Willmar tribune., 1900-10-20
,mnaKfAnk, haGMt

mis-, OUT &nsh shOnest man, a gentleman,
Twill not. i>@ihet the imperialists answer,
| What, then, is our responsibility
growing out: of this state of facts? I
may be toa1h that this is an extreme
and unpr actica al view of the case: that
we must deal with things as they are;
that we have got the Philippines now;
that the only thing to be considered
now is what TO do with them; and that
all that preceded our getting them is a
a mere academic question: useless
to discuss An academic question. in
deed! 1t nay he very inconvenient
question forfthe imperialists, but that
does not make'it merely academic. 1t
must be diScpssed TO exhibit the moral
aspect of the case. Let US look at it:
In the frstFplace, we have not got the
Philippines yet We are still fighting
and killing people, our late allies, to
get control sef them. All we have got
: is, as have shown, not moral and
rightfu], but merely technical title
such titleas an INSCRIPTIONS corpo.
ration wrecker~ may, by legal quirks
and technieelitfes} and treachery and
force, get'to'the property of the stock
holders. s..
But supposewe had won actual pos
session OF the Philippines. Would
that alter 'the~moral nature of the
question? Five have them we are, in
view OF theaway we got them, in pos
session of stolen ,goods-goods OBJ
tained by fraud; treachery, and brutal
force. We know the goods are stolen
goods, for we have stolen them our
selves. Wren We remind the imperi-
alists Of that fact, the answer is
Substantially this: ''Spare us the use
less discussion. OF that academic ques-
tioh. Suppose the. goods are stolen.
Then the possession of these goods
devolves upon US pew responsibilities
which in the.drst place require us to
keep the stolen goods
| rs this really the first demand of the
new responsibility Of the great Ameri-
can republic?*' I have always believed
THAT the republic Of Washington and
Lincoln should: and would always rec
gnize it asc2the' first and highest
responsibilitysto give to the world an
example of good faith and perfect
Justice in the recognition of the ri ghts
OF others, be they. ever so humble.
| Unless I am altogether wrong in
this belief, our true responsibilities in
the case of the Philippines demands
not that we regard it as a mere aca
demic question how we got them, or
! that we should keep the stolen goods
,uHder the sanctim6nious: pretense ol
Benevolent purp6ses, but that, as an
honest and righteous people. we
should restore them* to- their rightful
oWhers, and tosecure,, so far as it is in
our power, those owners in the posses.
sion of them. y"
| A most startling attempt to justify
the retention otf the Philippines and
the tsubjug cation of their inhabitants
Has 'recently Been made by Bishop
Potter, when The said in a recen,
speech on this matter: "If> my sor
should come to me and say he pro.
posed to marrysa;youn creole woman
with seven children, I would call him
I a great ass. But if he had come tc
ne and sal he'had already contracted
Such a marri:aes,I should still try tc
maintain intinn ate relations with him
'FWhat we have dome in the Philippines
has Established just such a relation as
that" and it woa4d.; be source of ,pa
tional .morti6c$tion' it we gave up our
! responsi ibities because we found then
I III f6cult,jn, yvY~ =.
I With 8uee refasp&!ct;, fa !;t,~ be it said,. nc
I illustration cou1d be more unhappy
1t might fit ifdthe Creole woman witt
j her seven children>had run after 'oul
! son 'entreatings him to" marry her, o.
I II size had at laast willingly consented
j Is his propose1.' Of. marriage. Blu
fwhat is the tr,ish? The poor woma,
Kdiss"d KEds esperate1y Struggling against ou
sain' 'treachesir!epss' embrace, and ou
son is busy ;diia1chargiig his ''res sponsi
hlity" to the ch4ldrte1 by killing then
! aitoa rapid rate hssccause they resist tn,
), ssh'athiefa1 sufiugg $tioaat, al. their mother
N6t very long ;aitsSot;:;tbe bishop, keen
nv appreciatin'gE: u he >5iid >m5iiddrsal al and polit
|icar tende nc'iees qtt' Our, bur. .inipperialisti ID
: policy; told hi5 toek'"' that; the mali
question wass;,~ not, what: we would d,
I with ths ''frults ;ii VICTORIES. pu
TS|tbef &c s. =, zvhat &Rfy eaa id*ao With US
! Ole 6f' The hrAt tbinsszthey have al
iEesdy done VIII jug: II seems, IS 50 s:e{; i
b5enrumlAb b5ri dur mSoorat Sof sepse and eonfus
|; OUR MORAY prineip1es" as TO make u
! cPp}abls " cheating" our own con
seciehcss Ii ;; by bottpgl! TIL Aside the q1estio,
4 Of eahilt<o5FF oF Y wrotGg 9t fn.Nhat|we hav
r aaoois oisf IS &igsAts' gsAts5'> Academic .apsytion'
I EEino 1 1ong}er 'e} ti Sc disShfsseq, BECAUSE,
II. r,ai - III stIiistt tlA.re G1 e