People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1900-08-16

-lt4Ou VI the VI, FAOllQd
Texas and other tracts which have beer
secured from time to time, enlarged the
republic, and the constitution followed the
lag into the new territory. II Is now pro-
posed ID seize upon distant territory al
ready more densely populated than our OWL
country, and to force upon the people Q
government, for which there is no war
rant in our constitution or our laws. Even
the argument that this earth belongs tc
those who desire to cultivate II and have
the physical power TO acquire II cannot
be invoked to justify the appropriation OF
the Philippine islands by the United States.
II the islands were uninhabited American
citizens would not be willing to go there
and till the soil. The white race will not
live so near the equator. Other nations
have tried to coloniZe in the same latitude,
The Netherlands have controlled Java FOL
300 years, and yet to-day there are less
than $1,000 people Of European birth scat
tered among 25,OO0,O00 natives. After a
century and a half Of English domination
In India, less than one-twentieth of one
per cent of the people of India are Of Eng.
fish birth, and II requires an army OF IO,OOS
British soldiers TO take care Of the tax
collectors. Spain has asserted title to the
Philippine islands for three centuries, and
yet, when our feet entered Manila bay
there were less than 10000 Spaniards re-
siding in the Philippines.
A colonial policy means that we shall
send to the Philippines a few traders, a few
taskmasters and few office holders. aud
an army large enough to support TIE au.
thority of a small fraction Of the people
while they rule the natives.
Increase In Regular Army.
If we have an imperial policy we mus,
have large standing army as its natural
and necessary complement. The spirit
which will justify the fOrcible annexation
of the Philippine islands will Justify the
seizure of other islands and the DONNA
ton of other people, and with wars Of con-
quest We can expect certain II not rapid,
growth of our military establishment.
That large permanent increase in ouI
regular army is intended by the repub-
lcan leaders is not mere matter of con-
lecture, but a matter of TACT. In his mes
sage of December 5, 1898, the president
asked for authority to increase the stand
ing army to 10000. IE 1896 the army con-
tanned about % 600 men. Within two years
the president asked for four times that
many, and a republican house of repre-
sentatives complied with the request after
the Spanish treaty had been signed and
no country was at war with the United
States II such an army is demanded
when an imperial policy Is contemplated,
but not openly avowed, what may be ex-
peeted If the people encourage the republic
an party by indorsing its policy at the polls
A large standing army is not only a Pc
cuniary burden to the people and, II accom-
panied by compulsory service, a constant
source OF irritation, but IL is ever menace
to a republican form Of government. The
army is the personihcation of force, and
militarism will inevitably change the ideals
Of the people and turn the thoughts Of our
youSg men from the arts Of peace to the
science of war. The government which
relies for its defense upon its citizens is
more likely to be just than one which has
at call large body Of professional SOL
diers. A small standing army and a we'll
equipped and well disciplined state militia
are sufficient In ordinary times, and in an
emergency the nation should in the future
as in the past place its dependence upon the
volunteers who come from all occupations
at their country's call and return to pro-
ductiVe labor when their services are no
longer required-men who fight when the
country needs fighters and work when
the country needs workers.
Status of the FiIipinos.
The republican platform assumes that
the Philippine Islands will be retained UNI
der American sovereignty, and we have
a right to demand Of the republican lead
ers a discussion of the future status of
the Filipino. Is he to be a citizen or a
subject? Are We to bring into the body
polite 100000 or 100000 Asiatics, so
different from us in race and history that
amalgamation is impossible? Are they
to share with US in making the laws and
shaping the destiny of this nation? No
republican of prominence has been bold
enough to advocate such a proposition.
The McEnery resolution, adopted by the
senate Immediately after the ratification
of the treaty, expressly negatives this
idea. The democratic platform describes
the situation when 1t says that the Fill
pinos cannot be citizens without endan-
gering our civilization. Who will dispute
1t? And what Is the alternative? If the
Filipino Is not to De a citizen, shall we
make him a subject? On that question
the democratic platform speaks with en-
phasis. 1t declares that the Filipino can
not be a subject without endangering our
form Of government. A republic can
have no subjects. A subject Is possible
only In government resting upon force;
he Is unknown in a government deriving
its Just powers from the consent of The
governed. The republican platform says
that 1.-The largest measure Of self-govern-
ment consistent with their welfare and
our duties shall be secured to them (the
Filipinos) by law" This is a strange doc
trine for a government which owes Its
very existence to the men who offered
their lives as a protest against govern
ment without consent and taxation with
out representation. In what respect does
the position OF the republican party differ
from the position taken by the English
g.. ~ he Heb
government promise 4 good government
to the colonists? What king ever prom
Used a bad government to his peo-
Pile? Did not the English govern
ment promise that the colonists should
have the largest measure of self-gOvern-
ment consistent with their welfare and
English duties? Did not the Spanish gov
eminent promise to give to the Cubans
the largest measure of self-government
consistent with their welfare and Spanish
duties? The whole difference between a
monarchy and republic may be summed
up in one sentence. In monarchy the
king gives TO the people what he believes
TO be a good government; In a republic
the people secure for themselves what
they believe to be good government
The republican party has accepted the Eu-
ropean idea and planted itself upon the
ground taken by George III. and by every
ruler who distrusts the capacity OF the
people for self-government or denies them
a voice in their own affairs.
The Presidents VIII the Only Law
The republican platform promises that
some measure of self-government Is to be
given to the Filipinos by law. but, even
this pledge is not fulfilled. Nearly II
months elapsed after the ratification OF the
treaty before the adjournment OF congress
last June, and yet no law was passed deal
ing with the Philippine situation. The will
of the president has been the only Law
in the Philippine isltnds wherever the
American authority extends. Why does
the republican party hesitate TO legislate
upon the Philippine question? Because a
law would disclose the radical departure
from history and precedent contemplate
BY those who control the republican party
The storm Of protest which greeted the
Porto Rican bill was an indication of what
may be expected when the American PEG.
pie are brought face to face with legisla.
ton upon this subject. II the Porto Ricans
who welcome annexation, are 10 be de-
MED the guarantees Of our constitution
what is to be the lot of the Filipinos, who
resisted our authority? II secret infiu-
ences could compel disregard OF our plain
duty toward friendly people, living neal
our shores, what treatment will those same
influences provide for unfriendly people
. nrn f,,e L..