The Elbert County tribune., 1900-06-14
THE PHILIPPINES PLANK.

We notice some discussion among
our Republican contemporaries as to
the proper form of the plank in the Re
publican platform which is to be devot-
ed to the Philippines.
There Is n disposition on the part OF
some Republicans to concede n point
or two to the anti-imperialists, and to
apologize In a measure for the course
Of the Republican party.
Such action would be unwise and
wholly unnecessary.
The course of the Republican party
has not always been Ideally wise or
ideally righteous. We have left undone
some things that we should have liked
very much to do, and we have done
some things that we are sorry that we
had to do.
But the point that is important above
all others, and beside which all others
fade into insignifcance is that every
thing that has been done in the Philip
pines was done as n matter Of practical
necessity. 1t is not so much that the
Republican administration has done
the best thing possible under the cir
cumstances.
Dewey went to Manila because he
had to go there, or else abandon the Pa
clfic and Indian oceans to the Spanish
fleets, leaving them free to organize an
attack upon our Pacific coast.
He stayed at Manila because he
could not leave the city without aban-
doning 1t to its fate at the hands of
savages in rebellion.
The sending of troops to the Philip
pines was n positive necessity to save
the city from massacre and pillage and
to save the faith Of the nation before
the civilized world. The suppression
of the Tagal Insurrection was neces-
sity Of our position, and an inseparable
part of tho duty we had incurred to-
wards the people Of the islands, the
people of Spain and the foreign mer-
chants and residents Of the Philippines:
At the present time we could not leave
the islands or relinquish their control
without the grossest violation Of our
faith and an utter disregard Of our In
ternational obligations.
This 10 the point that should be made
clear in the Republican platform.
There IL nothing to apologize for. There
has been no conquest Of distant posses
sions, no risky experiments, no policy
of dash and bluster. The Republican
party has faced new conditions, 1t has
met unexpected emergencies. and it
has protected the interests of the ma
ton and fulfilled Its duties under the
circumstances Of unusual trial and diff
ficulty.
As for the future, the Republican par
ty has already outlined its policy. 1t
will keep the faith OF the nation. 1t
will fulfill Its obligations. 1t will meet
its pledges. 1t will regard the national
interests first of ALL 1t will give the
largest measure of self-government
consistent with peace and good order
1t will vary its treatment Of local mat
ters as differences of time and place
may make 1t advisable to do so. 1t will
in short do what any sensible, patriotic
Americans would do II they were run
ming the government, and 1t will pay
very little attention to the unreasona-
BILE criticisms of Democrats.
Put In the Republican platform that
the Republican party has done wonder
fully well under circumstances that
were none of its seeking and that It will
continue to handle the Philippine prob
lem to the best of its ability as long as
there is Philippine problem, and you
will have n plank that will command |
the support and approval of every gen.
uine Republican, and of many others
also.