Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1900-08-17
KANSAS AGITATOR, GARRETT, KANSAS.
substitute our yoke for the Spanish

Let us consider briefly the reasons
which have been given In support OF an
imperialistic policy. Some say that 1t Is
our duty to hold the Philippine islands.
But duty is not an argument; 1t Is
conclusion. To ascertain what our duty
Is. In any emergency, we must apply well
1t is our duty to avoid stealing. no mat.
ter whether the thing to be stolen Is OF
great or little value. 1t Is our duty TO
avoid killing human being, no matter
where the human being lives or to what
race or class he belongs. Everyone rec
ognizes the obligation imposed upon in,
dividuals to observe both the human ana
the moral law, but as some deny the APP
plication of those laws to nations. 1t may
not be out of place to quote the opinion
of others. Jefferson, than whom there Is
no higher political authority, said:
" know of but one code of morality
for men,. whether acting singly or COL
lectivey."
Franklin, whose learning, wisdom and
virtue are a part of the priceless legacy
bequeathed to us from the revolutionary
days, expressed the same idea in even
stronger language when he said;
Justice is as strictly due between
neighbor nations as between neighbor
citizens. A highwayman is. as much
robber when he plumbers in gang as
when single; and the nation that makes
an unjust war is only great gang
Men may dare to do in crowds what
they would not dare to do as individ-
uals, but the moral character of an act
who join 1t. Force can defend right,
but force has never yet created right.
| II II was true, as declared In the reso-
lutions of intervention, that the Cubans
are and of right ought to be free and
Independent" Language taken from the
Declaration of independence II Is equally
true that Fiiipiios are and of ;, right
ought to be free and independent The
right of the Cubans to freedom was not
based upon their proximity to the United
States, nor upon the language which
| 10, .Alx vat hA N
races to which they belonged. Congress
by practically unanimous vote declared
that the principles enunciated at Phila-
delphia in 1176 were still alive and APP
plicabe to the Cubans. Who will draw
a line between the natural rights OF
the Cubans and the Filipinos? who VIII
say that the former has right to lib
erty and that the latter has no rights
which we are bound to respect? And,
II the Filipinos ''are and of right ought
to be free and independent what right
them without their consent? Before our
duty can be ascertained. their rights
must be determined, and when their
rights are once determined. 1t Is as much
our duty to respect those rights as 1t
was the duty of Spain to respect the
rights of the people of Cuba or the duty
of England to respect the rights OF the
American colonists Rights never con-
flict; duties never clash. Can it be our
duty to usurp political rights which be-
long to others? Can it be our duty TO
kill those who, following the example
enough to fight for it?
Some poet has described the terror
which overcame a soldier, who In the
slain his brother. 1t is written 'All we
are brethren" Let us hope for the COM
ing of the day when human lfe-which
when once destroyed cannot be restored
Will be so sacred that 1t Will never he
taken except when necessary to punish
crime already committed, or to prevent
crime about to be committed.
If 1t is said that we have assumed be-
fore the world obligations which make
1t necessary for us to permanently main
tain government in the Philippine ISL
ands. l reply first. that the highest OBJ
legation of this nation is to be true to
itself. No obligation to any particular
nations, or to all the nations combined.
can require the abandonment of our
ton of doctrines against which our whole
national life has been protest. And,
second that our obligation to the Fill
pinos, who nhabit the islands, Is greater
than any obligation which we can owe
to foreigners who have temporary resi-
dence in the Philippines or desire to
trade there.
1t is argued by some that the Filipinos
are incapable of self-government and
that therefore we owe II to the world
to take control of them. Admiral Dewey,
ment declared the Filipinos more cap
able of sef-government than the Gu
bans and said that he based his opinion
upon a knowledge of both races. But l
advancement of the Filipnos. Henry
Clay, in defending the right of the peo-
pie of South America to self-government.
said:
TT is the doctrine of thrones that man
is too Ignorant to govern himself. Their
partisans assert his incapacity In refer
ence to all nations; II they cannot COM
mand universal assent to the proposition,
1t is then demanded to particular nations;
and our pride and our presumption too
often make converts of us | contend that
it is to arraign the disposition of provi-
dence Himself to suppose that He has
created beings incapable of governing
themselves, and to be trampled on by
kings. Self-government Is the natural
government of man..
Clay was right. There are degrees of
proficiency in the art of self-govern-
ment. but 1t is reflection upon the Gre
ator to say that he denied to any people
the capacity for self-government once
admit that some people are capable or
self-government and that others are not
and that the capable people have right
to seize upon and govern the incapable,
and you make force-brute force-the
only foundation of government and invite
the reign of despot. am not Willing
to believe that an all-wise and an all
loving God created the Filipinos and then
left them thousands of years helpless UNI
til the islands attracted the attention OF
European nations.
Republicans ask: "Shall we haul down
the flag that floats over our dead in the
Philippines? The same question might
have been asked when the American flag
tioated over Chapultepec and waved over
the dead who fell there; but the tourist
who visits the City of Mexico finds there
a national cemetery owned by the United
States and cared for by an American
citizen. Our flag still floats over our
dead, but when the treaty with Mexico
was signed, American authority with
drew to the Rio Grande, and l venture
the opinion that during the last fifty
years the people of Mexico have made
more progress under the stimulus of in
dependence and self-government than
they would have made under a carpet
bag government held in place by bay
onets. The United States and Mexico.
friendly republics, are each stronger and
happier than they would have been had
the former been cursed and the latter
crushed by an imperialistic policy, dis
guised as benevolent assimilation"
Can we not govern colonies?" we are
asked. The question is not what we can
do, but what We ought to do. This ma
.tion can do whatever 1t desires to do
but 1t must accept responsibility for what
1t does. If the constitution stands in
the way, the people can amend the con-
Istitution. | repeat, the nation can do
whatever 1t desires to do, but 1t cannot
avoid the natural and legitimate results
of its own conduct The young man upon
reaching his majority can do what he
nix He cap dicrepnr d the teachings