The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-08-08


century this nation has been a world
power For ten decades it has been the
most potent influence in the world.
Not only has 1t been a world power,
but it has done more to affect the poll
tics of the human race than all the
other nations of the world combined.
Because our Declaration of Independ-
ence was promulgated, others have
of 1776 fought for liberty others have
fought for it; because our constitution
was adopted, other constitutions have
been adopted. The growth of the prin-
clple of Self-gOvernment, planted on
American soil, has been the over-shad-
owing political fact of the nineteenth
century. 1t has made this nation con-
SpicuouS among the nations and given
it a place in history such as no other
nation has ever enjoyed. Nothing has
been able to check the onward march
of this idea. I am not willing that this
nation shall cast aside the omnipotent
weapon of truth to seize again the
weapon of physical warfare. I would
not exchange the glory of this republic
for the glory of all the empires that
have risen and fallen since time
began.
The permanent chairman of the last
Republican national convention present.
ed the pecuniary argument in all its
badness, when he said:
1--WE make no hypocritical pretenses
of being interested in the Philippines
solely on account of others. While we
regard the welfare of those people as
sacred trust, we regard the welfare OF
the American people first. We see our
duty to ourselves as well as to others.
We believe in trade expansion. By ev-
cry legitimate means within the province
of government and constitution, we
mean to stimulate the expansion or our
trade and open new markets
Extend Trade by Peaceful Means.
This is the commercial argument. 1t
is based upon the theory that war can
be rightly waged for pecuniary advan-
tage, and that it is profitable to pur-
Franklin denied both OF these proposi--
lions. When Lord Howe asserted that
the acts of parliament which brought
on the revolution, were necessary TO pre-
vent American trade from passing into
foreign channels, Franklin replied:
Expen diture Without Return.
'"To nae 1t seems that neither the OBJ
tanning nor retaining of any trade, now
valuable soever, is an object for which
men may justly spill each others blood;
that the true and sure means OF extel a9
ing and securing commerce are the good
ness and cheapness of commodities ana
that the profits of no trade can ever be
equal to the expense OF compelling II ana
holding it by fleets and armies. 1 con-
slider this war against US, therefore, as
both unjust and unwise-'
I place the philosophy of Franklin
against the sordid doctrine of those who
der and justify a war of conquest upon
the ground that it will pay. The Demo-
cratic party is in favor of the expansion
of trades. 1t would extend our trade by
every legitimate and peaceful means;
but it is not willing to make merchan-
disc of human blood.
But a war of conquest is as unwise as
it is unrighteous. A harbor and coaling
station in the Philippines would answer
every trade and military necessity and
such a concession could have been Sc
cured at any time without difficulty.
1t is not necessary to own people IN or
der to trade with them. We carry on
trade today with every part of the world
and our commerce has expanded more
rapidly than the commerce of any Eur
Opean empire. We do not own Japan nor
China but we trade with their people.
We have not absorbed the republics of
Central and South America, but we trade
with them. 1t has not been necessary to
have any political connections with Can
trade with them. Trade cannot be per-
manently profitable unless it is volun-
tary When trade is secured by force,
the cost of securing it and retaining 1t
must be taken out of the profits, and the
profits are never large enough to cover
the expense. Such system would never
be defended but for the fact that the ex-
pense is borne by all the people, while the
profits are enjoyed by the few.
Imperialism would be profitable to the
army contractors; it would be profitable
to the Ship owners, VINO WOULD carry i've
soldiers to the Philippines and bring
dead soldiers back; it would be profit
able to those who would seize upon the
franchises. and it would be profitable to
the officials whose salaries would be fix
ed here and paid over there; but to the
farmer, to the laboring man, and to the
vast majority of those engaged in other
occupations, it would bring expenditure
without return and risk without reward.
Farmers and laboring men have, as a
rule, small incomes and, under systems
which place the tax upon consumption,
pay more than their fair share of the ex-
penses of government. Thus the very
people who receive least benefit from i'm
perialism will be injured most by the
burdens which accompany it.
In addition to the evils which he and
the farmer share in common. the labor
ing man will be the first to suffer if ORR
entail subjects seek work in the United
States; the first to suffer If American
capital leaves our shores to employ ORR
entail labor in the Philippines to supply
the trade of China and Japan; the first
to suffer from the violence which the
spirit arouseS and the first to
suffer when the methods Of imperialism
are applied to our own government
1t is not strange, therefore, that the Ia
Dor organizations have been quick to
note the approach of these dangers and
prompt to protect against both militar-
ism and Imperialism.
The pecuniary argument, though
more effective with certain classes,
is not likely to be used
so often or presented with
so much emphasis as the religious
argument. If what has been termed the
..gunpowder gospel were urged against
the Filipinos only, it would be sufficient
answer to say that a majority of the Fill
pinos are now members of one branch of
the Christian church; but the principle in
volved is one of much wider application
and challenges serious consideration.
The religious argument varies in posit- |
iveness from a. passive belief that Provi- |
dence delivered the FilipinoS into our |
hands, for their good and our glory, to |
the eXultation of the minister who said |
that we ought to thrash the natives GIL |
ipinos) until they understand who we |
are and that every bullet sent, every |
cannon shot and every flag waved meant |
righteousness"
Rule by Peace, Not War.
We cannot approve of this doctrine in