The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1900-08-09

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who taketh another's liberty
His freedom also is 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 reignlng yet.
Some argue that American rule In the
Phil pp.ne islands viii result in the bet
ter education Of the Filipinos. Be not de-
coiyed If we expect to maintain a
co.on.al policy we shall not find it to
our advantage to educate the people. TIL 2
educated Filipino are now in revolt
against us, and the most
ignorant ones have made the least re-
resistance to our domination If we are
to govern them without their consent
and give them no voice in determining
the taxes which they mustpay, we dare
not educate them lest they learn to read
the Declaration Of independence and the
constitution of the United tSates and
mock us for our inconsistency.
ARGUMENTS ADVANCED.
The principal arguments, however ad-
fense of Imperialism, are:
First-That we must improve the pres
ent opportunity to become a world DOW
er and enter into international politics
Sccond-That our CONNIE. ial in re, 5
in the Philippine islands and he Orien,
make it necessary for us to hold the is
lands permanently.
Third-That the spread Of the Christian
religion will be facilitated by a colonial
policy.
Fourth-That there is no honorable re-
eat from the position which the nation
has taken
The first argument is addressed to the
nations pride, and the second to the ma
TONS pocketbook. The third is intended
for the church member and the fourth
for th7 partisan
1t is a sufficient argument to say that
for more than a century this nation has
been world power. For ten decades If
has been the most potent influence in the
world. Not only has it been a world now
er' but it has done more to affect the
policies Of the human race than all the
other nations of the world combined
because the Declaration of Independence
was promulgated, others have been pr,-
mugated. Because the patriots of 1776
Il ught for liberty, others have fought for
II; b cause our constitution was adonted
other constitutions have been adopted
The growth Of the principle of saIf a,,.
erHmcnt, planted on American soil has
nee the oVershadowing political fact Of
'hs nineteenth century. 1t has made this
nation conspicuous among other nations
ana given it place in history sucb ag
no other nation has enjoyed Notbino
mas been abe to check the onward r,arob
OF this idea. / am not willing that this
nation shall cast aside the onninotar+
weapon cf truth to seize again the vea
pom of physical warfare. l wouId NOT
exchange the glory of this republic for
me glory of all the empires that have rjs-
en- and fallen since time began.
No H1POCRITICAL PRETENSES
Inc permanent chairman of the last
republican national convention presented
the pecuniary argument in all its b,ld
ness. when he said:
we have no hypocriticaI pretenses of
being interested in the Philippines solely
on account of others. While we regard
me welfare of those people as a sacred
oHst we regard the welfare of the Am
erican people first. We see our duty
- ourselves as well as to others. w.
leLeve in trade expansion. BY every le
sirnate means within the province cf
government and constitution, we mean tc
stimulate the expansion of our trade and
Cpen new n,EIkets."
rms Is the commercial argument. 1t is
based anon tnetheory that war can be
rightly Wa6od for pecuniary advantage.
ard mat 1t is profitable to purchase trade,
ny force and V.aience. Franklin denied
both tf these propositions When Lord
tlows asserted that the acts of rarlla-
Tnent wtict brought on the Revolution.
re necessary to prevent the America
r d. from passing into foreign channels.
Franklin rorl;ed:
ITO me it seems that neither the oh
tanning or retaining of any trade, how
aVluable soever, is an object for which
men may justly spill each others blooo;
that the true and sure means of extend
ing and securing commerce are the good
ness and cheapness of commodities, and
that the profits of no trade can ever be
equal to the expense of compelling it and
holding it by fleets and armies. / consider
this war against us, therefor, as both
unjust and unwise"
L place the philosophy of Franklin
against the sordid doctrine of those who
would put price upon the head Of an
American soldier and justify a war Of
conquest uupon the ground that it was
pay. The democratic party is in favor Of
the expansion of trade. 1t would extend
our trade by every legitimate and peace
full means; but it is not willing to make
merchandise of human blood.