The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1900-08-11

- scise upon und govern the Incapable,
and YOU make force-hrute force-the only
foundation OF E~ovctninent ana nNlte M
ing to believe that an ali.Nise and an
aiEloylng God created the ftiipinoS and
ihen ieft them thousands Of years helpless
untIl the Islands attracted the attention
OF European nations
Republicans ask; shall VI haul down
he nax that floats over our dead IA the
Philippines The same question might
have been asked when the American nag
iioaied over Chapultepcc aud wavci over
ne dead who fell there; but the tourist
Who visits the City OF Mexico Ind there
a national cemetery owned BY the United
states and cared Tor, by an American
aead. but when The treaty with Mexico
Was signed American authority withdrew
10 the Rio Grande, anu venture the
opinion that DURING the Inst % years the
people Of Mexico have made more proSress
under the stimulus OF Independence and
ssif-Eovernment han they would have
made under a ~carpet-bag government neld
in place by eayonets. The United states
and Mexico. friendly republics. are each
stronger and happier than they would
have been had the former been cursed and
the latter crushed by an i~mperialistlc pol
icy. disguised as benevolent assimila-
ton.
responsibility OF the Nation.
..Can we not govern colonies" we are
asked. The question Is not what We can
do, but what we ought TO DO. This nation
can do whatever It desires TO do. but Il
must accept responsibility for what Il does.
II the constitution stands IN the way; tne
people can amend the constitution. re-
peat. the nation can do whatever II desires
TO do. but II cannot avoid the natural anu
legitimate results Of It's conduct Inc
young man upon reaching his majority
can do what he pleases. He can disregard
the teachings Of his parents; he can tram
pie upon all that he has been taught 70
consider sacred; he can disooey the laNs
OF the state, the laws OF society and me
laws of God. He can stamp failure upon
his life and makeh his very existence curse
10 his fellow men, and he can bring his
father and mother In sorrow TO the grave,
but he cannot annui me sentence KY ne
nation. II is Of age. and II x Whatit
pleases; II can spurn the traditiNls OF the
past; Il can repudlate the principles upon
which the nation rests; Il can employ I9Ise
instead Of reason. II can substitute might
for right: It can conquer weaker people;
It can exploit their lands, appropriate their
property and kill their people; but II cannot
repeal the moral law or escape the punish
ment decreed for the violation of human
rights
Would we tread In the paths OF tyranny.
Nor reckon the tyrant's cost?
Who taketh another's liberty,
His freedom Is also lost.
Would we win as the strong have ever won.
Make ready to pay the debt.
For the God who reigned over Babylon
Is the God who Ia reigning yet"
Some argue that American rule in the
Philippine Islands will result In the better
education Of the Filipinos. Be not de-
celved. II we expect to maintain a colon
ial policy we shall not hnd Il TO our adj
vantage to educate the people. The edu.
Gated Flllplnos are now in revolt against
fa anA she 1901 N.uAWaAN AaAa haaH % Nu.1a
the least resistance TO our domination. II
we are to govern them without their con-
sent and give them no voice In determining
the taxes which they must pay. we dare mol
declaration Of independence and the con.
stitution Of the United States and moch
us for our Inconsistency.
The principal arguments, however, ad'
Of imperialism are:
First, That we must improve the presen-
opportunity TO become a world power ant
enter Into international politics.
Second. That our commercial interests II
the Philippine islands and In the orienI
make II necessary for us to hold the Il
lands permanently.
Third. That the spread Of the Christian
religion will be facilitated by a colonis
Fourth. That there is no honorable re
treat from the position which the nAtlol
has taken.
The frst argument IL addressed to tn
nations pride and the second to the ma
TONS pocketbook. The third Is INTENDED
for the church member and the fourth 70
the partisan.
!, Growth of a Principle.
