The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1900-08-10

TO express It's sympathy with those VINO
| were fighting for civil liberty While our
sphere of activity has been limited to
| the western hemisphere, our sympathies
have felt it due ourselves and to the
world, as well as to those who were
struggling for the right to govern them
selves, to proclaim the interest which our
people have, from the date of their own
independence, felt in every contest be-
Three-quarters of a century ago. when
our nation was small, the struggles of
Greece aroused our people, and Webster
and Clay gave eloquent expression to
the universal desire for Grecian indepen-
dence. In 1896, all parties manifested
lively interest in the success Of the Gu
bans, but now, when war Is In prog
ress in South Africa, which must result
| in the extension of the monarchical idea.
yocates of Imperialism in this country
dare not say a word in behalf of the
Beers. Sympathy for the Beers does not
arise from any unfriendliness toward
England: the American people are not
| unfriendly toward the people of any ma
ton. This sympathy ais due to the fact
that, as stated in our platform we be-
leve in the principle OF self-government
and reject, as did our forefathers. the
| renders it's belief in the universal appli-
cation of the principles set forth in the
declaration of independence, 1T will lose
the prestige and influence which it has
enjoyed among nations as an exponent of
popular government
send to the Philippines a few traders,
few task masters and few office
| holders, and an army large enough to
support the authority of small fraction
of the people while they rule the natives.
If we have an imperial policy we must
nra and dar gecesaarV eo aa The
nexatio Of the Philippine islands. will
the domination of other people. and with
wars of conquest we can expect certain,
if not rapid growth of our military es-
a q
crease in our regular army is intended
by the republican leaders is not a mere
fact In his message of December 5th,
| 1893, the president asked for authority to
| increase the standing army to 100000. In
1876 the army contained about $4,000 men.
The republican platform assumes that
the, Philippine islands will be retained
have Fight to- demand Tef Of the repubican
leaders discussion of the future status
| Of the Filipino. Is he to be a citizen or
polite eight or ten million Asiatics. so
different from us in race and history that
amalgamation is Impossible? Are they
to share with us in making the laws and
shaping the destiny of this nation? No
| republican of prominence has been bold
enough to advocate such proposition.
senate Immediately after the ratification
of the treaty expressly negatives this idea.
situation when it says that the Filipinos
| cannot be citizens without endangering
our, civilization. Who will dispute it?
And what is the alternative If the Fill
ipino is not to be a citizen, shall we make
hin: a subject? On that question the dem
ocratic platform speaks with emphasis.
1t declares that the Filipino cannot be a
subject without endangering our form of
government A republic can have no
government resting upon force; he is
unknown in government deriving its
erned.
The republican platform promises that
some measure Of self-government is to
even this pledge is not fulfilled Nearly
16 months elapsed after the ratification of
| the treaty before the adjournment of con-
gress last June and yet no law was
passed dealing with the Philippine situa-
ton. The will of the president has been
wherever the American A' authorit ny'ae ex
tends. Why does the republican party
hesitate to legislate upon the Philippine
the radical departure from history and
precedent contemplated by those who
she wheS PARTY ibs The
bill is an indication Of what may be
expected when the American people are
upon this subject. If the Porto Ricans.
who welcome annexation. are to be denied
the to be ot OF Of what
sist our authority? If secret influences
could compel a disregard of our plain
our shores. what treatment will those
same influences provide for unfriendIy
people 1000 miles away? If, in this coun-
try where the people have a right to vote,
republican leaders dare not take the side
OF the people against the great monopo-
lies which have grown up within the last
few years. how can they be trusted to
protect the Filipinos from the corpora
tions which are waiting to exploit the is
lands?
What is our title to the Philippine is
lands? Do we hold them by treaty or by
conquest? Did we buy them, or did we
take them? Did we purchase the people?
II not, how did We secure title to them?
Were they thrown in with the land?
VIII the republicans say that inanimate
nodded by. the Divine hand and stamped
with the likeness of the Creator it be-
comes fixture and passes with the sol?
If governments derive their just powers
impossible to secure title to people, either
by force of by purchase. We could ex-
tinguish SPANS title by treaty but if
we hold title we must hold it by some
eminent. When We made allies of the
Filipinos and armed them to fight against
Spain. We disputed Spains title. If we
buy SPANS title we are not innocent pur-
SPANS title. she could transfer no great
er title than she had, and her title was
based on force alone We cannot defend
such title, but as Spain gave us a quit !
property over to the party in possession
Whether any American official gave the
F1liplnoS moral assurance of independ- |
ence is not material. There can be no |
services of the Fflipinos, and that when
We did so We had full knowledge that
they were fighting for their own indie |
pendence. and l submit that history fur
than ours If we now substitute our woke
for the Spanish yoke.