New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-31
mr.. LINDRArS BrFFlLO ADDRESS.

Little comfort can he extracted by the Demo
cratic platform makers who are arranging to
condemn the Administrations policy in the
Philippines from the lucid and mastery ad-
dress delivered on Tuesday before the Amori-
can Bar Association 10y Senator William Lind
say. Of Kentucky Senator Lindsay IS both a
turist Of admitted distinction and a politician
who through bis single term of service I'm thc
deHbcratiye branch of Congress has sustained
an already cnviahle reputation for BREADTH
force and independence of political judgment
Attached by character and training to the
older not the newer. school Of Southern states
manship, his Democracy has been infltratcd
with a genuine spirit of Americansm. against
which the younger generation Of southern
leaders typfed by Bailey or Tillman, seems
unhapply proof The Kentucky Senator elected
10 discuss before the Buffalo meeting some Of
the legal and political problems arising from
the extension Of National sovereignty 10 the
Philippines His own views not only of CON
stitutional construction hut Of patriotic duty
had led him rs Senator to support the Paris
Treaty and il IS no surprise TO find him now
with Senator Morgan Of Alabama. and OK Sen
ator John W. Palmer Of Illinois, throwing the
weight Of his learning and character against
that faint hearted theory Of American policy
in the Far East which Mcssrs Bryan. Altgcd
Croker and Atkinson seem eager 10 cmbOdy
I'm the next Democratic National platform.
Senator Lindsay answers the illogical dec
laration Of the Iowa Democrats eve dcprpcatc
and condemn war with the Flpinos" by
demonstrating Mt once the legality and the
necessity Of the Governments present attitude
r., ~
enforce American sovereignty in the Philip
pines was an obligation imposed by the unfore-
seen results of the war with Span-an obliga-
ton which the United States could not escape
without the sacrifice Of National honor and
dignity" Both the Iowa and the Nebraska
platforms have much 10 say about the neon
sistency of "a war Of conquest" in Luzon with
the American doctrine that governments de-
rive their just powers from the consent of the
governed But as the Kentucky Senator
pointcdly says, "want Of the opportunity of the
"FilipinOs 10 express consent receives no con
"sideraton. We cannot presume that the offer
"of law and order through stable government
"to people who have never enjoyed the bless
'fngs of either would be rejected could they be
afforded the opportunity TO consider the offer
freely and express their will" Moreover. "the
Revolutionary government; represents at the
utmost less than onc-fourth Of the inhabitants
"of the islands, and rs 10 them II Is n govern
"ment Of force rather than consent. In sub
uniting 10 the authority Of the United States
"they surrender no privilege or immunity.
american dominion in tho Philippines will
destroy none Of the ends Of government; Will
disregard no one Of the inalicnahle rights Of
man: VIII sanctlfy no abuse or usurpation. but
twill terminate The dcspotiSm under which
their people have lived for more than three
hundred years
The demand that the Uniled States shall
hurricdly abandon both its duties ana rs OPP
portuntlcs i'm the Philippines which the Demo-
cratic managers seem To be preparing Ia for
mulatc has no justification in Senator Lind
says trained political Judgment. Sovereignty
over the islands came. he says. "as the cul-
"minatlon Of events which human agencies could
mot control ar direct. We would gladly escape
"the duty If escape We're possible, but recog-
'nlZlng that there is no honorable avenue Of re
treat We take it MP (appreciatng all its dif-
faculties and responsibilities with the fixed
purpose Of discharging 1t TO the uttermost."