The state herald., 1900-10-12
A PROHIBITION LEADERS VIEW
(By the Rev. S, G. Swallow, ID, D., of
Harrisburg. Pal

l Aii'bca' "J
II the people of the Philippines are
capable OF .eli government, let them
govern themselves, whie America stands
By and sees tha they have fair play. If
they are no, capable OF self-government
we do not want them as fellow citizens.
We cannot train them for American citi,
zenshIp without neb Letting the millions
who have voluntarily come to us from
all nations and who require all our re-
sources OF time, money and philupthrop-
ic endeavor to Anercanize and Christ
ianlze them lest they heathenize us.
II the Filipinos are savages we had no
right to employ them in war against the
Spanish any more than had England u
right to employ American Indians in
her war with her American colonies. II
sufficiently civilized to be utilized by
Christian America in prosecuting offens-
i've warfare against the Span,sh they
are sufficiently civilized TOR self-sovern-
ment. Thus We reasoned when We gave
the ballot in 1865 to the Afro American
soldier, and 80 We should argue now con.
ceining tho Filip,nos. There is evi.
dence abundant that the leaders are
brave, intelligent and many Of them ed
ucated. Some Of them ore college grad
uates, speak ditferert languages and are
well up in science and srt. Their homes
are centers Of OF social influence aud
give evidence Of refinement Of high
order.
Those who clamor for their subjugs.
ton or sxtermination say to those Of us
who plead for a more Humanitarian
method Of procedure: "show ns bet.
ter way il you know one"
We answer: 1t is evident that tho
colonial system outside the const,t ution,
which does not recognize colonial de-
tendencies ma harmonious with our ori.
gin, history, pledges and chosen destiny,
is too costly, yexacions and dangerous for
our form OF government. To rule dis
tant peoples without their consent
would he travesty on the American
revolution, and such n contradiction Of
onr genius, our history and our ,r,-
claimed purpose toward the struggling
nations Of thr old world AZ to postpone
for thousand years to come that uni.
versal 'heccratic democracy 10 which
the eyes OF the downtroduen millions
have fondly turned for full thousand
years IN the past.
10 extend oar constitution to the Fill
pinos makes them one with US, gives
them tariff agaius, all nations, and nd
m'is their products Tree TO our ports. IL
gives them the rights OF statehood. with
an ELECTORAL fotr double that OF Penn.
sylvsnia; or If they choose TO Join their
dushy brethern. south mason. mud DIG
on's Inns they may intensity threefold
that thorn already ranking in the flesh
OF the Lody polite. They could nl.o 81
citizens greatly endauger the already
oserslrnlnsd relations OF capital aud
labor. To keep them nnder territori.
al form OF government is only tempor.
AIRY niakeSh'it OF an embryonic state.
Sels-government IL the one and only
method OF safety aud satisfaction to Us
and To them. TIE sooner ws hold out
10 them the olive branch OF peace, with
the assurances OF our protection from
the unreasonnble aggrsssions of other
nations, the better It will be for them
and for us anh for all peoples now
dreaming Of liberty and Of indepond ndence
fiom the sway Of the seeptor OF the
despo,. We drove them TO war by de.
mnnding their submission, when We
should have invited peace by asking.
How can We help you to the best poss,
bio type OF civii,zstion?' Let us admit
our folly aud make amends by new de.
parturr more in keeping with tho philos.
ophy Of the Prince Of Peace.
SO. SWALLOW.