The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-08-08

The acquisition of the Louisiana terri
tory. Florida, Texas, and other tracts
which have been secured from time TO time,
enlarged the Republic, and the Constitution.
followed the flag into the new territory. II
is Row proposed to seize upon distant ter
rftory already more denseIy populated 6han
our own country. and to force upon the
people government. for which there is
no warrant in our Constitution Or our laws.
Even the argument that this earth be-
longs to those who desire to cultivate ii
ana nave the physical power to acquire il
cannot be invoked to Justify the appropria-
ton OF the Philippine Islands By the Unit
ed States.
If the islands were uninhabited Ameri-
can citizens would not be willing to go
there and till the<soiI. The white race viii
not live SO near the equator Other ma
tions have tried TO colonize in the same
latitude The Netherlands have controlled
Java Tor SGD years, and yet today there are
less than 60, 600 people of European birth
scattered among 25,0 00, 900 natives After
century and half Of English domination
in India, less than one-twentieth OF / per
cent of the people of India are Of English
birth. and 1t requires an army Of 10000
British soldiers to take care of the tax
collectors. Spain has asserted title to the
Philippine Islands for three centuries, and
yet, when our fleet entered Manila Bay.
there were less Chdu 1u,UUD opanlarGS t.
siding in the Philippines.
"A colonial policy means that We shall
send 10 the Philippines a few traders a
faw task masters, and few ofieehodersr
and an army large enough to support the
authority of a small fraction of the people
while they rule the natives.
IF we have an imperial policy We must
have q large standing army as its natural
and necessary complement. The spirit
xsTt4i -f1 will he ION
Of the Philippine Islands, will justify the
seizure of other islands and the domination
OF other people, and with wars of conquest
we can expect a certain, II not rapid
growth OF our military establishment That
a large permanent increase in our Regular
Army is intended by the Republican lead
ers is not a mere matter Of conjecture, buI
matter of fact.
In his message of December s. 1898, The
President asked for authority to increase
the standing army TO 100000 In 1886 the
Army contained about $4,000 men Within
two years the President asked for four
times that many, and Republican House
of Representatives complied with the re-
quest after the Spanish treaty had been
signed and no country was at war with
the United States If such an Army is de-
manded when an imperial policy is con-
templated, bur not openly avoWed, what
may be expected If the people encourage
the Republican party by endorsing its poll
cy at the polls.
Large Standing Army Menace.
"A large standing army is not only a
pecuniary burden to the people. and, If &C
companied by compulsory service. a con-
slant source of Irritation, but il is ever q
menace to a republican form of govern
msnt. The army is the personification of
force, and miljtarisra will inevitably change
the ideals of the people and turn the
thoughts Of our young men from. the arts
OF peace to the science Of war. The gov
eminent which relies for its defence upon
its citizens is more likely to be just than
one which has at call a large body of pro-
fessienal soldiers 4 small standing army
and well-eduipped and well-disciplined
State militia are sufficient in ordinary
times, and in emergency the nation should
in the future, as in the past, place its de-
pendence upon the volunteers who come
from all occupations at their eouptry's
call and return to productive labor when
their services are no longer required-men
who fight when the country needs fighters
and work when the country needs workers.
The Republican platform assumes that
the Philippine Islands will be retained I'M
der American sovereignty, and we have a
right TO demand of the Republican leaders
a discussion of the future status OF the
=
Ject9 Are We 10 bring into the body poll
tic eight or ten million Asiatics, so differ
ent from us IN race and history that ANAL
gamation IS impossible? Are they to share
with us IN making the laws and shaping
the destiny of this nation2 No Republican
Of prominence has been bold enough 20 ad-
vocate such q proposition The McEnery
resolution, adopted by the Senate fmmedi-
ately after the ratification of the Treaty
ayDressty negatives
The Democratic platform describes the
situation when it SAYS that the FfIipinos
cannot be citizens without endangering our
civilization. Who will dispute it? And
what is the alternative? II the Filipino
is not to be a citizen, shall We make him a
subJect2 On that question the Democratic
platform speaks with emphasis It de-
ciares that the Filipino cannot be sub
jest without encangering our form OF gov
eminent. A republic can have no subjects
a subject is possible only in a government
resting upon force; he is unknown in Il
government deriving its just powers from
the consent of the governed The Repub-
hcan platform says that the largest meas
ure of el-geyeTnment consistent with
their welfare and our duties shall be Sc
cured to them 1.-THE Fflfpinos) by law This
is strange doctrine for a government
which owes its very existence TO the men
who offered their lives as protest against
government without consent and taxation
without representation.
In what respect does the posi- lion OF
the Republican party differ from the DO
sition taken by the English Government in
ITS? Did not the English Government
promise a good government to the colo
nists2 What king ever promised a bad
government TO his people?
Did not the English Government prom
ise that the cofonists should have the Iarg-
est measure Of government consistent
with their welfare and English duties
Did not the Spanish Government promise
to give to the Cubans the largest measure
Of self-government consistent with their
welfare and Spanish duties? The whole
difference between monarchy and a re-
public may be summed up in one sentence.
In monarchy the king gives to the
people what he believes TO be good gov
in a republic the people secure
for themselves what they believe to be a
good government The Republican party
has accepted the European idea and plant
ed itself upon the ground taken by George
III and by every ruler who distrusts the
or the people for government
or denies them voice in their own affairs.
specious Republican Promises.
THE Republican platform promises that
some measure of self government is TO be
given to the Fflipinos by law: but. even
this pledge is not fulfilled Nearly sixteen
months elapsed after the ratification OF the
treaty before the adjournment of Congress
last June and yet no law was passed oeal- |
ing with the Philippine situation. TIE will |
Of the President has been the only law in |
the Philippine Islands wherever the Amer |
lean authority extends.
WHY does the Republican party hesitate |