The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1900-08-09

z In their own government. II the repub-
licans are prepared % censure ali who
, have used language ca cuiated % make
the Fiipinos hate for ign dom nation,
7 let them condemn the speech Of Pa.ricS
Henry. When he uttered that passion
ate appeal. Give me liberty or give
me death" he expressed sent mant
which stlll echoes in the hearts 90
men. Let them censue Jefre. son: OF a ]
the statesmen in history. none have
used words so offensive % those who
would ho'd their fellows in political
bondage Let them censure Washing
ton. who declared that the co onists
must choose between liberty and slav-
cry. or. II the statute Of limitations
has run against the sins OF Henry and
Jefferson and Washington. let them
censure Lincoln. whose Gettysburg
speech will be quoted in defense of
ular government when the present ad-
vocates OF force and conquest are for
gotten.
som one has said that truth once
spoken can never be recalled. IL IS true.
fl gees on and on. and no one can set a
limit n tts ever widening influence. But
II il were possible TO obliterate every
word written or spoken IN defense Of
the principles set forth in the Declaration
~ Independence war OF conquest would
stin leave its legacy Of perpetual hatred,
for + was God himself who placed In ev-
cry human heart the love OF liberty. He
never made race Of people so low in
the scale Of civilization or intelligence
that il would welcome a foreign master
THE SAFETY OF THE NATION.
Lincoln said that the safety Of this na-
lion was not in its fleets, its armies. its
forts. but in the spirit which prizes lber-
" as the heritage OF all men in all lands
every ~ i=T=. and ile warmed MS country
men that they could not destroy this spir-
It without planting the seeds Of despot-
ism az their own doors
Those who would have this nation enter
upon a career Of empire must consider
not only the effect Of imperialism on the
Filipinos. but they must also calcula,e
its effects 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
paralyzing influence Of imperialism. Here
tofore, this nation has been prompt TO
express its sympathy with those who
We're fighting for civil liberty. While our
sphere Of activity has been limited to the
western hemisphere, our sympathies have
not been bounded by the seas. We have
felt 1t due 10 ourselves and 10 the world.
as well as to those who were struggling
for the right to govern themselves. to
proclaim the interest which our people
have from the date Of their own inde-
pendence. felt in every contest between
human rights and arbitrary power Three
quarters OF a century ago. when our ma
ton was small. the struggles Of Greece
aroused our people and Webster and Clay
gave eloquent expression to the universal
desire for Grecian independence. In 1896
all parties manifested a lively interest
in the progress Of the Cubans. but now
when a war is in progress in South
Africa. which must result in the extern
sion Of the monarchica1 IDEA, or in the
triumph Of a republic. the advocates Of
Imperialism in this country dare not say
a word in behalf OF the Beers. Sympathy
for the Beers does not arise from any un-
friendliness towards England the Am
erican people are not unfriendly toward
the people Of any nation. This sympathy
IS due TO the fact that, as stated in our
platform, we believe in the principles Of
self government and reject, as did our
forefathars, the claim Of monarchy. If
this nation surrenders its belief in the
universal application Of the principles set
forth in the Declaration Of Independence,
il will lose the prestige and influence
which it has enjoyed among the nations
as an exponent Of popular government.
Our opponents, conscious Of the weak
ness Of their cause seek to confuse i'm
perialism with expansion. and have even
dared to claim Jefferson as a supporter
of their policy. Jefferson spoke so freely
and used language with such precision
that no one can be ignorant Of his views.
on one occasion he declared: 'Tf there
be one principle more deeply rooted than
any other in the mind Of every American,
1t is that We should have nothing to do
with conquest" And again he said: "Con
quest is not our principles; it IS incon-
sistent with our government"
FORCIBLE ANNEXATION.
The forcible annexation Of territory 10
be governed by arbitrary power differs
as much from the acquisition Of territory
10 be built up into states as a monarchy
differs from a democracy. The democrat
Ic party does not oppose expansion, when
Expansion enlarges the area Of the repub-
nc ana Incorporates land which can be
So'ued by American citizens, or adds TO
our population people who are willing TO
become citizens and are capable OF dis
charging their duties as such. The ac-
2 ulsltlon Of the Louisiana territory, Flor