The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-31
B. II. Levy s. Bro.

l am now presenting, I am not pleading
the cause of the Filipino, l am pleading
the cause of Americans that their govern
ment may not be converted from a re-
public composed of free states. into an
imperial government holding vassal ana
subject colonies, ruled and controlled ne
cessarily by a standing army in their
midst If our free republic is to be con-
verted into this imperial government it is
not those who are to be held and ruled as
vassas in subject colonies who will be the
principal sufferers.
Would Lead 10 Militarism.
The first feature in which this revolu-
ton will definitely manifest itself to the
injury of our people Will be in the
Immediate growth of miltarism. If it
khall be finally determined to hold the
Philippine Islands it is a safe prediction
that in less than eighteen months from
this date the regular army of the United
States will be 10000 men.
The necessity of controlling the Fill
pinos and of maintaining the sovereignty
of the United States In those islands will
be the excuse for this large standing army
And there is no question that if the Islands
are to be retained a large army will be
required for all time. There will be no
escape from such necessity. There is no
reason to believe that we shall find the
Elipinos peaceful and submissive sub
jects. If held in subsection against their
will, 1t will be necessary to rule them with
an iron hand. This will require a large
army constantly on the islands. And the
army of 10000 which now seems to be
monstrous Will in a short time be IN
creased to 100000.
There can be no greater danger to re-
publican government, there can be no
greater menace to personal liberty and
free institutions than great standing
army in time of peace. a great stand
ing army is the unvarying and ever-ready
instrument with which liberty is destroy
ed 1t is the weapon with which the free
man Is subjected into the vassal, and with
which the vassal Is kept In base submits
sion to his lord 1t is the mailed hand of
every tyrant il is the Voracous consumer
offhe hard tribute wrung from the indus
tries of the land it is the
oppressor and the burden of the great
mass of the people II want no terri
tory permanently annexed to the United
States, in which the conditions are such
that Il is a conceded fact beyond the pos
sibility of successful dispute that not
only for while, but for all time. Inc
authority of the United States must and
can be maintained only through the power
of a great standing army, enforcing the
submission and obedience of an unwilling
people.
Another certain consequence of this
revolution i'm the principles and structure
of our government will be the liability and
proba bilty of disastrous wars, of which
we have not hitherto stood in danger.
There is no government on this Western
hemisphere which will ever have either
the inclination or the ability to make war
upon us.
Two Important Results.
"Rut if the Philippine Islands become
a part of our possessions there will be
two most important results: First, omit
ting the question whether we will thereby
forfeit the right to INSIST thereafter upon
the maintenance Of the Monroe doctrine.
we will necessarily become complicated i'm
the contentious and competitions and riV-
aires of the European governments, and
from these complications there will be
constant danger that wars will be thrust
upon us which we cannot honorably de-
cline.
I'VE will no longer be impregnable in
a war with a European Power. The Phil
Ippine Islands will furnish a field for
me war where, by reason of the great
distance across the sea, we will be ex-
ceedingly weak and painfully vulnerable.
THAT will be our weak spot and that will
he the point of attack by our enemies
because It Is the weak spot.
To permanently retain the Islands will
annually cost the United States more
than eco. The large increase In the
standing army will alone annually cost