The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-08-15

publican party by endorsing its policy at Il
polls? A large standing army is not only
pecuniary burden TO the people. and, II a
companied by compulsory service. col
Estunt source OF irritation. but IL is ever
menace TO q republican form Of government
The army Is the personi1icaiion OF force, an
and milllarisnl will inevitably change tt
Ideals OF the people and turn the thoughts I
our young men from the arts OF peace 10 Tn
science OF war. The government which relic
for Its defense upon its citizens is more likel
TO be just than one which has at call Il lnrg
body of professional soldiers. A sma
standing army and we'll equipped and we
disciplined state militia are sufficient /
ordinary times and In an emergency tn
nation should In the future, as in the pas
place It's dependence upon the volunteer
| who come from all occupation At their cour
| try e call and return TO productive labor whe
their services are no longer reQuired-me
who fight when the country needs fighter
and work when the country needs workers.
The Republican platform assumes that tn
Philippine islands will be retained under th
American sovereignty, and we have a righ
TO demand OF the Republican leaders discus
sion ofthe future status of the Filipino.
bring into the body polite eight or ten mil
lion Astatics, 80 different from us In race ant
history that amalgamation Ia impossible
Are they to share with us In making the law
|andlshaping the destiny OF this nation? 2
tstsNo Republican of prominence has beer
bold enough 10 advocate such proposition
The McEnery resolution, adopted by tn,
senate Immediately after the ratification o
the treaty, expressly negatives this idea. Th'
Democratic platform describes the situation
when4t says that the Filipinos cannot b.
citizens without endapgerlng our civiliza
tion. Who will dispute 1t? And what IL III,
alterpative?' II the Filipino r. not to be 6
citizen, shall we make him subject? Or
that question the Democratic platform speak,
with emphasis. 1t declares that the PHILIPPINE
cannot be subject without endangering our
form OF government. A republic can have no
subjects. A subject is possible only In a gov.
ernment resting upon force he is unknown
In a government deriving It's just powers
from the consent OF the governed. The Re-
publican platform says that the largest m eaS
ure OF sell government consistent with theiI
welfare and our duties shall be secured 10
them the Filipinos0 by law This Is 8
strange doctrine for govern ment which
owes is very existence 10 the men who offer
ed their lives as protest against governmen
without consent and taxation without repre-
sentation. In what respect does the position
ofthe Republican party differ from the posi-
lion taken by the English govern ment In
lT6? Did not the English government prom
King ever promised bad government to his
people? Did not the English govern men
promise that the colonisLs should have the
largest measure OF sell government consistent
WIFI GuelT WSlldTS duu EIuRllSu QuIlCb DlQ
NOT the Spanish promise toglve TO the Cubans
the largest measure OF sell government COD.
sistent with their welfare and Spanish
duties? The whole difference between u
up In one sentence. In monarchy the King
gives to the people what he believes 10 be q
good government; in 4 republic the peoplese
cure for themselves what they believe to be Q
good government. 80! I%'Ns'-
"The Republican party has accepted the
European idea and planted Itself upon ground
taken by George III and by every ruler who
distrusts the capacity Of the people for self
government or denies them voice in their
own affairs.
"The Republican platform promises that
some measure of self.governmenti is to be CIV
pledge is not fulfilled. Nearly IL months
elapsed after the ratification OF the treaty
before the adjournment Of congress last June
and yet no law was passed dealing with The
situation. The will OF the presi-
dent has been the only law In the Philippine
Islands wherever the American authority ex-
tate TO legislate upon the Philippine question?
Because law would disclose the radical de-
parture from history and precedent contem.
plated by those who control the Republican
party.
1.-The storm of protest which greeted the
Porto Rico bill was an Indication Of what
may be expected when the American people
afe 70 aGe oTn upon
coined annexation. are to be denied the
guarantee of our constitution, what Ia to be
the lot OF Fillpinos, who resisted our authori-
ty? 1fsecret influences could compel disre-
gard ofour plain duty toward friendly people,
living lear our shores. what treatment will
those same influences provide for unfriendly
people 1000 miles awsy. II, In this country
where the people nave me right TO vote, Re.
people against the great monopolies which
have grown up within the last few years, how
can they be trusted TO protect the Fllipinos
from the corporations which are waiting to
exploit the islands?
"Is the sunlight OF full citizenship to be en-
joyed by the people OF the United States anu
the twilight of semi-citizenship endured by
the people OF Porto Rtro, while the thickIdark-
ness of perpetual vassalage covers the Philip
pines? The Porto Rico tariff law asserts the
doctrine that the operation of the constitu-
ton is confined to the forty-five states. The
Democratic party disputes this doctrine and
and spirit of our organic law. There. Is no
place in our system ofgovernment for the de.
post OF arbitrary and irresponsible power.
"That the leaders OF great party should
claim for any president or congress the right
10 treat millions OF people as mere posses.
sions' and deal with them uDrestraine9 by the
or the bill of rights shows how
far we have already departed from the an
cent landmarks, and indicates what may be
expected ifthis nation deliberately enters up
ON q career OF empire.
"The territorial form Of government Is tenn.
porary and preparatory, and the chief Securi-
ty citizen OF territoryhasi Is found In the fact
that he enjoys the same constitutional guar
antee, and Is subject to the same general laws
as Il citizen Of state. Take away the securl
ty and his rights will be violated and his in
terests sacrificed at the demand OF those who
have political Influence. This Ia the evil Of
the colonial system, no matter by what ma.
tion IL is applied.
"What is our title to the Philippine islands?
Do we hold them by treaty or by conquest?
Did we buy them, or did we take them? Did
secure title lo'them? Were they thrown in
with the landl Will the Republicans say
that inanimate earth has value, and when
that earth Is nodded by the Divine hand and
becomes fixture and passes with the soil
{ governments derive their Just powers from
the consent Of the governed. 1t Is impossible
TO secure title to people. either by force or by
by treaty, but II we hold title we must hold 1t
by some method consistent with our Ideas OF
government. When We made allies OF the
Fiipinos and armed them to fight against
Spain. we disputed Spain's title. If we buy
Spatn's title we are not innocent purchasers
But even If we had not disputed SPANS title
she could transfer no greater title than she
had, and her title was based on force alone
We cannot defend such title. but as Spain
gave US quit claim deed, we can honorably
turn the property over to the party in posses
sion Whether any American official gave
the Filipinos moral assurance OF indepen.
dence is not material.
"There can be no doubt that we accepted
and utilized the services OF the Filipinos, ano
that when we did so we had full knowledge
that they were fighting for their own inde
pendence, and submit that history furnishes
no example Of turpitude baser that ours If W.
now substitute our yok e for the Spanish yoke
"Let US consider briefly the reasons which
have been given in support Of an imperlalis
tic policy. Some say that IT is our duty Il
hold the Philippine islands, but duty IL no
an argument ; 1t is conclusion. 70 ascer
tain what our duty is, in any emergency, w
must apply well-settled and generally accept
ed principles. 1t Is our duty TO avoid steal
Ing, no matter whether The thing to be stolel