The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1900-08-10
1rnrf IL - PennIe.

I dence which might be forced from Spain
BY a new treaty.
In view OF the criticism which ny Sc
7 ton aroused in some quarters I take this
| occasion to restate the reasons given at
L that time thought Il safer to trust the
American people TO give independence to
the EIiDinOs than to trust the accom-
plishment OF that purpose % Diplomacy
I with an unfrieudIy nation Lincoln en-
| bodied an argument IN the question. when
/ he asked: Can aliens make treaties
! easier than friends can make laEsg' I
believe that We are now in better posi-
ton 20 WaEe a successful contest against
Imperialism than we would have been
had the treaty been rejected With the
treaty ratified, a clean cut issue is pre-
sented between a government by consent
and government by force, and imperial
lists must bear the responsibility fer all
that happens until the question is settled
If the treaty had been rejected. the Op-
pOnents Of imperialism would have been
held responsible for any international
complications which might have arisen
before the ratification OF another treaty
But whatever differences Of opinion may
have existed as 70 the best method Of Cp-
posing the colonial policy, there never was
any difference as to the great importance
Of the question and there is no difference
now as to the course to be pursued
Promises to the FIIIPtnOs-
The title Of Spain being extinguished,
We were at liberty TO deal with the Fill
pinOs according to American principles
The Bacon resolution. introduced month
before hOsdHties broke out at Manila,
promised independence to the FilipinOs on
the same terms that II was promised 70
the Cubaus. ] supported this resolution
and believe that its adoption prior TO the
breaking out OF hOsunues would nave
prevented blOOdshed, and that its adOp-
ton at any subsequent time would have
ended hostilities-
II the treaty had been rejected, cOnsid-
cradle time would have necessarily
a could have
been agreed upon and ratified, and during
that time the question would have been
agitating the public mind II the Bacon
resolution had been adopted by the senate
and carried out BY the president, either
at the time Of the ratification Of the
treaty OF at any time afterwards, IL would
have taken the question Of imperialism
out Of politics and left the American peo-
pie free to deal with their domestic prob
lens But the resolution was defeated BY
the vote Of the republican vice president,
and from that time to this a republican
congress has refused to take any action
whatever in the matter
CovvardIy Accusations.
When hOsulities broke out at Manila,
republican speakers and republican edit
ors at once sought to lay the blame upon
those who had delayed the ratification Of
the treaty. and, during the progress OF
the war, the same republicans have &C
cused the opponents Of Imperialism Of CIV
ing encouragement to the Filipinos- This
is a cove rdly evasion Of responsibility
II Il is right for the United States to
hold the Philippine islands permanently
and initiate European empires IN the gov
eminent Of colonies, the republican party
ought TO state its position and defend II,
but # must expect the subject races to
protest against such a policy and TO resist
to the extent OF their ability The Ftltpinos
DO not need any encouragement from Amer
leans now living. Our whole history has
been an announcement, not only TO the
E7f1f~07~0z n All nh = denied EnlCe
in their own government II the republic
ans are prepared to Censure all who have
used language calculated to make the
FIliDinOs hate foreign domination let them
/ condemn the speech OF Patrick Henry.
When he uttered that passionate appeal:
Give me liberty or give me death, ne
expressed a sentiment which still echoes
in the hearts Of men Let them cenSure
jefferson Of all the statesmen Of history,
none have used words 50 offensive to those
who would hold their fellows in political
bondage Let them censure Washington,
VINO declared that the cOlOnists must
choose between liberty and slavery or,
| II the statute Of limitations has run against
the sins Of Henry and Jefferson and Wash
tngton, let them ceusure Lincoln, whose
Gettysburg speech VIII be quoted In de-
Tense Of popular government when the
present advocates Of force and conquest
are forgotten.
Some one has said that truth once
spoken can never be recalled 1t is true.
It goes on and on, and no one can set
limit to its ever widening influence But
If IT were possible to OblitsTate every word
written or spoken in defense Of the prin-
c1pleS set forth in the declaration Of in
dependence, a war Of conquest would still
leave its legacy Of perpetual hatred, for
| 1t was God Himself who placed in every
human heart the love Of liberty He never
made race OF people 50 low IN the scale
Of civilization or intelligence that it would
welcome foreign master.
Lincoln said that the safety Of this nation
was not in its fleets, its armies OF IFS forts.
but IN the spirit which prizes liberty and
the heritage Of all men. in al lands, every
/ where and he warned his countrymen that
/ they could not destroy this spirit without
| planting the seeds Of despOtism at their
| own doors.
Those who would have this nation en-
ter upon a career Of empire must consider
not only the effect Of imperialism on the
FilipinOs, but they must also calculate its
erect upon our own nation We cannot
repudiate the principle OF sef-gOvern-
ment In the Philippines without weaken
/ ing that principle here
ParaIyzinE imperialism.
Even now we are beginning to see the
: paralyzing influence Of imperialism Here
tOfOre, this nation has been prompt to ex-
/ press its sympathy with those who were
fighting for civil liberty While our sphere
/ Of activity has been limited to the west
ern hemisphere, cur sympat hies have not
been bounded BY the seas. We have felt
it due TO ourselves and to the world, as
well as to those who were struggling for
the right to govern themselves, to pro
claim the interest which our people have
from the date OF their own Independence
felt in every contest between human
4 rights and arbitrary power. Three-quar-
ters Of a century ago when our nation
was small, the struggles Of Greece
aroused. our people, and Webster and Clay
gave eloquent expression 70 the universal
desire for Grecian Independence In 1856.
I all parties manifested lively interest
I in the success OF the Cubans, but now
when war IS in progress in South Afri-
ca, which must result IN the extension Of
the monaFchial idea OF In the triumph OF
I a republic. the advocates OF imperialism
I in this country dare not say q word in
behalf Of the Beers. Sympathy for the
Beers does not arise from any unfriend-
I n--erl----