The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1900-08-16

trust the accomplishment of that pur-
pose to diplomacy with an unfrlendiy
nation. Lincoln embodied an argu-
ment lin the question, when he asked,
Can aliens make treaties easier than
friends can make laws? Ibelieve that
we are now in a better position to
wage successful contest against I'M
perialism than we would have been
had the treaty been rejected.
"The title of Spain being extln-
guished, we we're at liberty to deal
with the Filipinos according to Amerl-
can principles. The Bacon resolution,
introduced q month before hostilities
broke out at Manila, promised indie
pendence to the Filipinos on the same
terms that it was promised to the Gu.
bans. supported this resolution and
believe that its adoption prior to the
breaking out of hostilities would have
prevented bloodshed, and that its
adoption at any subsequent time
would have ended hostilities. :"
eff it is right for the United States
to hold the Philippine Islands perma
nently and initiate the European en-
pires in the government of the col
onies, the republican party ought to
state its position and defnud it, but it
must expect the subject races to pro-
test against such policy and to resist
to the extent of their ability. The
Filipinos do not need any encourage
ment from Americans now living. Our
whole history has been an encourage
ment not only to the Filipinos but to
all who are denied a voice in their
own government. If the republicans
are prepared to censure all who have
used language calculated to make Fill
ipinos hate foreign domination, let
them condemn the speech of Patrick
Henry. When he uttered that pas
sionate appeal, Give me liberty or
give me death he expressed a senti-
nent which still echoes in the hearts
of men. Let them censure Jefferson;
of all the statesmen of history none
| have used words so offensive to those
| who would hold their fellows in polit-
ical bondage. Let them censure
Washington, who declared that the
colonies must choose between liberty
or slavery. Or, if the statue of lin
| itations has run against the sins of
Henry and Jefferson and Washington,
| let them censure Lincoln, whose
Gettysburg speech will be quoted in
defense Of popular government when
the present advocates of force and con-
quest are forgotten.
Lincoln said that the safety of
this nation was not in its fleets, its
armies or it's forts, bat in the spirit
which prizes liberty and the heritage
of all men, in all lands, every where,
and he warned his countrymen that
they could not destroy this spirit
without planting the seeds Of despot.
ism at their own doors.
''Those who would have this nation
enter upon a career of empire must
consider not only the effect of impe-
rialism on the Filipinos, but they must
also calculate its effect upon our own
nation. We cannot repudiate the prin-
ciple of self-government in the Philip
pines without weakening that princi-
pie here
even now we are beginning to see
ism. In 1896, all parties
manifested lively interest in the sue
cess of the Cubans, but now when q
war is in progress in South Africa,
---"t result in the extension of
the monarchial idea or in the triumph
of republic, the advocates of imperi-
alism in this country dare not say
word in behalf of the Beers.
1.-THE forcible annexation of terri
tory to be governed by arbitrary pow
err, differs as much from the acquisi-
ton of territory to be built up into
states as monarchy differs from a de-
mocracy. The democratic party does
not oppose expansion, when expansion
enlarges the area of the republic and
incorporates land which can be settled
by American citizens, or adds to our
population people who are willing to
become citizens and are capable of dis
charging their duties as such.
"a colonial policy means that we
shall send to the Philippines q few
traders, few taskmasters and a few
office and an army large
enough to support the authority OF a
small fraction of the people, while
they rule the natives.
IF we have an imperial policy we
must have large standing army as
its natural and necessary complement.
The spirit which will justify the seiz-
ure of other islands and the domino
ton of other people. and with wars of
conquest, we can expect certain, if
not rapid, growth Of our military es-
.ablishment.
1.-THE republican platform assumes
that the Philippine Islands will be re-
tanned under American sovereignty and
we have a right to demand of the re-
publican leaders a discussion of the
future status of the Filipino. Is he to
De a citizen or subject? Are We to
bring into the body polite eight or ten
million Asiatics, so different from us
in race and history that amalgamation
= l. al