The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-08-09


to our own government. II Is not
strange. therefore, that the labor or
ganlzations have been quick to note the
approach of these dangers and prompt
to protest against both mllltarlsm and
imperialism,
'rhe pecunlary argument. though
moro effective with certain classes, Is
not likely To be used so often or pre-
sented with SO much emphasis as the
rellslous argument. II what has been
termed the 'gun-powder gospel were
urged against the Fillpinos only, Il
would be a sufficient answer to say
that a majority " the Filiplnos are now
members of one branch OF the Chris
tlar church; hut the principle involved
Is one of much wider application and
challenges serious consideration, The
religious argument varies In positiVes
ness from passive belief that Prov.
idence delivered the F1llpiuos into our
hands, FOR their good and our glory,
to the eNultation of the minister who
said that we ought 10 thrash the ma
tives CFilplnosl until they understand
who we are ana every bullet sent
every cannon shot and every Nag waV-
ed means 'lghteousness,'
1--WE cannot approve of this doctrine
In one place unless we are willing to
apply Il everywhere, II there Is pol
son In the blood " the head u WIN
ultimately reach the heart II Is equal-
ly true that forcible Christianity, II
planted under the American hag In the
far-away Orient. viii sooner or later
be transplanted upop American soil,
II true Christianity consists In carry
ing out IN your daily lives the teach
ings of Christ. who will say that we
are commanded TO civllize with dyna-
mite and pros alyte with the sword, He
who would declare the Divine VIII
must prove his authority either by holy
writ or By evidence of special dis
pensation. The command Go We into
an the world and preach the gospel TO
every creature has no Gatling gun
attachment,
When Jesus visited village ~ Sa-
maria and the people refused 10 re-
ceive him. some Of the disciples sug-
reSted that fire should be called down
from heaven 20 aveuge the Insult; but
the Master rebuked them and said;
We know not what manner of spirits
We are OF: FOR the son of man Is not
come 10 destroy mems lives, but to
save them. Suppose he had said; we
viii thrash them until they understand
who We are how different would have
been the history of Christianity. Com
mare. II YOU Will. the staggering, hul-
wing brutal doctrine ~ Imperialism,
with the golden rule and the command
ment. Thou shalt love thy neighbor
rs thyselt'
Love. not force was the weapon ot
the Naznrene: sacrifice for others. not
the exploitation OF them. was His
method of reaching the human heart.
4 missionary recently told me that the
Stars and Stripes once saved his life
because his assailant recognized our
flag as flag that had no blood upon
il. Let Il be- known that our mission
aries are seeking souls instead ~ SOW
ereiguty: let il be known that Instead
Of being the advance guard OF con-
mering armies. they are going forth TO
help and 10 uplift. having their loins
girt about with truth and their feet
shnd with the preparation OF the gos-
pei OF peace. wearing the breastplate
OF Righteousness and carrying the
sword OF the Spirit let II be known
that thev are the citizens OF q Nation
which respects the rights OF the citi-
zens OF other nations as carefully as
II protects the rights of its own citi-
gems. and the welcome given 10 our
missionaries will be more cordial than
the welcome extended 10 the mlss!onar-
les OF any other nation.
THE argument made by some. that
II was unfortunate for the Nation that
II had anything to do with the Philip
pine Islands. but that the naval VIC
tory at Manila made the permanent
acquisition NJ those Islands necessary.
Is also unsound. We won a naval vic
tory at Santiago. but II did not COM
pei us 10 hold Cuba. The shedding OF
American blood IN the Philippine ISL
ands does not make II imperative that
we should retain possession forever.
American blood was shed at San Juan
Hill and FL Caney and yet the presl-
| dent has promised the Cubans inde-
] pendence. The fact that the Ameri-
can Tag floats over Manila does not
/ compel us to exercise perpetual SOW
| ereignty over the islands. that flag
waves over Havana today. but the
president has promised to haul II down
when the flag Of the Cuban republic
| is ready 10 rise I'm it's place. Better
a thousand times that our flag IN the
Orient give way TO flag representing
the idea Of self-government than that
! the flag Of this republic should be-
come the flag Of an empire.
There Is an easy. honest. honorable
solution Of the Philippine question.
II Is set forth in the Democratic plat
form and II Is submitted with confidence
10 the American people. This plan !
unreservedly indorse. II elected. ]
shall convene congress IN extraordinary
session as soon as I am inaugurated
and recommend an Immediate declara-
/ tlon Of the Nations purpose; first, 10
/ establish a stable form Of government
/ IN the Philippine Islands. just as we are
/ now establishing a stable form Of gov
ernment in the Island Of Cuba; sec
| ond. to give independence TO the Fill
| iplnos. just as we have promised to give
| independence 20 the Cubans' third. to
! protect the Filiplnos from outside in
/ reference while they work out their
destiny. Just as we have protected the
republics Of Central and South Amer
lea. and are, by the Monroe Doctrine,
| pledged TO protect Cuba.
| "A European pr0tectorate often re-
suits in the exploitation OF the ward by
the guardian. An American protector
ate gives 10 the nation protected the
! dlNdHLhkt Dl our bLTfUkAHf WlAll'u'
making it the victim Of our greed Fol-
three-quarters of century the Mon
roe Doctrine has been a shield 10 neigh
boring republics and yet 1t has I'M
posed NO pecuniary burden upon us
After the FiliDlnos had aided us In the
war against Spain, we could not hon
/ orably turn them over 10 their former
masters: we could not leave them to bC
the victims Of the ambitious designs oi
the European nations, and since we dc
not desire TO make them a part Of us
or to hold them az subjects, we pro-
pose the only alternative, namely, Il
give them Independence and guard
them against molestation from without
"When our opponents are unable e
defend their position by argument they
| fall back upon the assertion that II Il
destiny and insist that we must sub
NIT TO It. no matter how much 1t vlo'
lates moral precepts and our principles
Of government This is a complacen
! philosophy. II obiterates the distinc
ton between right and wrong ant