The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-10-04
c. ROBERTSON. fusion candi-

| 1T& {. ROBERTSON, fusion candi.
| ia date for congress, Is now, as he
must have been to secure place
| on the ticket framed up by that ardent
anti-expansionist. Senator George Tur-
| ner. a Bryante in word and deed. Per-
| haps he Ii now a Bryantte In thought,
but II was not always So
! On November 30. 1892 Mr.. Robertson
was a visitor In Seattle. The request of
Observation-Disclosures reporter for an in
terview on political matters was cour-
,, teously complied with. The following IL
from the issue of this paper OF December
l. 1889:
Il am a Democrat" he said, land
am willing TO serve my party TO the best
OF my ability. considering all the circum-
stances. Yet 1 seek no Office"
Asked to state his views on the Philip
pine problem. Col. Robertson said:
when Commodore Dewey sailed into
Manila harbor under orders to meet the
Spanish feet and destroy II. he engaged
both the fleet then in the bay and the
shore batteries. the Notifications OF the
city. Having accomplished the destruc-
ton Of the feet and silenced the forts
he conquered Manila. By the law of ma
lions he could not stay more than
twenty-four hours In a neutral port with
his lighting vessels.
He conquered the city OF Manila and,
so far as the islands are. concerned. the
entire Philippine archipelago. 1t was nec-
essary to have taken these islands 10
protect our fleet and our commerce. and
having taken them. as result of the
war. the question to my mind II. what
were the rights and obligations OF our
nation with reference to governing the
people OF those islands?
Spain coded to us her sovereignty
over these islands and We became her
successor, both by the laws of war and
peace. 1t is claimed that under condi-
tions such as these. our country should
have abandoned the islands and permit
ted the natives to establish such form of
government as they might elect And
this doctrine IL advocated under the
name OF anti-imperialism. Further. II
is contended that such is the obligation
on the part OF our government, because
this nation IL founded upon govern
ment based only upon the consent OF the
governed. and that 1t Is against the in
sututions of American government and
contrary TO law that we should establish
a government In those islands, except
such as is submitted to voluntarily by
Aguinaldo.
'sThis doctrine is not only not the law,
but II would stop the establishment OF "A
government formed on the. American
plan and would permit In its place a
despotic monarchy. should the people be
iAsufficiently informed TO resist the will
q those now attempting to perpetuate
themselves In power In the islands
This doctrine has no application
where the people over whom govern
ment is sought to be extended had no
time they came into the possession and
control OF another nation by conquest or
otherwise. and does not apply TO a ma
ton In tutelage The legal Significance
of this word II that where one nation
comes into possession and control Of
territory, or people living under nation
which IL ruling them under some form
of colonial or other government, that
these people. having no national exist
encc become at once merged under the
dominion and control Of the conauering
nation, and BY operation of the law. the
laws OF such nation are extended over
them.
Then II becomes the moral obligation
and the natural duty OF the United
States. under the law u nations. ms
stated by vattel, by Kent. and by our
own Chief Justice Marshall, TO establish
a government over such people. To fai'
in this duty now would be TO confess
ourselves dishonorcd among the nations
Of the world and show that the Amer
lean republic failed 20 trust itself go dis
charge this obligation imposed upon u
by the laws OF war,
ITO. my mind. Independently q the
question Of benefit or loss. this higher
duty dsvnlves upon us and ohiiferates
every question 81 party or partisan CEN
sorshlp in the policy being pursued by
the national administration 20 suppress
the rebellion in the Philippines.
'When AgninaldG AIRED upon the flag
OF our nation, he became Its open fee
and the American peopn would tolerate
40 policy that did not maintain the self
respect Of the nation"