The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1900-01-23
noEs MlaAr MAKE RIoHr2

No people so feeble in fight as th'
Filipinos can he III for national inde
pendence. Men who can't fight can
have country. Senator Hoar ant
men like him seem TO think that ma
tional independence can be maintained
on wind. L. Oregonian Jan. 22.
That any newspaper in any section o
the United Statet Of Ameaica dares tc
give utterance 10 such sentiments as the
above in its editorial columns, indicates
how far we have fallen in our ideals
since we declared that governments de-
rive their just powers from this con-
sent Of the governed.
TnR JOURNAL has upheld the govern
ment in the Spanish war, and 30 far as
possible, in this war against the Fill
pinos, and has systematically refrained
from harsh criticism Of the adminis-
tration, it's Algers and other drawbacks (;
but there is one thing which II wishes
distinctly understood; viz, II is not
ready to sacrifice all right principles on
the altar OF devotion TO an administra-
tion which is becoming less and less
representative Of the genius of free
America.
"Men who can't fight can't have a
country" In other words, might makes
right, and the story OF God OF Justice,
and Of vengence on high is a myth.
IL is not now necessary 10 go into the
main question as TO whether or not we
should keep the Philippines; rs TO
whether or not we have been guided by
destiny" into a complication from
which we can not honorably extricate
ourselves, by peremptory withdrawal.
But Il Is necessary, II we have any love
for the principles on which this govern
ment is founded, for liberty or justice,
or right or the Christianity which we as
4 nation profess to revere il IL neces-
sary 10 combat with all our might the
spreading and acceptance Of the ideas
which are condensed into the paragraph
at the head OF this column.
The assertion that weak people have
no rights is the doctrine OF England, and
she has built up mighty empire;
an empire so mighty that she has
been for over three months bending all
her energies 10 the task OF relieving a
town beleagered by a handful OF South
African Beers, backward and ignorant
people, but freemen.
But this government was builded on
a different foundation; the foundation
Of all Justice 10 all men not the justice
that they might.be able 10 wiring from
their appressors by the might Of their
arms but the ethical justice, which
treats all men as equals. Shall we
abandon all this and take In its place
the license Of the freebooter, the bully
and the swash-buckler?
Geo. Hoar was sent to congress from
Massachusetts in 1858. lie served in
.he 4lst congress, the 42nd, the 4Srd,
md the lith, lie declined TO run for
he 45th. He was overseer Of Harvard
'olleee from 1874 10 1880. In 1877 he
vas sent from. Massachusetts TO the
United States senate, and he has been
Iept there ever since. lie knows more
n one minute than bakers dozen OF
lis detraotors will' know in a thousand
ears.
The Oregonian ami its ilk can not find
pithets strong enough TO hurl at senator
ioar Of Massachusetts,, because he dares
0 plead for the Filipinos.
Senator Hoar is old-iashioned. lie is
ne OF the old school, who became "set"
a his beliefs before the founders Of this
oyernment we're discovered 10 be back
umbersi when the principles they
'ught and bled for were still looked up
a as the height OF righteous statesman
nip.
The Oregonian and it ilk slobbered I
yer young Beveredge after his eloquent I
ngo speech in the senate until decent !
omachs turned. Read the opening re. 8
'arks Of Senator Hoar's short protest Y
Mr.. President 1 have listened, de. !
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