The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1900-08-11

stitutonai guarantees and is subject t.
the. same general laws as a citizen Of a
state: Take away this security M his
sisnts s vii be violated "a s1S ao his x interest
political influence. This Is the evil OF the
colonial system, no matter by what nation
1t Ia applied
Title to the Philippines.
What Is our title to the Philippine is
conquest? Did we buy them or did we
take them? Did we purchase the peo-
PIE! Z not. how did We secure
u S' with t he Iand Mer WIN 'hs IKE ' rspSpn
leans say that inanimate earth has value,
and hen that earth Is nodded by the
ness Of the Creator il becomes a fixture
derive their Just overs. from the con-
secure title to people, either BY sorcs or
by purchase. We could ~extinguish SPANS
title by treaty. but II we. hold title we
with our ideas of government. When we
MADE allies OF the Fflipinos and armed
them to night against Spain. we disputed
are not innocent purchasers. But even
could transfer no greater title than she
alone. We cannot defend such a title. but.
can honorably u the property. over to
American oficiai gave the Filipinos for
maj assurance OF independence Is not
material. There can be no doubt that we
Fflipinos, and that when we did so we had
full knowledge hat they were fighting
for their own Independence. and I submit
t%urpitude baser than ours IL we now SUBJ
stitute our yoke for the Spanish yoke.
Let US consider briefly the reasons
imperialistic policy. Some say that it is
our duty to hold the Philippine islands
But duty is not an argument; it is a con-
in any Emergency, we must apply well,
settled generally accepted principles.
1t Is our duty to avoid stealing, no matter
or iittfe t Taia thing tG Is be eu sfo saty Is % OF syeIs
killing a human being, no matter where
the human being lives or to race
or class he belongs Everyone recognizes
the obligation imposed upon individuals to
observe both the human and moral laws.
but, as some deny the application Of those
laws to nations, 1t may not be out of
place to quote the opinion of others. JEFF
ferson, than whom there Is no higher po-
litical authority. said:
Il know of but one code of morality for
lively"
Franklin. whose learning, wisdom and
virtue are a part of the priceless legacy
days. expressed the same idea in even
stronger language when he said:
Justice is as strictly due between
neighbor nations as W neighbor
citizens. A highwayman is as much a
robber when he plumbers in a gang as
when singly: and the nation tina AXE
an unjust war is only a great gang"
Force Creates No Right.
Men may dare to do In crowds what they
would not dare to do as individuals. but
the moral character of an act Is not &C.
termined by the number of those who join
in 1t. Force can defend a right, but force
mas never yet created a right. II U was
true, as declared in the resolutions of in
tervention. that the Cubans ARE and of
ought to be free and Independent"
Language taken from the declaration OF
i"ndependenceJ. 1t Is equally true that the
f1lipinos ARE and of right ought to be free
and Independent" The right of the Cubans
to freedom was not based upon their prox-
unity to the. United States. nor upon the
language which they spoke, nor yet upon
the race or races to which they belonged.
Congress by a practically unanimous vote
Philadelphia in l71s were still alive and
applicable to the Cubans.
VINO Will draw a line between the natural
right Of the Cubans and the Filipinos?
who will say that the former has a right
to liberty and that the latter has no rights
which we are bound to respect? And, If the
free and INDEPENDENT what right have we
to force our government upon them with
out their c%onsentY Before our duty can be
mined, and when their rights are once de-
termined. 1t is as much our duty to respect
nose rights as It was the duty of Spain
or the duty of England to respect the
rights of the American colonists. Rights
never conflict; duties never clash. Can
which belong to others? Can 1t be our duty
to Kill those who. following the example
OF our forefathers. love liberty well enough
to fight for itf
Some poet has described the terror which
overcame a soldier who, in the midst of
battle. discovered that he had slain his
brother; It is written: IAN we are breth-
rem Let us hope for the coming of the
day when human ~life-which, when once
destroyed, cannot be restored-will be SO
sacred mat 1t will never be taken except
to be committed.
If it is said that we have assumed before
the world obligations which make 1t neces-
sary for us to permanently maintain a
government in the Philippine Islands. I
reply, hrst, that the highest obligation of
TINS nation Is to be true to itself. No obli-
CATION to any particular nation, or 10 all
nations combined. can require the abandon
ment OF our theory of government and the
our whole national life has been a protest.
AND, second, that our obligations to the
F~liipinos; who inhabit the islands, are
owe TO foreigners who have a temporary
residence in the Philippines or desire to
trade there.
Capacity of self-Government.
1t Is argued by some that the Fflipinos
are incapable of self-government and
mat therefore we 1--WE 1t to the world to
take control of them. Admiral Dewey. in an
omclal report to the navy department, de-
clared the Fflipinos more capable of self
government than the Cubans and said
that he based his opinion upon a knowl-
edge of both races. But / will not rest
the case upon the relative advancement
OF the Filipinos. Henry Clay, in defend
Ing the rights of the people of South
America to self-government, said:
1T Is the doctrine Of thrones that man
Is too ignorant to govern himself. Their
partisans assert his incapacity in refer
ence to all nations: II they cannot com
mand universal assent to the proposition.
1t Is then remanded to particular nations.
and our pride and our presumption too
often make converts Of u.s.. 1 contend
that 1t Is to arraign the disposition Of
Providence Himself. to suppose that He
has created beings incapable Of govern
Ing themselves, and to be trampled on by
kings. Self-government Is the natural
government Of man"
Clay was right. Their are derrees
OF proficiency In the art of self-govern-
ment, but 1t Is a reflection upon the Crea-
tor to say that He denied to any people
the capacity of self-government, Once
admit that some people are capable Of
elf-gOvernm n that Others ara not