The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-08-09

pose ,%forcible, annexation. h partisanshY
has already blinded many to present aangsfs =
certain; now large a portion OF the hepuDucsi
party can be drawn over to the new policies re
mains to be seen.
For a time the Republican leaders were n
clined TO- deny to opponents the right 70 crI'
icise the Philippine policy Of the Admintstration
but upon investigation they found that poti
Lincoln and Clay. asserted and exercised tht
risht to %critieise 2 President during the progress
Instead Of meeting the issue boldly y. and Sds 5SS,
Convention Adopted a platform the larger part
graduation.
In attempting to press economic question,
upon the country TO the exclusion OF those
which involve the very structure OF our Govern
ment the Republican leaders give new evidence
OF their abandonment OF the earlier ideals OF the
party and OF their complete subeer vienoy tc
pecuniary considerations.
THE MRNAcE OF IMPERIALISM.
But they shall not be permitted TO eyade the
stupendous and far-reaching issue which they
have deliberately brought into the arena OF poll
pTactica Mhen nns snG prss xdss Q, Fa iSs House OS Snd i
Senate. entered upon a war with spain for the
purpose OF aiding the struggling patriots OF
Cuba, the country. without regard to party. .ap,
plauded. Although the Democrats recognized
that the Administration would necessarily gain
q political advantage from the conduct OF a
war which In the very nature OF the case must
roon NIh ~ u tOHlIltte NlCVDTys tIcy vtcN w
the Republicans in the support which they gave
20 the President. When the war was over and
the Republl can leaders began 10 suggest the
m nrHniGf'sty p , Z sG!0n1 %b DSli &. 0P Ppssidsn, a sn Hnfs
laid before the Senate a treaty which recog,
nized the independence Of Cuba. but provided
for the eession Of the Philippine Islands TO tho
came 40 apparent that many preferred to reject
the treaty and risk the ills that might follow
rather than take the chance Of correcting the
errors OF the treaty by the Independent action
was among the number OF those who believed
It better TO ratiffy the treaty and end the war,
release the volunteers. remove the excuse
E~ilipinos the Independence which might be
forced from Spain by a new treaty.
In view Of the CRITICISM wlhich, my action
TO restate tho reasons given at that time. /
thought II safer TO trust the Amrrican people
70 give independ-rce to the Fllipinos than 70
to diplomacy Wiz SiIiRP'i an "nfrieDdly ma nation. Tn
coin embodied an argument In the question
whom he as ked. Can aliens make treaties easier
than friends, can, make laws'" believe TINT
cessfnl. contest against imperialism than we
would havo been had the treaty been rejected
With the treaty ratified n clean-Clt issua is
and aneIT a Sove eT'meTh BY fS-ae, snE i my SYniiists
must bear the responsibility for all that hap
pens until the question is settled. II the treaty
h M"ai Sef SnT rsiss sse Lib ths Tss2onThio q a. im SDT i0isq,
national complications which might have
arisen before the ratification of another treaty
But, whatever differences Of opinion may have
existed. rs 20 the best method o! opposing a
colonial policy, there never was any difference
az TO the great importance OF the question
and there is no difference now as to the course
to be pursued.
II PHILIPPINES.
The title Of Spain being e%klinguished, we were
TO American principles. The Bacon resolution,
introduced a month before host,lities broke
out at Manila, promised Independence 10 the
Filiplnos on the same terms that i was prom
and believe that It's adoption prior TO the break
ing out Of hosulities would have prevented
6ioodshed, and th4t It's Adoption az any sub
II the treaty had been rejected. considerable
time would have necessarily elapsed before
a new treaty could have been agreed upon and
ratified and during that time the question
would have been aTitaing. 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 or at any time afterward. II would have
taken the question OF imperialism out Of politics
and left the American people free to deal with
other domestic problems. But the resolution
was defeated by the vote OF the Republican
Vice-Presldent, and from that time to this a
Republican Congress has refused to take any
action whatever In the matter.
When hostilittes broke out at Manila Re
publican speakers and Republican editors 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 Re
publlcans have accused the opponents of i'm
perialism Of giving encouragement to the
Filipinos;. This Is a cowardly evasion Of re-
sponsibility,
II il is right for the United States to hold tho
Philippine Islands permanently and initiate
European empires IN the government OF colonies
the Republican party ought to state its position
and defend 1t, but II must expect the subject
races TO protest against such a policy and 10
re sist to the extent OF their ability. The Fla
pinos do not need any encouragement from
Americans now living Our whole history
Filipinos, but to all who are denied "a voice in
their own government. II the Republicans
are prepared to censure all who have used lam
guage ca culated TO make the Filipinos hate
speech Of Patrick Henry. When he uttered
that passionate appeal. Give me liberty or
give me death, " he expressed a sentiment which
SUI echoes In The heanrts OF men, let them
tory none has used words so offensive TO those
who would hold their follows In political bond
age. Let them oensure Washington. who de-
liberty and slavery. Or. If the statute Of limi-
tations has run against the sins Of Henry and
Jefferson and Washington, let them censure
in defence Of popular. government when the
present advocates OF force and conquest are
forgotten.
Some one has said that a truth once spoken
can never be recalled. II Is true. II goes on
and on. and no one can set a limit TO Its ever
widening influence. But II II were possible
70 obllterate every word written or spoken
In defence Of the principles set forth In the
Declaration Of Independence. a war Of conquest
would still Leave its legacy OF perpetual hatred,
for it was God Himself who placed In every
human heart the love Of liberty He never
civilization or INTEL gence that IN would welcome
a foreign master.
lincoln said that the safety Of this nation
was not in It's fieets. it, armies, its forts, but In
OF all mon, in all lands, ,everywhere. and he
warned his countrymen that they could not
destroy this spirit without planting the seeds
OF despotism at their own doors.
PRINCIPLE OF sEIF-GoyERNMENr.
Those who would have this nation enter
a career. OF empire must consider not only
the effect OF. Imperialism on the Flipinos. but
they must also calculats Its effects upon our
own nation, We cannot %repudiat4 the prin-
without weakening that principle here.
Even now we are beginning TO sec the para
lying influence Of Imperialism. Heretofore,
this nation has been prompt TO express It's sym;
hberiy. While our sphere Of activity has been
TO the Western hemisphere, our SYM
pathies have not been bounded by the seas.
We have felt II due TO ourselves and TO the
Cling for the right TO govern themselves, to
proclaim the interest which our people have.
from the date Of their own Independence, felt
In every contest between human rights and
arbitrary power. Three-quarterS. OF n CEN
fury ago, when our nation was small, the strus-
giles OF Greece aroused our people, and Web
s snivS ana ci Sssi gavg fo sIo9 Hy.oia s'p iSSsSsnd 10 ,5e
In 1906 all parties manifested a lively interest
In the success Of the Cubans., but. now when
,-.,et ra=,lt tp thn n - taneinn ~ the v,Ap orphta,l