Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-08-09

killing human being. no matter where
the human being lives or 10 what race
or class he belongs. Everyone recognizes
the obligation imposed upon individuals to
observe both the human and moral laws,
laws TO nations II may not he out Of
place to quote the opinion Of others. JEFF
ferson, than whom there Is no higher po-
litical authority. said:
~ know of but one code Of morality for
men, whether acting sinely or collec-
lively"
virtue are a part OF the priceless legacy
bequeathed to US from the revolutionary
days expressed the same idea In even
stronger language when he said
Justice Is as strictly due between
neighbor nations between nelRhbor
citizens. a hiRhwayman IL az much a
robber when he plumbers In a gang as
when singly; and the nation that makes
an unjust war IL only great gang"
Force Crentes No Right.
Men may dare TO do in crowds what they
would not dare to DO as individuals. but
the moral character Of an act is not 6e-
termined by the number Of those who Join
IN II. Force can defend right, but force
has never yet created right. If v was
true. as declared In the resolutions of in
tcryention. that the Cubans "are and OF
right ought TO be free and Independent
Language taken from the declaration OF
independence, IL Is equally true that tho
F'iliplnos are and OF right ought ODE free
and independent" The right of the Cubans
TO freedom was not based upon their proN-
unity TO the United States, nor upon the
language which they spoke, nor Yet upon
the race or races to which they belonged.
Congress BY practically unanimous vote
declared chat the principles enunciated at
Philadelphia in l7,d were still alive and
applicable TO the Cubans.
Who will draw a line between the ma tural
rights Of the Cubans and the filipinos!
10. liberty and that the latter has no rights
which we are bound to respect? And. II the
fiiipinos are and OF right ought to be
free and independent what right have we
to force our government upon them with
out their consent? Before our duty can be
ascertained, their rights must be deter
mined. aud when their rights are once de-
termined. IT is az much our duty to respect
those rights as IL was the duty of Spain
TO respect the rights Of the people Of Cuba,
OF the duty OF England to respect the
rights Of the American colonists. Rights
never conflict; duties never clash Can
ii be our duty TO usurp political rights
TO kill those who. following the example
Of our iorefathers, love liberty well enough
20 fight for II,
overcamo soldier who, In the midst of
battle. discovered that he had slain his
brother; 1t ID written: .'All ye are breth-
day when human life--which when once
destroyed. cannot be restored--wlll be 50
sacred that II will never be taken except
when necessary 20 punish crime already
to be committed,
If II is said that we have assumed before
the world obligations which make il neces-
sary for us to permanently maintain a
government in the Philippine islands. /
reply, first, that the highest obligation of
this nation Is 10 be true to Itself. No obli-
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 a protest {.
And, second that our obligations to the
t1lipinos; who inhabit the islands, are
greater than any obligations which we can
owe to foreigners who have a Temporary
residence in the Philippines or desire to
trade there.
II Is argued by some that the Filipinos
are Incapable of self-government and
take control of them Admiral Dewey. in an
official report to the navy department. de-
clared the Filipinos; more capable of self
that he based his opinion upon a knowl-
edge of both races. But l will not rest
| the case upon the relative advancement
Of Of the t1lipinos' p Henry Clay. in deIend-
| America to self-government said:
1T is the doctrine of thrones that man
Is too ignorant to govern himself. Their
! partisans assert his incapacity in refer
| ence to all nations: If they cannot com
| mand universal assent to the proposition.
1t Is then remandcd to particular nations;
often make converts Of us. 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
| government of man.
| Clay was right. There are degrees
| of proficiency in the art of self-govern-
ment, but 1t Is reflection upon the Crea.
tor 10 say that He denied TO any people
the capacity OF self government. Once
| self-government and that others are not
and that the capable people have a right
and YOU make forceebrutc force-the only
foundation of government and invite the
reign of the despot. am not will
ing TO believe that an all-wise and an
aii-loving God created the Fiiipinos. and
| then left them thousands of years helpless
until the islands attracted the attention
| of European nations.
| Republicans ask: Shall we haul down
the flag that floats over our dead in the
Philippines?" The. same question might
have been asked when the American fiae
| fioated over Chapultepec and waved over
the dead who fell there: but the tourist
who visits the City of Mexico finds there
a national cemetery owned by the United
citizen. Our flag still floats over oui
dead, but when the treaty with Mexico
was signed American authority Withdrew
opinion that during the last so years the
people of Mexico have made more progres.
under the stimulus of independence anc
self-sovernment than they would have
in place by bayonets The United State
and Mexico, friendly republics. are eacf
have been had the former been cursed ant
the latter crushed by an imperialistic pol
icy, disguised as benevolent assimila
ton
Responsibility of the Nation.
"Can we not govern colonies?" we arc
asked. The question is not what we Cal
do, but what we ought 20 do This natioI
10 fn n INT
must accept responsibility for what 1t does
III the constitution Stands in the way, tn
people can amend the constitution. ! I"
peat, the nation can do whatever II desire
TO do, but II cannot avoid the natural an
legitimate results of It's own conduct. IN
young man upon reaching his majorit
can do what he pleases. He can disregar
the teachings Of his parents; he can tram
pie upon all that he mas been taught I
consider sacred; he can disobey the laW ~
of the state, the laws of society ana tn
y laws of God. He can stamp failure upo
his life and make his very existence ours
20 his fellow men and he can t bring le, M NJ
but he cannot annul the sentence, ,,., IN IN
nation J. Is of age ana i can 90 what M
past; 1t can repudiate tho principles upo
which the nation rests; 1t can employ forc
instead of reason; 1t can substitute Nigh
for right it can conquer weaker people
Il can exploit their lands, appropriate thei
property and Kill their people but II cannc
repeal INC NOrHl Jaw OF tbcdpt tic puiisi
ment decreed for the violation of huma
| rights
"Would we tread In the paths of tyrann,
Nor reckon the tHrgnts cost?
Who taketh another's liberty,
His freedom Is also loat
Would we win as the strong have ever woi
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 tn
Philippine Islands Will result in the bette