Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-05-10
The Real Question at Issue.

The Real Question at Issue.
The stock 10 trade argument of the
imperialists who uphold the course of
the administration towards the Philip
pines Is that the great body Of the
American people who oppose this policy
are traitors and "enemies of the gov
eminent" They charge them with re.
sponsibility for the prolongation Of the
war. They hold that II itiwere not for
the encouragement derived by the
people of the Philippines from the SYM
puthy 1extended to them by SO many
people In the Un,tod States, the Fill
pinos would have long ago laid down
their arms and submitted to the su-
perior proves Of the invaders.
Even II this claim be true, 1t does not
go to the real question at issue. The
imperialists will not recognize the fact
plain as the sun at poonday-t in
resisting the forcible aggression of the
United States, the people Of the Philip
pines are but maintaining their natural
rights, and are in exactly the same
position as were the people of the
American Colonies when they fought
fer and wrested American Independence
from the Grown of Great Britain. More
than that, they have been engaged in a
fight for liberty and self-government
for over three centuries, and are justly
entitled to the sympathy, aid and open
encouragement Of all patriotic Ameri-
cans, instead Of the harsh treatment
that the forces of this government
have been dealing out to them for the
past two years.
1t must be borne in mind that when
Admiral Dewey's fleet sailed into
Manila Bay and destroyed the Spanish
warships and Notifications, the people
of the islands, then, as now. engaged in
their struggle for Independence. warmly
welcomed him and his brave fighters,
and proved themselves valuable allies
in the subsequent operations. They
welcomed the invading representatives
Of this great Republic as their
snviours. That they were used as
allies Is admitted by Dewey himself.
And they hoped for Philippine indie
pendence at the conclusion of the war
with Spain, as ardently as the merican
Colonists hoped for it after their alli-
ance with France in the War Of the
Revolution. What would the colonIsts
have thought had France, merely by
paying fixed sum to Great Britain al
the conclusion Of the Revolution,
claimed sovereignty over the United
States
This is ths phase of the situation
that the impei ialists will not look at.
They indorse the claim that this gov.
eminent. has right to sovereignty over
the Philippines because We paid Spain
s2o, 900, 900 indemnify for them. How
does the cliam OF Spain, however, com
pare with the claim Of the patriot,
Filipinos who have been fighting fol
Independence for more than three hun
dred.years? Are not the latter entitled
to the sympathy and support of ,
people. who. like them, fought for tb,
right of self-government9 Should th,
fact that the Filipinos failed in theii
fight, Notwithstanding they carried i
on SO traveiy and so long, make an,
diffeienceS Should it not, rather, in
crease their claim to American sym
pathy and encouragement?
Instead Of this, the imperiaiists CLAIM
that the Filipinos have no right I,
self government; that they are no
fitted for 1t, and that this country cal
give them an infinitely better govern
ment than they can possibly provid
for themselves. We're not these sam
arguments applied by the British gov
eminent to the American Colonies
And so. following in the footsteps Q
their British ancestors, the imper ialist
strive, by force Of arms, to impose upo
the people OF the philippines govern
ment to be administered solely by tn
President Of the United States. The
claim that these people are subjects
not citizens; and that the provisions 9
our Federal Constitution do not appl
aud extend to them.
Such a policy is una american in tn
fullest sense Of the term. 1t is coptrar
to the principles of the Declaration {
Independence and to the plain letts
Of the Constitution of the United State,
And those who uphold this policy al
the real "enemies of the government.