The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1900-07-17

KANSAS CITY, JULY ia special to
the Journal from Topeka, Kan, says
G.. c. Clemens the socialist iedIcr Of
Kansas and socialist candii1te for COVER
nor, ridicues the democratic national
platform on the Philippine question.
"The democratic platform fully indorses
McKnleys course in the Philippines when
it proposes that we shall establish a sta
BILE government tn re and protect the
islands against all other nat ons. sa.d
he today. How are we to establish
stable government without first thrash
ing the armed bands that try TO drive
us away2 How are you to stay In
house and put the furniture to right
when "A man is trying to through you
through the window, unless you first c
him into a peaceful frame Of mind?
'If the Philippines are not United
States territory what business Is It Of
ours whether they have a stable gov
ernment, or any government at all? They
are on the other side of the earth and
perpetual civil strife there could do US
no harm. We never worried over the sta
tSlty of the government of the Philip
pine islands in all the years before that
In Manila bay. Why should We worry
now, if the islands are not ours? l am
afraid the democrats are trying TO get US
into trouble by inducing US to medde e
with the private affairs of other folks.
again, if the islands are not ours, but
belong to the Flipinos why should we
propose to protect them against all 9TH
er nations? Has not Germany or Russia
lust as much, right to protect them
against us as we have to protect tn m
against Germany or Russia?
"And if the Flipinos own the country
themselves, ought we not, in common de-
cency. to wait TIL they ask US 20 protect
them? Perhaps they might prefer some
other protector and it is exclusively their
affair.
"And how are we to establish stable
government and then become and remain
protectors? Are we to use moral suasion
n one? If Germany should conclude to
send an army to the Philippines, what
are we to do? Surely Mr.. Bryan would
not have us resort to hated 'miltarism
TO repel the invaders! Perish the lmperi-
aIistic' thought If the Islands are part
Of our territory, what is a president 10
20 with a rebellion there against the
Uunited States? What could any presl-
Dent do but prec sely what Mckinley has
been doing-put down the rebellion hrst'
reserving all questions of ultimate dlspo-
sition possible.
''The democratic position Is utterly in
consistent if we do not own the is.ands;
is a brazen proposal that we shall alb
aicate our severe gnty if we do own
them. McKinleys course has been log
ical, at least. He has assumed that the
Islands are American territory. He has
assumed that Agunaldo is a Jefferson
Davis and Mckinley has been dealing
with him as Linco n dealt with the hea
II the southern confederacy-has been
treating him as a rebel. Vanlandingham
Hked Lincoln no better than Hoar and
some others seem to like Mckinley. Bry-
an should have adhered to his fl ST posi-
Efon-immediate withdrawal of our forces
ErOm TIE Philippines. That was at least
logical, But to deny our right to the
Islands and still propose that we shall
exercise a protectorate over them-what
logic is there in this?, The actual truth
IL, that whether Mckinley or Bryan be
the next president precisely the same
course will be pursued toward the Fill
pinos, for Bryan's position pledges him
To McKinley's course.
This cry Of imperialism wearies me
anyhow. 1t has been during her imperi-
Ahsm that England has become n all but
~anne republic At the beginning of her
1ominion in India, not even business man
could vote in England. In 1867, Disraeli.
she most imperialistic of British prime
ministers, gave workingmen suffrage