Delaware gazette and state journal., 1900-01-18
The One -tn,nr N.es..arr.

beginning with the very practical
assumption that meanwhile, 1t is
useless to try to settle Issues until we
come to them, the Atlanta Consti,
tuition rtsches this conclusion: just
at present the great issue is whether
We shall restore peace and order in the
Philippines and protect the various
interests there, or turn tail on our re-
sponsibilities and obligations ana leave
the factions there to fight it out. :"
But how shall we restore peace and
order In the Philippines? BY con.
tinuing to fight and harass the pa
triotio people of those islands, who
have been fighting for liberty and in
dependence for more than three hum
dred yearsf We have been fighting
them now for nearly two years, and
although we have destroyed their
property, killed many Of their people,
and spread ruin and devastation
through sections Of their country, they
are still fighting bravely for freedom,
as their ancestors fought before them
for three centuries, and AS the people
of the American Colonies fought to
separate themselves from the British
Grown.
The only ploa Of justification offered
in behalf of this outrageous oppression
of bravo people who aspire to be free
and independent is that they are unfit
for self-Rovernment, and that II left to
themselves thoy would become prey
to various "rapacous nations of the
Enet But how can it be told whether
or not they are capable Of self-eovern-
ment whom they have not had an
opportunity to make the experiment? ?
Is not the fact that peaoe and order
prevail throughout the islands, except
where the armed forces Of the United
States are qusrtered, proof that the
people naturally desire peace, and that
their efforts at self-government would
! be along the lines of pence rather than
along the lines of war;
However, it will be time enough to
maintain that the people Of the Philip
pines are incapable of self lf-government
when they have had the opportunity,
by practical experiment, to demon.
strate the truth or falsity Of the con-
tention. How much better it would be
for this country to afford them this
opportunity. To cease wsrring upon
them. To permit them to establish
an island republic and provide for
the administration of its affairs. TIC
guarantee them protection against the
encroaohments of any other power
until they have fair opportunity tc
chow to the world that they are able
to govern themselves.
But the expansionists will not lister
to such suggestion--the one thing
necessary to a permanent and honor.
able peace in the Philippines. Under
the guise of friendly interest In !
brave people who desiresonly independ
ence and the right to establish theil
own government, they endorse a war o.
conquest that has for its object tht
subiugation Of this people and tht
acquisition Of their territory. The,
base the legal authority for thi,
war Of conquest upon the payment O
100000 to Spain, against whose
cruel and oppressive domination tn,
people of the Philippines struggled 81
bravely and for SO many years.
The people of the Philippine Island
have as much right to establish thei
own government as had the people o
the American Colonies, and every argu
ment advanced in opposition by tn,
expansionists is but repetition of tb,
arguments advanced by Great Britail
during the memorable struggle of tn
people of those colonies for American
independence.
Senator Beveridge of Indiana is catch
| -, r. l. q. =.