The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-08-09

are capable of self government and
that others are not and that the capa-
bic people have right TO seize upon
and govern the incapable, and you
make force-brute force-the only
foundation of government and in
Yite the reign of a despot. l am not
willing to believe that an all-wise and
an ALLOWING God created the FilipinoS
and then left them thousands of years
helpless until the islands attracted the
attention Of European nations.
FLAG HAULED DOWN.
Republicans ask. Shall We haul
down the flag that floats over our
dead in the Philippines? The same
question might have been asked when
the American flag fioated over Chapul-
tepec and waved over the dead who
fell there; but the tourist who visits
the City Of Mexico finds there a ma
tional cemetery owned by the United
States and cared for by an American
citizen Our flag still floats over our
dead, but when the treaty with Mexico
was signed, American authority with
drew to the Rio Grande, and l venture
the opinion that during the last fifty
years the people of Mexico have made
more progress under the stimulus of
independence and self government
NAAeAA NAAC9 NOuA0 ndNC maui ulluGl a
carpet bag government held in place
by bayonets. The United States and
Mexico, friendly republics. are each
stronger and happier than they would
have been had the former been cursed
and the latter crushed by an imperial
istic policy, disguised as benevolent
assimilation
QUESTION OF RIGHT.
80
are asked. The question is not what
we can do, but what we ought to do.
This nation can do whatever it desires
to do, but it must accept response
bility for what ii does. If the cOnsti-
tuition stands in the way, the people
can amend the constitution. 1 repeat,
the nation can do whatever it desires
to do, but IL cannot avoid the natural
and legitimate results of its own con-
duct.
THE young man upon reaching his
majority can do what he pleases. He
can disregard the teachings of his
parents; he can trample upon all that
he has been taught to consider sacred:
he can diSobey the laws of the state,
the Jaws OF society and the laws of
God. He can stamp failure upon his
life and make his very existence a
curse to his fellow men. and he can
bring his father and mother in sorrow
to the grave: but ne cannot annul the
sentence. The wages of sin is death
And so with the nation. 1t is of age
and it can 40 what it pleases; it can
spurn the traditions of the past; it
can repudiate the principles upon
which the nation rests; it can substi-
tute might for right: it can conquer
weaker people, il can exploit their
lands, appropriate their property and
kill their people; but it cannot repeal
the moral law or escape the punish
ment decreed for the violation of hui
man rights
Would we tread in the paths of tyranny,
Nor reckon the tyrant's cost?
Who taketh another's liberty
His freedom is also lost.
Would we win as the strong have ever
Make ready to pay the debt.
For the God who reigned over Babylon
Is the God who is reigning yet.
EDUCATION NOT WANTED.
Some argue that American rule in
the Philippine islands viii result in the
| better education of the Filipinos. Be
not deceived. If we expect TO main
tain colonial policy. we shall not find
it to our advantage to educate the peo-
pie. The educated Filipinos are now in
revolt against us, and the most ig-
I
ance TO our domination. If we are to
govern them without their consent and
give them no voice in determining the
taxes which they must pay, we dare
not educate them, lest they learn to
! read the Declaration of Independence
and the constitution of the United
States and mock us for our inconsist-
ency.
ARGUMENTS IN DETAIL.
THE principal arguments. however.
advanced by those who enter upon a
defense of Imperialism are:
''First-That We must improve the
| present opportunity 10 become a world
power and enter into international pol
| tiles
"Second-That our commercial inter
ests in the Philippine islands and in
| the Orient make il necessary for US to
| hold the islands permanently.
''Third-That the spread of the Chris
/ tan religion Will be facilitated by a
colonial policy.
"FOurth-That there is no honorable
retreat from the position which the
| nation has taken.
THE first argument is address 81 10
| the nations pride and The second to
| the nations 'pocketboOk. The third is
| intended for the church member, and
4 lilc lOAl III LOl lllE -idIAlSdIi-
NOW A WORLD POWER.
TT is sufficient answer to the first
argument to say that for more than a
| century this nation has been a world
( power For ten decades il has been
| the most potent influence in the world
Not only has it been a world power
| but It has done more to affect the oil
| tics of the human race than all the
/ NTf ar-
| Because our Declaration Of Independ-
| ence was promulgated. others have
| been promulgated. Because the pa
| triots Of 1875 fought for liberty others
have fought for it: because our cOnsti-
| tuition was adopted. other cOnStitu-
| lions have been adopted. The growth
of the principle of self government.
planted on American soil, has been the
| Overshadowing political fact of the
nineteenth century. It has made this
nation conspicuous among the nations
and given it a place in history such
as no other nation has ever enjoyed.
Nothing has been able TO check the on
ward march of this idea. am not will
/ ing that this nation shall cast aside the
| Omnipotent weapon of truth TO seize
again the weapons of physical warfare.
! l would not exchange the glory of this
republic for the glory of 2ll the en-
pires that have risen and fallen since
| time began.
REPLIES TO LODGE.
THE permanent chairman of the last
| Republican national convention pre-
| scented the pecuniary argument N all
| its badness when he said:
| We make no hyDOcritical pretenSe
of being interested in the Philippines
| solely on account of others. While we
regard the welfare Of those people as
a sacred trust, we regard the welfare
of the American people first. We see
| our duty 10 Ourselves as we'll Is 10