The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1900-09-15

authority to do either, II nc had been
SO inclined, which he was not. So long
as the sovereignty remains in rs 1t IS
the duty of the executive. whoever he
may be, to uphold that sovereignty. and
il it be attacked to suppress its assail-
ants. Would our political adversaries do
We are in agreement with all Of those
who supported the war WIN spain, and
also with those who counseled the rati-
ficatfon of the treaty of peace. Upon
these two great essential steps there can
be no issue, and out OF these come all OF
our responsibilities. II others would shirk
the obligations imposed by the war and
Their with them. and here the issue 10
made. II Is our purpose TO establish in
to the wants and conditions of the in
habitants. n to prepare them for self
government when they are ready for 1t.
hi am aiming to do under my consti-
tutional authority. and will continue to
do until congress shall determine the po-
litical status OF the inhabitants OF the
archipelago.
Are our opponents against the treaty?
If SO. they must be reminded that It could
not have been ratified in the senate but
for their assistance. The senate which
added its sanction by a large appropria-
ton comprised senators and representa-
tives of the people of all parties.
Would our opponents surrender to the
insurgents, abandon our sovereignty or
cede 1t to them? Ii that be not their pur-
pose, then 1t should be promptly dis
hopes raised by our opponents in the
minds of the Filipinos. that with their
success at the polls in November there
will be a withdraw wal of our army and of
American sovereignty over the archipel-
ago.; the complete independence of the
Tagalog people recognized and the pow
ers of government over all the other
parties OF the archipelago conferred upon
the Tagalog leaders
The effect of a belief in the minds of
the insurgents that this will be done has
already prolonged the rebellion and in
creases the necessity for the continuance
of a large army. 1t is now delaying full
peace in the archipelago and the estab-
lishment of civil governments. and has
influenced many of the insurgents against
accepting the liberal terms of amnesty
offered by Gen. Macarthur under my di-
r%ectiOn. But for these false hopes. a
considerable reduction could have been
had in our military establishment in the
Philippines. and the realization of a
stable government would be already at
hand.
The American people are asked by our
opponents to yield the sovereignty of the
United States in the Philippines to a small
fraction of the population. a single tribe
out of so or more %inhabiting the archi-
pelagO, a fraction which wantonly at
tackled the American troops in Manila
While IN Tlgnllul pOSSeSSlOH uIiutT the
protocol with Spain. awaiting the ratifi-
cation of the treaty of peace by the SEN
ate. and which has since been in active.
open rebellion against the United States.
We are asked to transfer our sovereignty
to a small minority in the islands with
out consulting the majority and to aban-
don the largest portion Of the population,
which has been loyal to us. to the cruel
ties of the guerrilla insurgent bands. More
than this, we are asked to protect this
minority in establishing a government:
I'D - chic noI aDrnS Ill nDnn-fffnrL Of
the majority. We are required TO set up
a stable government in the interest of
those who have assailed our sovereignty
and fired uoon our soldiers. and then
against its enemies within and against
those having ambitious designs from
without.
This would require an army and nav
far larger than is now maintained in the
Philippines and still more in excess OF
what will be necessary will the full rec
oSnition of our sovereignty. A military
support of authority not our own, as thus
proposed. is the very essence of militar-
ism. which our opponents in their plat
form oppose. but which by their Dolicy
would of necessity be established in its
most offensive form.
The American people will not make the
murdcTers of our soldiers the agents of
the republic to convey the blessings of
liberty and order TO the Philippines. They
will not make them the builders of the
new commonwealth. Such a course would
be 4 betrayal of our sacred obligations
TO the peaceful FflipinoS, and would place
at the mercy of dangerous adventures
the lives and property of the natives and
foreigners.
In short. the proposition of those OPP
posed to US is to continue all the obliga-
tiOns in the Philippines which now rest
upon the government, only changing the
relation from principal. which now eN-
lists. to that of surety. Our responsibility
is to remain. but our power is TO be
diminished. Our obligation is TO he no
less bit our title Is TO be surrendered
10 another power. which is without ex-
perience or training. or the ability TO
and absolutely helpless to perform its
international obligations with the rest
of the world. TO this We are opposed.
We should not yield our title while our
obligations last. In the language of our
platform. Our authority should not be
less than our responsibility" and our
present responsibility is TO establish our
authority in every part of the island.
Our rights in the Philippines are now
free from outside interference and will
continue so in our present relation. They
would not he thus Tree in any other reia-
ton. We will not give up our own to
guarantee another sovereignty.
Those who profess to Gistrust the liberal
and honorable purposes oi the administra-
ton in its treatment of the Philippines are
not justified. Imperialism has no place in
its creed or conduct. Freedom is the
rock upon which the republican party
was buildsd and now rests. Liberty is
the great republican doctrine for which
III people went 10 war dUu LOT WHICH
a million lives were offered and billions of
dollars expended to make it the lawful
legacy of all without the consent of mas
ter or slave. There is a strain of ill-con-
cealed hypocrisy in the anxiety to extend
the constitutional guarantees TO the people
of the Philippines, while their nullifica-
ton is openly advocated at home. Our OPP
ponents may distrust themselves. but they
have no right to discredit the good faith
and patriotism of the ma jority of the peo-
pie. who are opposed to them: they may
fear the worst form of Imperialism with
the helpless Filipinos in their hands: but
if they do it is because they have parted
with spirit and faith of the fathers and
have lost the virility of the ounder OF
the party which they profess TO represent.
The Declaration of Independence.
The republican party does rot have to
assert its devotion TO the declaration of
That immortal instrument
Of the fathers remained uneXecuted until
The people under the lead of the republican
party in the awful flash of battle turned
It's promises into fulfillment. 1t wrote into
the constitution the amendments guaran-
teeing political equality 10 American citt-
zenShip and 1t has never broker them or
others in breaking them. Ii will
not be guided in its conduct by one set
of principles at home and another set in
the new territory belonging TO the United
States.
Empire has been expelled from Porto
Rico and the Philippines by American
ireemen. The flag of the republic now
floats over these islands as an emblem
lie stay and dispense to their inhabitants |
the blessings of liberty educatiop npd frco !