Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-03-08
sSih CONGRESS
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went beyond seas and tried to annex
Hawaii, which plotted for years to an
mex Cuba, which have in our past
acquisition of territory their one great
and enduring monument.
Needless of their past and of their
best traditions, careless of their incon-
sistencies, utterly regardless of the OBJ
vious commercial interests of the
South, which they control: totally in
different to the wishes and belief of a
large portion of their membership. and
to the advice and example of some OF
their most patriotic, most loyal and
most Courageous leaders, to whom all
honor is due, the managers Of the Dem
ocratic organization have decided to
oppose the retention of the Philippines
and our policy of trade expansion in
the East. for what those islands sup
ply the corner stone.
Their reason appears to be the
highly sagacious one that it is always
wise to oppose whatever Republicans
advocate, without regard to the merits
of the policy or to the circumstances
which gave it birth.
AN an American ! regret that our
opponents should insist on making a
ing problem, so fraught with great
promise of good both to ourselves and
TO others. AS party man and as a
Republican l can only rejoice. In 1904
the party which opposed expansion
went down in utter wreck before tn"
man who, interpreting Alright the in
sdnCts. the hopes and the spirit of the
American people. made the Louisiana
10
in behalf of our American policies. We
have made the appeal before and Won
and we deserved to win. We shall not
fai. now
After saying that he had been unable
20 discover what policy his political
opponents proposed, Mr. Lodge contin-
ued
I'VE have had presented II us. it is
true, the policy desired by Aguinaldo
and his followers. that we should ac-
knowledge him as a government. en-
force his rules upon the over s. tribes
and upon all the other islands and
then protect him from would involve
us in endless wars with the natives
and keep us embroiled with other ma
tons, loads us with responsibility
without power and falls into ruin and
absurdity the moment it is stated. An
other proposition is that we should
treat the Philippines as we treat Cuba.
That is precisely what we are doing.
But what is really meant by this de-
mand is not that we should treat the
Philippines as we treat cuba. but that
we should make them promise as to
the future.
And that is what every proposition
made by those opposed to the Repub-
hcan party comes down to. a promise
as to the future. We are to put down
insurrection and disorder and hold the
island temporarily without the consent
of the governed. but simultaneously we
are to make large promises as to the
future which will look well in print
and keep instruction and disorder
alive.
The resolution offered by senators
on the other side and the tenor Of
their speeches are all Of this descrip
ton. They present no policy, but in
yite us to make promises. Promises
are neither action nor policy. and, in
the form of legislation, are a grave
mistake. Those which involve us in
pledges Of independence have the adj
dtional disadvantage Of being the one
sure means of keeping alive war and
disorder in the islands.
IF we do abandon the Philippines
let us abandon them frankly. If we
mean to turn them over to domestic
anarchy or foreign control let us do
it squarely. If we are to retain them,
let us deal manfully with the prob
lens as they arise. But do not in
dulge in the unspeakable cruelty Of
making promises which our successors
may be unable or unwilling to fulfill
and which will serve merely to light
the flames of war once more and bring
death to hundreds of natives ana t.
scores Of American soldiers.
The policy we offer. on the other
hand. is simple and straightforward.
We believe in the frank acceptance Of
existing facts. ana in dealing with
them as they are and not on theory
of what they might or ought to he. We
accept the fact that the Philippine is
lands are ours. today. and that "" are
responsible for them before the world
The next fact is that there is a war.
in those islands. which with its chief
hiding and no semblancc of govern
mcnt. has now dcGencratCd into mcr"
guerilla fighting and briEandagc
our immediate duty. therefore, is t.
suppress inns ulSPlbtI, put an tilp 10
fighting, and restore peace and order.
That is what we are doing. That lis
all we are called upon to do in order
to meet the demands of the living pres
ent. Beyond this we ought not to 81
by a Legislative act. except to make
such provision that there may be ms
delay in rc-establishing civil govern
ment when the war ends.
Il hope and believe that We shall re:
tain the islands. and that. peace and
order once more restored, We shall and
should rc-eStabliSh civil government,
beginning with the towns and villages.
where the inha bitantS are able to man
age their own affairs. We should give
them honest administration and prompt
and efficient courts. We should see to
it that there is entire protection 10
persons and property, in order to en-
courage the development of the Islands
by the assurance of safety to investors
of capital All men should be protect
ed in the free exercise of their religion.
and the doors thrown open to mission
aries of all Christian sects. The land.
which belongs to the people. and of
which thew have bnap rOhbp1 in the