The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1900-08-18

overcame a soldier who, in the midst Of
battle, discovered that he had slain his
brother. 1t is written: "All We are breth-
day when human life-which, when once
destroyed, cannot be restored--will be sc
sacred that It will never be taken except
when necessary. to punish crime already
to be committed.
II II is said that we have assumed before
the world obligations which make 1t neces-
sary for us to permanently maintain q
government in the Philippine islands, ]
reply, first, that the highest obligation OF
this nation Is to be true to itself. No obi.
CATION to any particular nation, or TO all
nations combined, can require the abandon
ment OF our theory OF government and the
substitution OF doctrines against which
our whole national life has been protest
And, second, that our obligations to the
Filipinos. who inhabit the islands, are
greater than any obligations which we can
residence in the Philippines or desire to
trade there.
Capacity of seIf-GOvernment.
1t is argued by some that the Filipinos
are incapable of self-government and
that therefore we owe 1t to the world to
take control OF them. Admiral Dewey, in an
official report to the navy department, de-
clared the Filipinos more capable of self
government than the Cubans, and said
that he based his opinion upon knowl-
the case upon the relative advancement
OF the Filiptnos. Henry Clay, in defend
ing the rights Of the people of South
America to self-government, said:
ut 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
Clay was right. There are degrees
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
self-government, and that others are not,
to seize upon and govern the incapable.
and you make force-brute force-the only
foundation Of government and invite the
reign Of hes he f ss avn not snd W
ALLOWING God created the Filipinos, and
then left them thousands of years helpless
until the islands attracted the attention
u Republicans Re ask: Sashall we haul down
the flag that floats over our dead In the
Philipplnes?" The, same question might
fioated over Chapultepec and waved over
the dead who fell there: but the tourist
who visits the City of Mexico finds there
q national cemetery owned by the United
citizen. Our flag. still floats over our
dead, but when the treaty with Mexico
was signed American authority withdrew
to the Rio Grande, and / venture the
opinion that during the last 50 years the
people of Mexico have made more progress
under the stimulus of independence. and
alp 41rarK rcTal1 v1axr
made under a carpet-bag government held
in place by bayonets. The United States
and Mexico, friendly republics, are each
ana ena haen 1hey snd
the latter crushed by an imperialistic pol
icy, disguised as benevolent assimila-
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 1t desires to DO, but 1t
must accept responsibility for what it does.
II the constitution stands in the way, the
people can amend the constitution. re-
peat, the nation can do whatever 1t desires
to do, but 1t cannot avoid the natural and
legitimate results of its own conduct. The
can do what he pleases. He can disregard
the teachings of his parents; he can tram
Pile upon all that he has been taught to
Of the state The laws Of p Society and the
laws of God. He can stamp failure upon
his life and make his very existence curse
to his fellow men, and he can bring his
father and mother in sorrow to the grave;
but he cannot annul the sentence; "Ihe
wages of sin is DEATH" And so with this
nation. It is of age, and it can do what it
pleases; 1t can spurn the traditions of the
past; it can repudiate the principles upon
which the nation rests; it can employ force
Instead of reason; it can substitute might
for right; 1t can conquer weaker people;
n n annrnnTi9tR their
and kill their people; but 1t 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 Is reigning yet"
Some argue that American rule in the
Philippine Islands will result in the better
education of the Filipinos. Be not de-
ceived. If we expect to maintain colon
al policy we shall not find it to our adj
vantage to educate the people. The edu-
lated Filipinos are now in revolt against
is, and the most ignorant ones have made
the least resistance to our domination. If
we are to govern them without their con-
sent and give them no voice in determining
educate them, lest they learn to read the
declaration of independence and the con-
stitution Of the United States and mock
is for our Inconsistency.
The principal arguments, however, ad-
vanced by those who enter upon defense
If Imperialism are;
First, That we must improve the present
opportunity to become a world power and
enter into international politics.
Second, That our commercial interests IN
he Philippine islands and in the orient
g.
ands permanently.
Third, That the spread of the Christian
religion will be facilitated by a colonial
Fourth, That there is no honorable re-
reat from the position which the nation
las taken
The first argument is addressed to the
nations pride and the second to the ma
ions pocketbook The third is intended
or the church member and the fourth for
he partisan.
Growth of a Principle.
1t is sufficient answer to the first argu-
his nation has been a world power. For
en decades it has been the most potent
influence in the world. Not only has 1t
Q affect the politics of the human race
han all the other nations of the world
combined. Because our declaration of in
dependence was promulgated, others have
'een promulgated. Because the patriots
If 1776 fought for liberty others have
ought for it; because our constitution
vas adopted, other constitutions have
,een adopted. The growth of the princi- |
Die of self-government planted on Amer |
can soil, has been the overshadowing |
political fact of the nineteenth century |
It has made this nation conspicuous |
lmong the nations and given it place |
n history such as no other nation has |
.ver enjoyed. Nothing has been able to |
heck the onward march of this idea. |
I'm not willing that this nation snail cast |
lside the omnipotent weapon of truth to |
Ieize again the weapon of physical war |
are. l would not exchange the glory of |
his republic for the glory of all the en-
,ires that have risen and fallen since time |
)egan.
The permanent chairman of the last re- |
publican national convention presented |
he pecuniary argument in all its bold |
less, when he said:
I'VE make no hypocritical pretenses of |
icing interested in the Philippines solely |
IN accoIlnt of others While wo rapa RI |