Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-08-09

race or class he belongs. Everyone recoe
nlzes the obligation Imposed upon ind
viduals To observe both the human an
moral law, but as rome deny the ap
plication Of those laws to nations, Il ma,
not be out Of place to quote the opinioi
OF others. Jefferson. than whom there 4
no higher political authority. said:
II know OF but one code OF moralit,
for men, whether acting singly Of col
lectively"
Franklin, whose learning, wisdom AM
virtue are a part Of the priceless legac,
bequeathed to us from the revollNionar!
days, expressed the same idea In ever
stronger language when he said:
| Justice Is as strictly due between
neighbor nations as between neighbor cit
liens. A highwayman is az much robbel
when he plumbers In gang as wher
singly; and the nation that makes an un
| just war Is only great gang"
II 1t Is said that we have assumed be-
| fore the world obligations which make
| II necessary for US to permanently main
| tain a government In the Philippine H.
| lands, reply, first. that the highest obi.
cation Of this nation Is to be true to IT,
self No obligation to any particular ma
ton. or to all nations combined, can re-
quire the abandonment of our theory OF
government and the substitution Of doc
trines against which our whole national
life has been a protest. And second
that our obligations to the Filipinos, who
inhabit the Islands, are greater than any
obligations which we can owe to for
elgners who have temporary residence
In the Philippines or desire to trade there.
1t is argued by some that the Filipinos
are incapable Of self-government and
that therefore we owe 1t to the world to
take control Of them. Admiral Dewey,
In an official report TO the navy depart
ment, declared that the Filipinos were
more capable Of government than
the Cubans, and said that he based his
opinion upon knowledge OF both races.
But will not rest the case upon the
relative advancement of the Filpinos.
Republicans ask: snail we haul down
the flag that floats over our dead In the
Philippines?" The same question might
have been asked when the American flag
tioated over Chapultepec and waved over
the dead who fell there; but, the tour
list who visits the City of Mexico finds
there IA national cemetery owned by the
United States and cared for by an Amer
lean citizen Our flag floats over our
dead, but when the treaty with Mexico
was signed, American authority withdrew
to the Rio Grande, and | venture the
opinion that during the last 50 years
the people OF Mexico have made more
progress under the stimulus of independ-
ence and disagreement than they would
have made under carpet-bag govern
ment held In place by bayonets. The
United States and Mexico, friendly re-
pubics, are much stronger and happier
than they would have been had the
former been cursed and the latter been
crushed by an imperialistlc policy, dis
guised as benevolent assimilation"
Some argue that American rule In the
Philippine islands will result in the bet
ter conditions of the F'ilipinos. Be not
colonial policy, we shall not find it to our
advantage to educate the people. The
educated Fllipinos are now In revolt
against us, and the most ignorant ones
have made the least resistance 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,
least they learn to read the declaration
OF independence and the constitution of
the United States and mock us for our
consistency.
The principal arguments, however. adj
vanced by those who enter upon de-
Tense of Imperialism are:
obbortHhty 10 pecone plo wer iae p,es
and enter into International politics.
Second. That our commercial interests
in the Philippine Islands and In the
orient make 1t necessary for us to hold
the Islands permanently.
Third: That the spread Of the Christian
religion will be facilitated by colonial
policy.
Fourth: That there Is no honorable
retreat from the position which the ma
ton has taken.
The first argument Is addressed to the
nations pride and the second to the ma
tons pocket-book. The third Is intend
ed for the church member and the fourth
for the partisan.
1t is a sufficient answer to the first ar
gument to say that for more than CEN
fury this nation has been world power.
For ten decades 1t has been the most
potent influence In the world. Not only
has 1t been a world power, but It has done
more to affect the politics Of the human |
race than all the otner nations of the |
world combined, Because our declara-
ton of Independence was promulgated |
others have been promulgated, because
the patriots of 1176 Fought for liberty; |
others have fought for 1t; because our |
was adopted. other contitu-
tons have been adopted. The growth of
the principle of government, planted
M American soil has been the over-shad-
owing political fact or the nintenth CEN
fury II has made this nation conspicu-
Gus among nations and given 1t a place
In history such AS no other nation has
ever enjoyed Nothing has been able
to check the onward march Of this Idea.
am not willing that this nation shall
east aside the omnipotent weapon of
truth to seize again the weapon Of physi-
raj warfare | would not exchange the
glory Of this republic ror the glory Of all
The empires that have risen and fallen
since time began.
But war of conquest is as unwise as 1t
IS unrlghteous. a harbor and coallng
station In the Philippines would answer
such concession could have been secured
At any time without difficulty.
1t is not necessary to own people In
order to trade with them, We carry on
rade to-day with every part of the
world and our commerce has expanded
more rapidly than the commerce of any
European empire. We do not own Japan
n China, but we trade with their people
We have not absorbed the republics Of
central or South America. but We trade
With them. 1t has not been necessary to
uNe.hHy pOlltlCdl CONntCllOIb WIFI tlIelll, |
Trade cannot be permanently profitable
lnless It Is voluntary When trade is Sc
,ured by force, the cost of securing 1t
md retaining 1t must be taken out Of
he profits, and the profits are never
arge enough to cover the expense Such
l system would never be defended, but
or the fact that the expense is borne by
VI the people, while the profits are en-
Dyed by the few.
Farmers and laboring men have, as a
'ule, small incomes and, under systems
which place the tax upon consumption,
nay more than their fair share of the ex-
,enses of government Thus the very
people who receive least benefit from
will be injured most by the
military burdens which accompany 1t.
There is an easy, honest, honorable
olution of the Philippine question. 1t Is
let forth in the democratic platform and
t is submitted with confidence to the
people, This plan | unreserv-
'dly indorse, If elected. | shall convene
congress In extraordinary session as soon
IS | am inaugurated and recommend an