The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-08-17

oAOAA cuPPSlo W oOSVAl e1hpehsOh
istic to the former teaching of their
own party. Republicans who used to
advocate bimetallism now try to con.
vince themselves that the gold stand
ard is good; Republicans who were
formerly attached to the greenback
are now seeking an excuse for giving
national banks control of the nations
paper money; Republicans who used
to boast that the Republican party
was paying off the national debt are
now looking for reasons to support a
perpetual and increasing debt; Re-
publicans who formerly abhorred a
trust now beguile themselves with
the delusion that there are good trusts
and bad trusts, while in their minds
the line between the two is becoming
more and more obscure; Republicans
who, in times past, congratulated the
country upon the small expense of
our standing army are now making
light of the objections which are urged
against large increase in the per-
manent military establishments; Re
publicans who gloried in our indie
powerful now look with favor upon a
foreign alliance Republicans who
three years ago condemned 'forcible
ann. xation' as immoral, and even
criminal, are now sure that it is both
immoral and criminal to oppose forci-
BILE annexation. That partisanship
has already blinded many to present
dangers is certain; how large a por-
ton of the Republican party can be
drawn over to the new policies re-
mains to be seen.
For a time Republican leaders
were inclined to deny to oppone nts
the right to criticise the Philippine
policy of the Administration, but upon
investigation they found that both
Lincoln and Clay asserted and exer-
cised the right to criticise President
during the progress Of the Mexican
War.
IF it is right for the United States
to hold the Philippine Islands per-
manently and initiate European en-
pires in the government of colonies
the Republican party ought to state it
position and defend it, but it must ex-
pect the subject races to protest
against such a policy and to resist to
the extent of their ability. The Fill
pinos do not need any encouragement
from Americans now living. Our
whole history has been an encourage,
ment not only to the Filipfnos. but to
all who are denied voice in their own
government. If the Republicans are
prepared to censure all who have used
language calculated to make the Fill
pinos hate foreign domination let
them condemn. the speech of Patrick
Henry. When he uttered that pas
sion ate appeal, Give me liberty OF
give me deathr he expressed a senti-
ment 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 poll
tical bondage. Let them censure
Washington, who declared that the
colonists must choose between 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
Getty burg speech will be quoted in de-
Tense of popular government when
the present advocates of force and con-
quest are forgotten.
Someone has said that truth once
spoken can never be recalled. 1t il
true. 1t goes on and on, and no one
can set limit to its overwhelming in
huence. But if it were possible to OBJ
literate every word written or spoken
in defense of the principles set forth
in the Declaration of Independence
war of conquest would still leave it,
legacy of perpetual hatred, for it was
God himself who placed in every hu-
man heart the love of liberty. He
never made race of people SO low in
the scale of civilization or intelligence
that it would welcome foreign
master.
Lincoln said that the safety of this
nation was not in its fleets, its armies
or it's forts, but in the spirit which
prizes liberty and the heritage of all
men, in all lands, everywhere; and he
warned his country men that they
could not destroy this spirit without
planting the seeds of despotism at
their own doors.
''Those who would have this nation
enter upon a career of empire must
consider not only the effect of imper-
ialism on the Filipinos, but they must
also calculate its effect upon our own
nation. We cannot repudiate the
principle of self-government in the
Philippines without weakening that
principle here.
Even now we are beginning to see
the paraly zing influence Of imperial
ism.
Heretofore this nation has been
prompt to express its sympathy with
those who were fighting for civil lib,
erty. While our sphere of activity
has been limited to the Western Hem
isphere, our sy mpathies have not been
bounded by the seas. We have felt
it due to ourselves and to the world,
as we'll as to those who were strug-
Cling for the right to govern themsel-
yes, to proclaim the interest which |
BUR people have, from the date of
their own independence, felt in every
contest between human rights and
arbitrary power.
"Three quarters Of century ago,
when our nation was small, the strug-
yles of Greece aroused our people, and |
Webster and Clay gave eloquent ex-
preston to the universal desire for
frecian independence. In 1896 all
parties manifested a lively interest in
he success of the Cubans, but now,
When war is in progress in South
Africa which must result in the ex-
ension OF the monarchical idea or in
he triumph of a republic, the add
'ocates of imperialism in this country
lare not say a word in behalf of the
Beers. Sympathy for the Beers does
lot arise from any unfriendliness
n U r6 EnulopJ. tho Ar,a.;oan ,ao |