt
a very respectable minority OF tlle pVUPio ',iSo
coerced borrowers. did II upon that
theory. the employers who coerced ther
employees did il for the same reason
Self-government increases Win paI pN tiCil'a ~
ZION in government. The Filipinos are not
far enough advanced TO share in the gov
ernment of the people OF the united
states: but they are competent TO govern
themselves 1t is not fair TO compare
them with our own citizens. because the
American people have been educating
themselves i'm the science of government
for nearly three centuries, and wnile We
have much TO learn, we nave aiready
made great improvement The FibpnoS
Win not establish a perfect government
Int they will establish government as
nearly perfect as they are competent TO
| eniCv and the United states can project
/ them from mOestation from without.
! .The Republcans of Illinois, of course,
| will not expect the FflipnOs 10 select
/ legislature equal 10 the last Republican
! LEGISLATURE in fidelity TO the public well
/ fare Illinois became a state nearly
| century ago. and the Legislature which
| enacted the Allen law was. as IL were,
| the ripened fruit of long experience. Give
the FiIipinOs time and opportunity, ana
while they never will catch up with us,
unless We cease 10 improve. yet they may
some day stand where we stand now.
WHAT EXCUSE is THERE?
What excuse can be given for the
adoption of a colonial policy? Secretary
Gage disclosed the secret in his Savannah
1
calling Mr Gage the keyhole oi the ad-
ministration, because we look through him
TO learn what is going on within the
Executive council chamber. He suggested
that philanthropy and per cent would
60 hand in hand in the new venture. These
are the two arguments which are always
used in favor or conquest. PhilanthFopy
and per cent. The one chlOrOfOrms the
conscience of the cOnlueror and the other
picks the pocket Of the conquered.
Some say that philanthropy demands
that we govern the FihpinOs for their
own good. while others assert that We
must hold the islands because Of the
pecuniary profit 10 be derived from them.
/ deny the sOundness of both arguments.
FOrCible annexation Will not only be
criminal aggression TO borrow Mr. Nc
Kinley's language of year ago., but 1t
will cost more than ii is worth, and the
whole people will pay the cost, while
few will reap all the benefits.
DOCTRINE OF VICARIOUS ENJOY
MENT.
"Suu weaker is the argument based
upon religious duty. The Christian reli-
giOn rests upon the doctrine OF vlcauous
suffering and atonement; the Colonial
policy rests upon the doctrine of vicari-
Gus enjoyment.
when the desire TO steal becomes un-
cOntrollable in an individual, he is de-
clared 10 be a kleptomaniac, and Is sent
to any asylum; when the desire TO grab
ldnQ becomes uncOntfOlldDle III Hdl4OH,
we are told that the currents OF destiny
are flowing through the hearts Of men,
and that the American people are enter
ing upon their manifest mission
Shame upon a Logic which looks up the
petty offender and enthrOnes grand lar
ceny. Have the people returned to the
worship OF the go. den calf? Have they
made unto themselves a new command
ment consistent with the spirit of con-
quest and the lust for empire? Is thou
shalt not steal upon a small scale to be
substituted for the law of Moses?
Awake, oh. ancient Law-Giver. awake!
Break forth from thine unmarked sepul-
chre and speed Thee back to the cloud
crowned summit of Mt. Sinai; commune
once more with the God of our fathers.
and proclaim again the words engrayen
upon the tables of stone-the law that
was. the law that is to-day-the law
that neither individual nor nation can
violate with impunty"