The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1900-08-16

larged the republic. and the constitu-
ton followed the flag into the new ter
rltory. 1t Is now proposed to sieze up
on distant territory already more
denSely populated than our own coun-
try ana to force upon the people gov
eminent for which there is no war
rant in our constitution or our laws.
III we have an imperial policy we
must have large standing army as
It's natural and necessary complement.
That a large permanent in
crease in our regular army is intended
by the Republican leaders is not a
mere matter Of conjecture, but mat
ter Of fact. In 1896 the army
contained about 5000 men Within
two years the president asked for four
times that many. and a Republican
house Of representatives complied with
the request after the Spanish treaty
had been signed and no country was at
war with the United States
a large standing army is not only Il
pecunlary burden to the people and,
II accompanied by compulsory service,
constant source of irritation, but it
IS ever menace to Il Republican
form of government. The army is the
persOniticatiOn of force. and militariSm
will inevitably change the ideals of the
people and turn the thoughts of our
young men from the arts of peace to
the science of war. The government
which relies for its defense upon its
citizens, is more likely to be just than
one which has ut call Il large body Of
professional soldiers. y small stand
ing army and well equipped and
well disciplined state militia are Sutti-
Gent i'll ordinary times, and in an
emergency the nation should in the
future as i'll the past place its depend
ence upon the volunteers who come
from all occupations at their countrys
call and return to productive labCr
when their services are no longer re-
Iuired-men who fight when the coln
try needs fighters and work when the
country needs workers.
FUTURE STATUS OF THE FILIPINO.
What Arc We to DO with Him Now That
We Have Him?
The Republican platform assumes
that the Philippine islands Will be re-
tained under American sovereignty,
and we have Il right to demand of the
Republican leaders Il discussion of the
future status Of the Filipino. Is he to
be Il citizen or Il subject! Are We to
bring into the body polite eight or ten
million AsiaticS. so different from us in
race and history that amalsamation is
impossible: Are they to share with us
in making the laws and shaping the
destiny of this nation! No Republican
of prominence has been bold enough to
advocate such Il proposition. The Nc
Emery resolution, adopted by the sen
ate Immediately after the ratification
r hn
idea. The Democratic platform de-
scribeS the situation when it says that
the Filipinos cannot be citizens with
out endangering our civilization. WHO
will dispute it? And what is the alter
| native! Ii the Filipino is not to be Il
citizen, shall we make him Il subject:
On that question the Democratic plat
form speaks with emphasis. 1t de-
| clareS that the Filipino cannot be Il
| subject without endangering our form
| of government. \ republic can have
| no subjects.
The Republican platform says that
| the largest measure of self govern
| ment consistent with their welfare and
our duties shall be secured to them
the Filipinos) by law This is a
strange doctrine for il government
| which owes its very existence to the
men who offered their lives as Il pro-
| test against government without con-
sent and taxation without representa-
ton. In what respect does the position
of the Republican party differ from the
| position taken by the English govern
ment in 1776? Did not the English
| government promise good govern
ment to the colonstS? Did
not the English government promise
| that the cOlOniSts should have the lary-
| est measure of self government con-
siStant with their welfare and English
duties? The Republican par
ty has accepted the European idea and
planted itself upon ground taken by
George III. and by every ruler who
distrusts the capacity OF the people for
self f-government or denies them Il voice
| in thir own affairs.
The Republican platform promises
that some measure of self government
is to be given to the FilipinOS by law;
but even this pledge is not fulfilled
Why does the Republican
party hesitate to lcgislate upon the
| philippine question! Because Il law
would disclose the radical departure
from history and precedent contem-
plated by those who control tine Re-
| publican party The storm Of protest
which greeted the Porto Rican bill was
an Indication of what may he expected
when the American people are brought
face to face with legislation upon this
subject:
If the Porto RicamS. who welcome
| annexation are to be denied the guar
nntee of our constitution. what is to
be the lot of the Filipinos. who resisted
our authorityt If secret influences
could compel Il disregard of our plain
! duty toward friendly people. living
near our shores. what treatment will
those same influences provide for I'M
friendly people 1000 miles away? If,
ia this country where the people have
the right to vote. Republican leaders
dare not take the side of the people
against the great mOnopolieS which
have grown up within the last few
years. how can they be trusted to pro-
feet the IHilipinos from the corpora
lions which are waiting to exploit the
islands?
| Is the sunlight of full citizenship to
be enjoyed by the people of the United
States. and the twilight of semi-citizen-
shin endured by the people of Porto
Rico. while the thick darkness of per
petull yasSalage covers the Philip
Uines:
The Porto Rico tariff law as
sertS the doctrine that the op-
Grafton Of the constitution is confined
to the forty-tive states. The Democra tic
party disputes this doctrine and de
nounceS it as repugnant to both the
letter and spirit of our organic law.
There is no place in our system of gov
ernment for the deposit of arbitrary
and irresponsible power
The territorial form of government Is
tics When the president, supported
by Il practically unanimous vote Of the