Evening journal., 1900-08-09
DeVOtes Address TO Imperialism, DeClar-
ing Republican Attitude AntagO-
niStiC to Constitution
URGES FILIPINO INDEPENDENCE;
ASSAILS EXPANSION BITTERL Y

are giving their support to doctrines an
taBonistic 70 the former teachings OF their
own party Republican, who used TO adj
Nocate bimetallsm now try to convince
themselves that the gold standard is
good Republicans who were formerly at
tached 10 the greenback are now seeking
an excuse for giving national banks con-
troll OF the nations paper money; Rcpuh-
licans who used to boast that the Repub-
lican party was paying Off the national
iuebt are now looking for reasons to sup-
port q perpetual and increasing debt;
Republicans who formerly abhorrcd q
trust now beguiie themselves with the
dclusion that there are Soad truata and
bad trusts; Republicans who. In times
past congratulated the country uncn the
small expense of our standirE runy are
now making light Of the objections which
arc urged against large increase in the
permanent military establishments. Re-
pubicans who cioried in our indeperd-
fnce when the nation was less powerful
ance 8 Republicans who three years ago
condemned furclble anncNation" as inn
moral and even criminal are now sure
that IL is both immoral and criminal TO
oppose forcihle annexation.
The Menace Of Imperialism.
When the president supported byaprac-
| tically unanimous vote of the house and
senate entered upon q war with Spain
Tor the purpose Of aiding the struggling
/ patriots Of Cuba, the country. without re-
I gard 10 party. appiauded Although the
Democrats recognized that the admlnis-
tratiOn would necessarily gain a political
advantage from the conduct of war
which, In the very nature of the case.
must soon end in a complete victory they
( Wed with the Republicans IN the support
which they gave the president. When
the war was over and the Republican
1 leaders hegan to suggest the propriety Of
2 colonial policy, opposition at once mani-
tested Itself When the president finally
/ laid before the senate a treaty which
| recognized the independence OF Cuba. but
/ provided for the cessiOn of the Phillip
pine Islands 70 the United States, the
menace of Imperialism became so ap-
parent that many preferred to reject the
/ treaty and risk the ills that might fol-
/ low rather than ta-e the chance Of cor
/ reoting the errors Of the treaty by the
/ independent action of this country.
\ 1 was among the number OF those who
/ believed It better to ratify the treaty and
, end the war, release the volunteers, re-
/ move the excuse for war expenditures,
/ pendence which might be forced from
/ Spain by new treaty. In view Of the
/ some quarters l take this occasion 10
restate the reasons given at that time.
| ! thought II safer to trust the American
people to give independence to the Eli
/ pinos than to trust the accomplishment of
/ that purpose TO diplomacy with an un-
l friendly nation. Lincoln embodied an arr
/ gument in the question when he asked.
| 'tan aliens make treaties easier than
/ friends can make laws?' ] believe that
we are now I'm "a better position to wage
| a successful contest against imperialism
than we would have been had the treaty
/ been rejected. With the treaty ratified,
/ clean cut issue is presented between a
! government by consent and government
by force. ana imperialists must bear the
1 responsibility for all that happens until
the question is settled.
Urged Filipino independence.
/ The title of Spain being extinguished,
| we are at liberty to deal with the Fill
1 pinos according to American principles.
| The Bacon resolution, introduced a
/ month before hostilities broke out at
! Manila. promised independence TO the
| Fibpinos on the same terms that it was
/ promised to the Cubans. / supported this
| resolution and believe that its adoption
| prior to the breaking out OF hostilities
/ would have prevented bloodshed. and
/ that its adoption at any subsequent time
would have ended hostilties.
/ When hostilities broke out at Manila
| Republican speakers and Republican
/ editors at once sought to lay the blame
| upon those who had delayed the ratifca-
/ tion of the treaty, and during the pro-
/ gress Of the war, the same Republicans
| have accused the opponents of imperial
/ ism of giving announcement to the
| tihpinos- This is cowardiy evasion OF
| II it is right for the United States to
| hold the Philippine islands permanently
and initiate European empires in the gov
| ernment of colonies, the Republican parry
| ought to state its position and defend 1t,
| but 1t must expect the subject races to
| protest against such policy and to re-
| sist to the extent of their ability The
| Filipinos do not need any encouragement
/ from Americans now living. Our whole
| history has been an encoura cement, not
only to the Filiplnos. but to all who are
| denied a voice tn their own government.
Those who would have this nation en-
| ter upon career OF empire must con-
| slider not only the effect of Imperialism
on the Filipinos, but they must also cali
/ culate its effect upon our own nation.
| We cannot repudate the principle Of self
| government in the Philippines without
| weakening that principle here.
| Even now we are beginning 10 see the
/ paralyzing influence Of imperialism. Here
| tofore this nation has heon prompt To eX-
/ press its sympathy with those who were
! hghting for civil liberty. While our
| sphere Of activity has hcen limited ~
| the western hemisphere our symfathies
have not been bounded by the seas. we