Mexico Missouri message., 1900-08-23

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1t seems that the administration
was dreaming of empire even at the
time the treaty was made between
Spain and the United States. Section
10 of the treaty declares that the
civil rights and political status of the
native inhabitants of the territories
hereby ceded to the United States
shall be determined by the congress"
In my opinion the people of the Phil
ippine archipelago are not, and never
can be. fitted for the discharge of the
high duties of American citizenship.
If this view is a correct one. the adj
mission of that country to statehood
under the Constitution would be at
tended with perils to our govern
ment as well as dangers to the inter-
ests of labor. 1t is obvious, there
fore, that they can only be governed
as colonies, and such a form of gov
eminent is at war with the theories
upon which this government was es-
tablished. But. felIow-citizens. if the
Philippine islands are to remain a
part of the territory of the United
States, they must be governed under
the Constitution, else there is en-
pire.
we have solemnly agreed to deal with
the Cubans. But it is urged by some
with seeming exhuDerant patriotism,
that it is not the part of wisdom to
pursue this policy. They assert, with
much gusto, that the flag once up
should never be hauled down. This
seemingly patriotic sentiment is with
out the sanction either of experience
or sound governmental discretion. 1t
is but another expression of a policy
which would make every war a war of
conquest. Even emperors have never
asserted so untenable a doctrine for
the earnest consideration of intelli-
gent people. Napoleon himself hauled
down the French flag from many of
the capitals of Europe in which it
had waved in triumph. This was done
without dishonor to the French flag.
The Emperor William hauled down
the flag of the German empire after
the Franco-Prussian war. although it
fipated in victory over all France. 1t
is not claimed that this was an act of
perfidy or dishonor.
The soldiers of the republic carried
our starry banner away up into Cana
da during the war of 1912, and vet it
was hauled down and brought back
in honor. Our flag once floated in
triumph and glory over the hall of
the Montezumas, but no American has
ever assumed that il was dishonored
when it was brought back to the Rio
Grande. The flag should never float
save in honor and in harmony with
the principles of justice, equality and
liberty.
CONCLUSION.
My fellow-citizens, the American
they are Improbable, and for the
weightier reason that their acquisi-
ton would be the establishment of
Colonial Empire. | believe with the
Kansas City platform that 1.-The Fill
pinos can not be citizens without en-
not be subjects without imperiling
our form of government, and as we
are not willing to surrender our civil
iaztion or to convert the Republic in
to an Empire, we favor an immediate
declaration of the nations purpose to
give the Filipinos, first, a stable form
of government; second, independence,
and third, protection from outside in
reference, such as has been given
for nearly a century to the republics
of Central and South American"
Mr.. Chairman, the result of this
campaign will determine whether this
government is to slip the anchor of it's
old safe constitutional mornings to
try the certain perils incident to a
voyage in quest of Colonial Empire.
The issue is pregnant with the des-
TIMES of a free people. The United
States has survived all the dangers of
its constitutional history, and is now
great and powerful republic; SPLEEN
did in the magnificence and variety of
its almost illimitable resources; with
climatic range permitting variety
of production unknown to any other
country; with a homogeneous people
thoroughly in love with free institu-
tons, and destiny so exalted and
radiant with the rainbow of promise
that language is utterly impotent to
adequately depict or portray.
The example of this free republic
has lighted up the dark places of the
earth; it has established the affairs of
freedom in every cline; it has been
the hope of the oppressed of every
nation; it has been the joy of the lib
erty loving people of the world; it
has established constitutional govern
ments; it has caused thrones to totter
to their fall; it has stricken shackles
from slaves; it has utterly discredited
the doctrine that kings rule by divine
right.
When Jefferson announced the mas
terful doctrines of the sovereignty of
the people, and the equality of men,
it was the defiant challenge of liberty
to despotism; it was the beginning of
the American republic whose glorious
career to the present time has been
the song and story of freedom.
Ny countrymen, shall we now repu-
date the Declaration of Independ-
ence and turn our backs upon the
Constitution?
Shall we forget the glorious
achievements of our armies and
navies in behalf of constitutional gov
eminent? Shall we forget the awful
suffering at Valley Forge? Shall we
forget the yalor and hardships of our
soldiers in the war of 1872 and the
war with Mexico? Shall we forget the
terrible carnage, the anguish and the
heartaches of the civil war? Shall VIC
forget that the Monroe Doctrine has
been a mighty defense for human lib
erty? Shall we forget that the Con-
stitution gives us the shield of the
great Writ of Habeas Corpus and of
the right of trial by jury? Shall we
forget that the supreme court has
thus far found no authority under the
Constitution for colonies?
Shall we forget that the United