The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1900-08-09


soldiers to take care Of the tax collect
Crs Spain has asserted title to the Phil
ipipne- islands for three centuries and
yet when our feet entered Manila bay,
there were less than 1900 Spaniards re-
siding in the Philippines.
/ 4 colonial policy means that we shall
send to the Philippine islands few trad
ers, 2 few taskmasters and a few Of
fee holders and an army large enough
TO support the authority of a small frac-
1 ton Of the people while they rule the ma
lives
AN IMPERIAL POLICY
II we have an imperial policy we must
have a great standing army as it's na-
tural and necessary complement. Spirit
which will Justify the forcible annexa-
ion Of the Philippine islands will justify
/ the seizure OF other islands and the DOM
ination Of other people, and with wars
OF conquest We can expect a certain. IL
not rapid growth Of our military estab-
ushment That a large permanent in
crease in our regular army is intended
by republican leaders is not matter Of
conjecture, but matter Of fact. In his
message on December >. 1S9S. the presi-
d ut asked for authority to increase the
standing army to 100000. In 1896 tha army
the president asked for four times that
many, and republican house Of repres n
tives complied with the request after ths
Spanish treaty had been signed, and
when no country was a. war. with the
United States. II such an army is de-
manded when an imperial policy is con-
templated. but not openly avowed. what
may be expected If the people encourage
the republican party by endorsing it,
policy at the polls? A large standing
army is not only a pecuniary burden TO
the people and, If accompanied by COM
pusory service, a constant source Of irri-
tatiOn, but It Is ever a menace to a re-
publican form of government. The army
IS the personifcauon Of force. and mill
tarism will inevitably change the ideals
Of the people and turn the thoughts
Of our young men and from the thoughts
peace to the science o. war. The govern
ment which relies for its defense upon its
citizens is more likely to be just than
one which has at call a large body Of
professional soldiers small standing
army and a we'll equipped and well dis
ciplined state militia are sufficient at
ordinary times. and in an emergency the
nation shrould in the future as in the
past place its dependence upon the volun-
te r. who come from all occupations at
their country's call and return to produc-
tive labor when their services are no
longer required-men who fight when the
country needs fighters and work when
the country needs workers.
AMERICAN SOVEREIGNTY.
The republican platform assumes that
the Philippines will be retained under
American sovereignty, and we have
right to demand Of the republican leaders
a discussion OF the future status OF the
Filipino. Is he to be a citizen or sub
ject? Are we 10 bring the into the body
polite eight or ten million Asiatic, so
different from US IN race history that
slgamation is impossible? Are they 10
share with us in making the laws and
shaping the destiny Of this nation? No
republican Of promine has been bold
enough to advocate such a proposition. (
The McEnery resolution. adopted BY +
the senate Immediately after the -ati-
fication Of the treaty, expressly mega
tives this idea The democratic plat
form describes the situation when Il
saws that the FilipnOs cainOt be ctti-
zens without endangering our civilza-
ton Who Will dispute it? And what
is the alternative? If the Filipino not
20 be a citizen. shall we make him a
subject? On that question rhedemocrat-
ic platform speaks with equal empha-
sis It declares that the Filipino can
not be a subject withou endangerinS
our government. 4 republic can have
no subjects A subject is possible only
in a government resting upon force; he
Is unknown in a government deriving
its lust powers from the consent Of the
governed. The republican platform
says that "the largest measure of self
government consistent with their well
fare and our duties shall be secured 70
them Cthe Filipinos) by law" This l.
a strange doctrine for a government
which owes its very existence 70 the .
men who offered their lives as a pro-
test against a government without
consent and taxation without repre-
sentatlon. In what respect does the po-
sition Of the republican parry alHef
from that taken by the English govern
noant in 1776? Did not the English gov
ernment promise a good government 10
the colonists? What king ever promised
q had government 10 his people" Did
rot the English government promise
,,c.J e-o,-s rrr1ent to 1.-THE colOniSts? What
king ever promised bad government to
his people? Did not the English gov
ernment promise that the colonists should
have the largest measure Of self-govern-
rnent consistent with their welfare and
English duties? Did not the Spanish gov
ernment promise 10 give the Cubans the
largest measure Of self-government con-
sistent with their welfare and Spanish du-
ties? The whole difference between a mon