Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1900-08-09
pinos? WHO will say that the former
have no rights which we are bound to re-

R innnoss Who WIS, viii say that the former
spect? And il the Fiiipinos "are and Of
right ought to be free and independent
what right have we to force our govern
ment uron them without their consent
Before our duty can be ascertained, and
when their, rights are once determined, 1t
rights as II was the duty of Spain to re-
spect the Fights of the people of Cuba Or
tne duty of England to respect the rights
of the American colonists. Rights never
our duty to usurp political rights which
belong to others? Can 1t he our duty TO
XIII those who. following the example of
our forefathers. love liberty we'll enough
to fight for it2
Some poet has described the terror
, which oysrca I'm soldier who, in the
s!ain his brother 1t is written: IAN ye
are brethren Let us hope for the COM
Ing of the day when human life-which
once destroyed cannot be restored-will
De 50 sacred that 1t Will never be taken
except WHEN necessary to punish a crime
already committed or to prevent 1; crime
about to be committed!
As To Our Obligations.
1t is said that VIE have assumed before
the world obligations which make it nee
essary for us to permanently maintain Il
government In the Philippine islands. I
reply. first, that the highest obligation of
this nation is to be true to itself. No OBJ
legation to amy particular nation or to all
nations combined can require the aban-
donment of our theory of government
ana the substitution of doctrines against
which our whole national life has been Il
protest And. second. that our obliga-
lions to the Iilipinos who inhabit the ISL
ands are greater than any obligation
Whlch we can owe to Foreigners who have
or desire to trade there
IL Is argued by some that the l'illpinos
are are INCAPABLE of self government and
to take control of them. Admiral Dewey,
In an official report to the navy depart
,,,. DECLARED lhe Filipinos more capa-
and said that he based his opinion upon
knowledge of both races But | Will
not rest the case upon the relative adj
vansement of the lFilipinos. Henry Clay,
N defending the rights of the people of
South America to self government, said:
III Is the doctrine of thrones that man
II, ~, =, Zoo ignorant to govern himself Their
ence to all nations; if they cannot COM
mand universal assent to the propositions
" Is then remandcd Ia particular ma
aohsi and our pride and our presumption
t e; often make converts of us. 1 contend
mat II is to arraign the disposition of
Providence himself to suppose that he
has has created beings Incapable of govern
Ing themselves and to be trampled on by
kings. Salf-government is the natural
government of man.
Clay was right. There are degrees of
proficiency pr. in the art of self government,
say that he denied to any people the
capacity of self-government. Once admit
that some people are capable of seif-gov-
ernnent and that Others are not and
that the capable people haze right to
seize upon and govern the Incapable; aud
you make force-brute force-the only
reign OF The despot. I.am not willing TO
pelleVe that an all-wise and an all-loving
Sod created the I'ilipinos and then left
them thousands of years helpless until
the islands attracted the attention of
European nations
Hauling Eown the Flag.
Republicans ask: Shall we haul down
! he flag that floats over our dead In the
The same question might
have been asked when the American flag
iioaled over Ci.apultepec and waved over
The dead who fell there; but tile tourist
who visits the City of Mexico finds there
e g national cemetery owned by the United
zen. Our flag still floats over our dead,
but when the treaty with Mexico was
81 American authority withdrew to
the BIO Grlnde and venture the opin-
ion that during the last fifty years the
people of Mexico have made more pro-
Gress under the stimulus of Independence
md self-goy ,,,r than they would
held in p pace Gbn y goveF be
PEOPLE of the United States s and Mexic q.
friendly republics. are each stronger and
happier than they would have been had
the former been cursed and the latter
crushed by an imperialistic policy, dis
suised as benevolent assimilation.''
GU. stion of Morals, Not Might.
Can we not govern colonies 2" we are
asked. The question is not what we can
10. b,it what we ought to do. This ma
ion cam do whatever it desires To- do, but
Il must accept Responsibilities for what If
Toes. VI the constitution stands in the
way the people can amend the constitu-
Ion. repeat the nation can do whatever
I desires To do. but II cannot avoid the
natural and legitimate results of its own
'onduct The young man upon reaching
AN trample upon all that he has been
aught To consider sacred, he can disobey
he he, laws law, of the state, the laws of society
ma inc lays ,,, ,, Of God He can stamp fail
'nce. curse tn his fellow men, and he
't,n bring his father and motherin sorrow
!" the gr aye, but he cannot annul the
Md SO will, this nation. II is Of age and
can do what 1T pleases; it can spllrn the
4, Of the past; II can repudiate
ests; 1t can employ force Instead of rea r.
on; II can substitute might for right: it
';,n conquer weaker people: 1T can ex-
'loit their lands. appropriate their prop
epeal the moral law or escape the pun
shment decreed for the violation of hl1-
nan rights
Would we tread in the paths of tyranny,
Nor reckon the tyrant's cost7
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,
Tor the God who ruled over Babylon
Is the God who is reigning yet
philippine Islands will result in the bet s,te
er education OF the Filipinos. BE not de-
ei ,s. " we expect TO maintain n COLI
NAL policy, we shall not find II to our
ducated Iiliplnos are now in revolt
Sainst us, and the most ignorant ones
ave ave, made the least resistance to our
Without their consent and give them no
Dice In determining the taxes they must
ay, we dare not educate them lest they
. snl ~ TO read the declaration of indie
,nlted States and mock us for our incon-
istency.
Arguments of Impcrialists.
The principal arguments, however, adj
ense of Imperialism are:
FIRST: That we must improve the pres
mt opportunity TO become world power
nd enter upon International politics..
SECOND; That our commercial interests
4 inc Philippine Islands and In the ORR
mt make 1t necessary for us to hold the
stands permanently.
Third: That the spread of the Chris
Ian religion will be facilitated by col
Fourth: That there is no honorable re-
reat from the position which the nation
as taken.
The first argument is addressed to the
alton pride. and the second to the ma
on $ pocket-book. The third Is intends
d for the, church member and the fourth
or the partisan
1t is a sufficient answer to the first ar
ument to that for moro than n can. i
lry this nation has been world power. /
or ten decades it has been the most po-
ant influence in the world. Not only has
been Il world power. but 1t has done |
lore to affect the politics of the human
ace than all the other nations Of the
,orld, combined Because our declaration
Independence was promulgated others
ave been promulgated: because the pat
OTIS of 1I7G fnnyht Tor lil,nrtA ct ar. l,n,..