The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-08-18

The War IN the RnlllpplnSS'
The Baltimore american, of Wednesday,
said the Philippine instruction was being
kept alive by the sympathy the insurgents re-
ce;va from anti-imperialists aud Democrats in
this country.
The statement is true, but not in the sense
the american views it. The Democrats OF
the limited States set the world an example OF
heroic devotion to freedom, liberty and self
government in casting off British rule. 1t
was Democrat who penned the Declaration
Of Independence. and it was a Democrat who
guided the pen when the Constitution was
written. These two documents are revered
by liberty loving people in all lands, They
have been the beacon-Gghts for all peoples
struggling for self government for century.
They are as well understood by the FliIpinos
as by the american When the Mckinley
Commissioners received the Filipino repre-
sentatives the latter spoke hueutly aad intelli,
gently about both. The republic of the
limited States was their ideal government
They had studied it and knew it well. For
wears thew had rebelled against Spanish rule
and two years ago joined hands with the
United States forces against the Spanish at
Manila, in the full belief that a people who
declared ''that an governments derive their
Just powers from the consent OF the governed
would not undertake to deny self-governmeut
to them. and that deliyerauce and freedom
were at hand.
There is no instruction in the Philippine
Islands. Whatever war there Is there, Is
war waged BY the natives against foreigners
bent upon approPriating their territory and
setting up an alien government. We are not
there by conquest. because Mckinley de-
clared that .'lorcibie annexation would be
criminal aggression aud Congress declared
TO the world that the war with Spain included
no purpose Of territorial aggraudizement. We
are not there by purchase, for Spain had no
title to the islands and no Jurisdiction.
The war upon the Fihpnos Is Priest
dent Mckinley said It would be, criminal
aggression, aud the blood Of the slain is
upon the hands Of the Imperialists. The
Filipinos we're our friends and allies against
the Spanish. Had We set about 70 aid them
in establishing government for themselves
and protected them ia the meantime, they
would sin be our friends and oar trade re'a'
tons been much better than ihey ever will be
with the Filipinos as a subject race. Neare
the aggressors, the invaders; and We have
changed them from friends TO enemies. The
so called ''insurrecuon Is simply a struggle
for freedom and self government, such as was
waged by the patriots Of 1910 against British
rule.
The love Of liberty aud self government in
the Filipiuos has no doubt been quiekened
and diffused By the example Of the people OF
the American colonies aud By the splendid
government erected by them. The example
of the Democrats, who formed aud nurtured
the republic, no doubt has been inspiring to
them. 1t has been inspiring to all subject
peoples-to the Irish, the Poles and the Gu
bans, with all Of whom the people 81 this re-
public sympaihized in their struggles tor free
dom. aud in the case Of the latter actually
went to war in order that they may govern
themselves. Anu itiF1 sfttAF- VIC NN iANf
and independent and have seifgoyern ment,
too, if the Democrats win IN November and
control the Executive aud Legislative branch
es Of government We DO not want any col.
onies. with subject peoples and continu al
wars, as have all other governments with col
onial possessions. We do not want subject
peoples, because all people are Of right free
and equal. We do not want TO exercise i'm
perial powers abroad, for it would be but a
short step to imperial power at home. The
government cannot exist half republic and
halt empire.
Yes, the Democrats sympathize with the
Filipinos in their struggle, just as they have
sympathized with every other people strag-
Cling gainst oppression. That does not
mean, however, that they are against and de-
sire the overthrow Of our own soldiers, not
one of whom enlisted to fight against tie
Filipinos. but were sent out of the country by
the Hanna Mckinley Administration to furth-
er their scheme of making the United States
a world power, with colonial possessions
around the world - bases for military and
naval operations. There is scarcely soldier,
except the salaried officers, in the Philippines
today who does not dislike the conflict there
and would gladly return, as is abundantly
shown BY the letters they write home. The
Democrats have clearly shown their sympathy
for the youth ofthe country by opposing their
presence in n tropical country aud exposure
TO death and disease in war waged without
Congressional sanction and in defiance OF
every principle held and maintained by the
fathers of the republic aud embodied in the
Declaration of Independence, the Consttu-
ton, Washington's Farewell Address and the
Monroe Doctrine.
The Imperialisls may find pleasure in charg-
ing the war in the Philippines to Democratic
sympathy with the Filipinos but they will
have difficulty in convincing anybody that
such is the fact That struggle Is in example
of the struggle of the patriots of l776, with
the hope of creating such glorious republic
as the United States.