Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-02-10

A@S~o - Aot8Ot VI kOA0 WuAcu CAIu6
from q rivers bank in Luzon.' We
tell them that they have schools,
churches, q free constitution, laws,
order. civilization; that they are
Christisns, and that IL IL o crime to
crush Ohristian people. And they
tell you, ia reply, that the trade Of
China 10 niimitable and il we but set
our foot upon Lnzon we are IN a posi-
ton where We eau get our share OF it."
he takes issue with ex-Secretary
DAY and says:
"Ar. Day, lately Secretary of State,
in speech in Ohio, in which he does
not commit himself TO a purpose of
permanent dominion over these people
against their will, says the war was be.
gun by Aguinsldo, and We could only
meet force with force. To both OF
these statements it seems to me the
facts OF the case impose their emphss-
10 denial. The conflict began by q
shot from United States soldier.
The first persons slain were Filipinos.
Aguinsldo earnestly deprecated The
event and sent q messenger at once to
the American commander expressing
his regret and his desire for peace, and
Offering TO withdraw his soldiers to
any distance the American authority
should require. He was met by the
statement that ~ host;lities had be-
gun they must 60 on. General Otis
himself expresses his belief-what all
the facts sbundantly show-thst
Aguinsldo did not desire to begin to
hight at that time. He adds yhst ia
the msrest conjecture, that he thinks
Aguinaldo meant to fight later, and il
it is true that there was Q purpose on
the part Of the United States to de.
prive this people OF the independence
they have achieved, il is not unlikely.
But the purpose to sublugate them,
and determination to carry is into
eject by force, is the true and only
cause OF the war;"
He continues to pay his respects to
the Ex Secretary when he declares:
'Mr. Day is equally mistaken, ia my
Judgment, when he states that we can
only meet force with force.~ That IL n
doctrine to my mind, replete with bar
bariem. / am not now invoking any
rule pres ribbed by Christianity for the
government OF man. But / affirm Cd at
1t is an outrageous doctrine when by
accident, by the fault OF private SOL
diers on one side, or on the other, q
Q nntict has grown up between two
great nations, or one great nation and
one small one, that they are bound
ever sfserward to make IL q fight to
the death, And Mr.. Day would not
for q moment think of prescribing such
rule for the government of tbs Uoi :
ed States in dealing with England CT
Germany. The law OF righteousne IS
u the same in the Eastern 90 in the
Western Hemisphere. II the United
States be bound to deal in honor with
the swsthy Cuban we are equally
bound to deal in honor with the
the swarthy people of Luzoa. The
rules of honor and justice are not AZ
fected by the lines OF latitude or of
longitude, or by the points OF the COM
pass. When we say this, there seems
| Co be q singular difficulty in getting
our imperislistic friends either TO sd-
NIT or deny it. They turn uneasiIy
from any consideration OF right aud
wrong, and appeal not so much even
to the desire for empire as co the COW
etousness and greed of the Ameri-
can people,"
Senator HoAR is st his best when he
comments as follows upon the points
at issue:
"rhe man who would deal with Luz
con ss we are pledged TO deal with GU
ba, says, as Seward said, as the Su-
preme COURT say, that we have no
right under the Constitution to ac-
quire, hold or govern colonies. The
man who would subjugste Luzon SAYS
we have such right.
The man who would deal with Luzon
as we mean TO deal with Ouba saws we
have DO right to Luzon under the law
of the nations. The law of nations de-
clsres that no country can sell q SOW
ereignty that it does not actually en-
JOY and possess that when q sovereign
10 disseized he cannot rightfully die.
pose OF to another o people or terrific
~ OF which he has not the practical
control, and that Spain had neisher
right nor power over the island of Lu.
zon when she undertook to sell it. BE
says also that the law OF nations
further declares that q strong nation
has no right to conquer and subjueate
. weak nation by mere force of arms.
The man VINO would subjugste Luzon
replies to all of this: rhat may or
may be true. / will not debate it with
yon, but propose to do it,
The man who would deal with In
zon as We mean to deal with Gu % saws
that people had achieved their indie.
psnde nee, established their govern
ment in freedom and in order, and
that it lie base thing to crush this
infant republic, the first republic. in
the Orient, by our superior power
The man who would subjugste them
says, In substance, that he does nor
Gal, whether this be base thing or
no.
The man who would deal with In
zon rs we are pledged to deal with On
bs says that we brought AguinaIde
home from exile. put him at the head
of the people Of his islands, gave them
arms, accepted their aid knowing ali
the time that they expected indeoen-
dence, that we never undeceived them
or disclosed to them q purpose to con
quer them, until Spain had surrend ar
ed, and that we are estopped by the
plainest dictates of good faith from
now holding them in SUGGESTION. \
suppose the advocate of Isubjueatitn
Will be driven in the end to ueny tn
proposition. He has so far msnifes.
ed great unwillingoess to talk about it
The man who would deal with In
zon IS We are pledged to deal with Gu
mn