The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-07-05

wonderful progress made rlnce the
first settlements. The audience was
at times spell-bound with his marve-
lous bursts OF eloquence. and, again,
oftlmes II burst into applause at
some especially fine sentiment. The
following sentence. for its superb rhe-
toric, II nothing else. deserves to live
forever:
They left 70 their descendants. as
the result OF their heroism, the :nber-
itance OF continent whose northern
and northwestern shores are in part
kissed by the placid waters Of the Great
Lakes, and in part sleep bensath The
sparkling crystals Of the frozen cen
turtles; whose southern Doundry is
bathed by the waters OF the Gulf OF
Mexico. rejecting ever and always from
her gentle bosom the warming sun
shine Of a tropical sky; whose last is
limited by the sandy shores OF the
broad Atlantic. and whose west. tur-
retted and lowered In everlasting gran
tie. listens to the ceasless lashings OF
the mighty Pacific as It exhausts its
ma,chless force against the masonry
Of God himself The latter part OF
the grafton. which treats in an lonest,
statesmanllke and. at the same time,
patriotic manner. the burning questions
OF the hour. is here quoted:
Il am not one Of those who believe
that the situation which confronts the
United States with regard to the Phil
lppines threatens democratic lnstitu-
tions. / have too much confidence in
the great head and heart OF the Amer
lean people 20 harbor such a thought.
! do believe. however. that 1t had been
better for the United States II IL had
been possible for the gallant Dewey
and his brave men TO have blown up
the Spanish fleet at Manila and sailed
away. Such a course would have
saved many a noble life, and millions OF
treasure. But this, course was not
taken. 1t probably could not have been
taken under the circumstances. The
Spanish flag was hauled down, and Old
Glory unfurled in its stead. and il
then became and is now the duty OF the
American people TO uphold the arm OF
the administration and sustain the
honor Of our country. But after quiet
has been restored, the question then
becomes material, What shall we do
with the Philippines? Upon that SUBJ
tect there must and will be long and
bitter contest. To forcibly annex these
distant islands necessitates one of two
very different policies. Either the
establishment OF a military protect
crate and the adoption Of a colonial
policy. modelled after the systems in
vogue under monarchical and despotic
forms OF government. or the adoption
Of territorial form of government
contemplated by the trainers of our
constitution. and which has been sue
oessfully carried out since the adoption
Of the constitution. The first Line of
policy is contrary to the letter aud
spirit OF the Magma Charta Of our
liberties, and is violative of the hrst
self evident truth upon which 1t is
founded, that all men are created
equal: that thy are endowed by their
Creator with certain unalienaoie
rights; that among these are life, lib
erty, and tde pursuit of happiness;
that to secure tr.se rights, govern
ments are instituted among men. de.
living their just powers from the con-
cent OF the governed
1t involves the fastening of a govern
ment upon p sJple WIN were ut one
time, in measure, allied with us
against the spanish power, without
their consent and against their will.
The courage and fidelity with which
the Filipinos. for upwards Of century
have opposed the despotism of for
eign power, appeal to the generous im-
pulses of free America against the
adoption of such policy.
THE second. II carried out in accord
ance with the teachings Of the fathers
OF the Republic, contemplates the an
nexation of these islands first as terri
tories and then as states. with the
same right to participate in our affairs
as the Constitution gives to citizens Of
our local territories and states.
Such policy means eventually the
admission to citizenship of ten millions
of a race with whose civilization we
have not had ana cannot have any part
or parcel; who are forbidden by the
very laws of nature from mingling
their blood with the Anglo-American
race.
The same reasons which appealed to
congress to intervene IN behalf of op-
pressed Cuba, and to declare that Cuba
was and of right ought to be free.
appeal even more strongly in behalf Of
the Filliplnos. and It is my honest con-
viction that II TO them there had ever
been held out the hope Of autonomy.
the bones Of our sons and brothers
would not now De bleaching under the
sun Of a tropical sky, and even yet II
such a hope could be held out to them,
the voices OF those who lead them in