Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1900-08-08

Il
ferred to reject the treaty and risk the
Ills that might follow rather than take
the chance of correcting the errors OF
the treaty by the independent action
of this country.
/ l was among the number OF those
who believed 1t better to ratify the
treaty and end the war, release the
volunteers, remove the excuse for war
expenditures, and then give to the Fill
lpinos the independence which might
be forced from Spain by new treaty.
i In view of the criticism which my
action aroused In some quarters take
this occasion to restate the reasons
given at that time. | thought it safer
to trust the American people to give
independence to the Filipinos than to
trust the accomplishment OF that pur-
pose to diplomacy with an unfriendly
nation. Lincoln embodied an argu-
ment in the question, wnen he asked.
Can aliens make treaties easier than
friends can make laws?" | believe
lhat we are now in better position to
wage successful contest against inn
| perialism than we would have been
had the treaty been rejected. With
the treaty ratified clean cut issue is
presented between a government by
consent and government by force,
and imperialists must bear the respon-
sibility of all that happens until the
question is settled. If the treaty had
been rejected, the opponents of imper-
iallsm would have been held RESPONSE
BILE for any international complications
which might have arisen before the
ratification of another treaty. But
whatever differences of opinion may
have existed as to the best methoG of
opposing the colonial policy, therG twas
never any difference as to thef great
Importance of the question and there is
no difference now as to the course to
be pursued.
The title OF Spain being extinguish-
ed. we We're at liberty to deal with the
Filipinos according to American prin-
ciples. The Bacon resolution, intro
duced a month before hostilities broke
out at Manila, promised independence
to the Filipfnos the same terms that
1t was promised to the Cubans. sup
ported 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 hos
tilities.
II the treaty had been rejected con
siderable time would have necessarily |
elapsed before a new treaty could have
been agreed upon and ratified, and dur |
ing that time the question would have
been agitating the public mind If the |
Bacon resolution had been adopted by
the senate and carried ont by the pres. |
dent. either at the time dRsthe ratifica- |
ti0n Of The treaty or aSttime after |
wards, 1t would have taken the ques
ton o. imperialism out of politics and |
left the American naople free to deal
with their as,f problems. But
the resolution defeated by the
vote of the republican Weep president |
and from that time to this republi- |
can congress has refused to take any |
action whatever In the matter.
When hostilities broke out at Manila |
republican speakers and republican,
editors at once sought to lay the blame /
upon those who had delayed the rati-
fication of the treaty, and, during the
cans have accused the opponents of |
Imperialism of giving encouragement |
to the Filipinos. This Is cowardly |
evasion of responsibility.
z If it is right for the United States |
to hold the Philippine islands perma-
nently and initiate European powers
iIf~the government of the colonies, the
republican party ought to state its posi-
ton and defend it, but 1t must expect
the subject races to protest against |
such policy and to resist to the ex
tent of their ability. The Filipinos do |
not need any encouragement from Am
ericans now living. Our whole history |
has been an encouragement, not only |
to the rlIipinos but to all who are de- |
MED a voice in their own government |
If the republicans are prepared to cen
sure all those who have used language |
calculated to make Fliipinos hate for |
eign domination, let them condemn the |
speech Of Patrick Henry. When he
uttered that passionate appeal, Give |
me liberty or give me DEATH he ex-
pressed sentiment which still fingers |
in the hearts of men. Let them cen |
sure Jefferson. OF all the statesmen |
of history, none have used words so
offensive to those who would hold |
their fellows in political bondage. Let
them censure Washington, who declar
ed that the colonies must choose be-
tween liberty and slavery. Or, If the
statute of limitations has run against
the sins of Henry, and Jefferson and
Washington let them censure Lincoln, |
whose Gettysburg speech will be quo
ted in defense of popular government
when the present advocates of force
and conquest are forgotten. Someone
has said that a truth once spoken can
never be recalled. 1t is true. - goes
on and on, and no one can set limit |
to its overwhelming influence. But it |
it were possible to obliterate every
word written or spoken in defense of
the principles set forth in the declara- |
tion Of independence. war of con-
quest would still leave its legacy of
perpetual hatred, for it was God him
self who placed in every human heart
the love of liberty. He never made a
race of people so low in the scale of