The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-07-08


of intervention. They had established a
government of their own, which, though
not recognized by the nations of the
earth. was as much recognized as was the
sovereignty of the Cubans. While the
peace conference was In session in Paris,
and at the very moment that the treaty
was being signed, representatives of those
people were knocking at the door asking
to be admitted and be given voice in the
proceedings that so Immediately affected
their interests, -fifths of the in
habitants of the Philippine Islands had
thrown off the yoke of Spain and pro-
claimed an individuality of their own.
Their flag sailed in and out of the harbor
of Manila while the American squadron
lay in the bay and the identity of their
government was admitted by the repre-
sentative of our government, who, acting
by and under the authority of the Presi-
dent recognized them as a belligerent
people, made them our allies. secured
their cooperation and assistance in the
conduct of our war against the Spaniards,
under pledge of independence. If the
Cubans were belligerent the Filipinos
were belligerent, if the former were OPP
pressed in like degree the latter were
oppressed; if one was entitled to indepen-
dence why is not the other entitled to
exercise the same holy right?
"Tey tell us they are incapable of self
government. Yet Dewey says they are
more capable of self-government than
the Cubans. If they are not capable of
lf-government we do not want them. II
they are capable of self government 1T
should be granted to them.
"They inquire shall we return them to
the sovereignty of Spain? We answer,
no. They ask, shall we turn them over to
other nations? We answer as emphati-
cally no. Shall we establish a govern
ment for them under our sovereignty?
That means a dependency tantamount to
the English colonial policy, which means
Imperialism, and how an imperialistic
policy can be engrafted upon our form OF
government without doing violence to its
spirit can only be answered by Republican
statesmen They tell us that so per cent
of the inhabitants of the archipelago are
in favor of ending the war in these is
lands, of whom large majority are in
favor of annexation. If this is true then
why send our soldiers to suppress the
so-called instruction? Why do not the 80
per cent subdue the 20 per cent?
A MENACE TO WHITE LABOR.
"The fact is that the true conditions ex-
listing among the Filipinos, their wants,
their likes and dislikes, are unknown TO
MS A censored press reports facts. or
paints pictures from the imagination, as
the imperial will DEGREES.
LAS an abstract proposition, their loca-
ton is too far removed from our borders
to make their acquisition advantageous
to our best interests. With population
in proportion to area greater than our
own, it would be a menace to our labor
ing classes. For years we strove to eX-
clude cheap Chinese labor, in the inter-
est Of the American workingman and
what we accomplished in that direction
| would be more than Offset by bringing in
this people who, in virtue of their rela-
tions to us, could not be excluded from
| our shores. ttt@
1T stands conceded that their retention
will necessitate the maintenance or a
large army within the borders of their
territory. More than SO, 600 of our sol
diers are there now What does this
mean but militarism? While it is true
that thus far we have been able to obtain
recruits through the volunteer process,
the day will speedily come when this sys-
tenn can no longer be employed, and com
pulsory military service will become a
part of our organic law.
"a large proportion of our population is
made up of citizens of foreign birth who
were driven from their shores by the
rigors of this merciless and exacting sys-
TEN. They came to us because military
service is not a condition of citizenship.
From distressing experience they know
the dangers that will certainly ensue a
departure from precedent, tradition and
constitution in which they placed impli-
cit reliance when they joined their dest1-
MES with ours. Already their voices have
been heard in eloquent protest and warn
ing. but the administration plunges heed
lessly, recklessly along the downward
path of it's stubborn, unreasoning tenaclty.
Shall we perpetually subject our people to
the payment of taxes for the mainten-
ance of an army and the sustenance OF
a government, with all that both imply =?
Shall we wiring the sweat from our farm
ers, our manufacturers and our business
men in which to battle the ignoble actions
of new aristocracy? Shall we convert
our schools into military academies to
teach our sons the art of war instead OF
the science of peace? Shall we empty
our products into commssary stores in
stead of the markets of commerce?
"They tell us that where the flag has
once been planted there it must stay. This
is not the true spirit of our civil policy,
nor is it sustained by our past history.
The rule should be that the flag will be
kept where it will promote and protect
the interests of the American people act
ing in good conscience and within authori-
ty. Patriotism does not consist in sacri-
ficing our civic welfare, to that of others
but rather in unfolding our welfare
against the Entertainments of the world.
DISPOSITION OF THE PHILIPPINES.
IF in the strict letter Of the bond they
do belong to us let us forego the pound
of flesh. AS we were humane in our treat
ment of Cuba let US be magnanimous in
our treatment of the Filipinos. Let us
give them their independence, establish
for them a republican government, as we
have done for Cuba. and protect them
against the impositions and encroach-
ments of other nations-in other words,
establish a protectorate over them and
let them work out their own destiny. II
it is necessary to reserve privileges Tor
our shipping trade or naval accommoda-
tions, if the demands of our commerce