II is a SUFFICIENT answer to the first argu
J ment to say that for more than a eenturl
this nation has been a world power. Flo
/, ten decades u has been the most poten
! influence In the world. Not only has
= hQQn Z Wnrld nnWar hut II has dana raar
J 70 affect the politics OF the human rae
> than all the other nations OF the worl
combined. Because our declaration OF In
? dependence was promulgated. others hav
! been promulgated. Because the patriot
; Of il76 fought for liberty others hav
: fought for IL; because our constitutiO
was adopted, other constitutions hay
I been adoPtsd. The growth OF the primo
I pie or self-government. planted on Amer
: lean soil. has been the o~vershadoWin
: political fact OF the nineteenth centurS
! II has made this nation cunspicuou
! among the nations and given 1t a plac
s ever enjoyed. Nothing has been able /
: check the onward march Of this idea.
am not willing that this nation NAL ca
y aside the %omnipotent weapon of truth
fAre. would not exchange the glory (
this republic for the glory Of all the en-
pirss that have risen and fallen since tin
q The permanent chairman Of the last +
publican national convention present,
the pecuniary argument in all Its boil
I, ness, when he said:
4 We make no hypocritical pretenses
being interested In the Philippines sole
- On account OF Others. While we regaI
n the welfare OF these people as a pacrl
!, trust, we regard the welfare Of the Anne
d selves as well as to others. we BELLE
n In trade expansion. By every legitima
/. means within h province Of governmei
and constitution. we mean to stlmula
the expansion OF our trade and 2p'
y new markets"
~ This is the commercial
. based upon the theory that war CT
be rightly waged for pecuniary adva
II tsgf. and that II Is profitable to pprchs
~ trade by force and violence, Franklin d
p Piled both OF these propositions. VIII,
" Lord Howe asserted that the acts Of pa
u liamepd which brought on the ~reyoiutio
y we're necessary to prevent American ira
Franklin replied
q. TO me II SEEMS that neither the o
tRpin9 nor retaining Of any trade, nc
nd valuable soever. II an object for Will
nv men may justly spill each others bloc
~ that the trAe and sure means OF sxten
" meas and cheapnesB OF commodities, al
an that the profits OF no trade can sver
or equal to the expense OF compelling Il al
holding II by fleets and armies. co
a. slider this war against us, therefore,
81 both unjust and unwlse."
place the philosophy Of Frank
against the sordld doctrine OF those WI
would put q price upon the life Of
ey American soldier and Justify a war
al conquest upon the ground that It will pa
.e- The democratic party. Ia In favor of I
In expansion of trades, II would extend o
'ce trade by every legitimate and peacsi
AZ means; but Y Is not willing TO make m,
In. chandise Of human blood.
of But n war Of o0nauNaf a. a. unpwiaa
II 10 unriGhteaua, A harbor and coalil
OF station In the Philippines would answ
he every trade and military necessity "A
'ee aueh a concession could have been secur
ms at any time without difficulty
X II II not necessary TO " people IN {
ns der 70 trade with them. We carry
on trade to-day with every part OF the wor
~ and our commerce has expanded me
rapidly b a the eommsree Of 2 Eur
40 China, hut we trade with their people. Y
have not absorbed the republics Of Ce
raj trail and South America, but we ira
with them, II has not been necessary
~ have any political connections with Ca
lu ada or the nations OF Europe in order
ne trade with them. Trade cannot be d,
pc manently profitable unless II Is voiu
.ys tary. When rad IL secured BY force, /
be Be taken out q The pronts, and he prof
sI' are never large enough to cover the Z
psnse, Such a system would never be !
tended but Tor the faot hat the expen
40 IL borne by all the people, while the prs
nv is are sRloyed BY the few.
Evils of !mpsTIsiism.
M Imperialism would be profitable 70 4
nv army Contractors; II would be proftal
~ 10 the shipowners, who would carry ii
soldiers TO the Philippines and bring d.
soldiers back. IL would be profitable
those who would seize upon the franchIs,
and II would be profitable 10 the oficil
Az. whose salaries would be fixed mere A
~ paid over there; but to the farmer. 10 /
laboring man n to the vast majority
w those engaged In other occupatlons
would bring expenditure without rein
n risk without reward.
~ Farmers and laboring men have. M
rule, small incomes, and, under sysfe,
which ploce the tax upon all cOnsumnti,
pay more Than their fair share of the !
w penses OF government Thus the vsrv n,
pie who receive least benefit frdm y
2 periallsm will be injured most by H. ~
, ltnry burdens which accompany Il p"
IN In addition 70 the evils which he ana ,
iii farmsr share In cannon. the laborinE n,
~ will be the FIRST 10 suffer II oriental subis,,
~, seek work In the United States. he n
~ 10 auner II American capital lss ~. :"