New-York tribune., 1900-01-31
CAPTAIN M4H4N on SOVEREIGNTY
AN ABSOLUTE RIGHT TO THEIR
TERRITORY

Captain Alfred 7. OIahan, L. s. y. has article
In this weeks Independent on THE Transvaal
and the Philippines" Captain Mahan takes for his
text the pro-Boer meeting held in Boston two
weeks ago. and he calls attention 70 the fact that
the chief participants were men who reprobats thu
annexation OF the Philippines.
Captain Mahan states the position OF the Filipino
and Transvaal sympathizers 10 be this: That the
accidental inhabitants or a territory have. by ths
fact OF inhabitancy, SO absolute right TO occupy
and administer 1t that no one has right TO dis
possess or to rule them. Captain Mahan questions
that and asks; Is it not everywhere admitted that
the good OF the community may justly be given
precedence over the good Of the Individual?
He continues thus;
AS regards the civilized nations OF the world. ths
United States holds the Philippines by the uniT-
sequent treaty with the previous unimpeached pos
SCISSOR As regards the Inhabitants Of the islands
ton Of her technical possession and OF political
rule transferred TO her by treaty -,
The F1ipinOs have not, certainly. q right 70 hold
uncontrolled and TO administer the country which
a right, they may hereafter rise to such a right.
but to have 1t implies necessarily political ttness
ton. which not only are not demonstrated, but
right like that OF the United States. and OF all.
even the most highly organized and upright COM
their case fuihlment OF the conditions is far
from being proved that the indications are con-
Under such circumstances not only has the
y without right, political, moral or Tsligious. 70
diVeSt herself OF IT. Woe Is her II she fail 70 assume
the task appointed her Great TOO. viii De her
mistake If she enter into antecedent pledges as 20
the amount OF self-government that viii be con-
louder than promises and quite as loud as is neces
sary Let her give such privilege to the utmost at
tainabe, but let her refrain from pledges. which
breed disanecton and disappointment, because al
ways understood to mean more than they say.
speak the more strongly here because observe
that soma nineteen bishops Of the Protestant Epis-
cOpal Church, to which IL Is privilege 10 belong
have signed an address TO Congress praying for
certain assurances 10 the FflipinOs I am glad TO
bishops exercising their individual citizenship
in politics. though I could wish that their forces
should not seem so massed as they do, from the
mode OF presentation IN an anU-Adm1nistratou
journal. Readers not cOgnizant OF the facts may
not understand that this action is personal not
official; that the number is rather less than
fourth Of the episcopate, Of which many Of the
sgners and that therefore It is not 70 be inferred
that these have the Church at their back one
tween the United States and the FilPinosor rather
the Tagals-is not Nne OF the Eighth Command
Fifth 1t is not a question of robbins but OF
their obedience TO lawful authority.
Reverting to the Transvaal Captain Mahan ssy1
that occupancy by the Beers does not necessarily
confer either the one right the other He says:
The rights. either or both. depend upon the uss
they make. or have made. of their power In other
words II IS conditioned and If they fail TO comply
with the conditions the right lapSes Personally,
eeeye that thsy nave sLatSS @ Ie anu @ 70 - tTt ~
matter. and believe the BOeT Government and ad-
Oligarchy. / dare say sparta was the same, ana
perhaps that is what the Senator (Hoar) meant
poity or the Grecian community or ci,y-staJes
At the moment OF ThermOpye. IL Is true. she
was engaged. by the compulstOn OF selt-preserva-
ton, on the side or pohucal uoertE, 70 NestIoy
which as soon free from fears concerning her
existence. she again turned her energies Is It
OF the records. really believe that IN the community
OF contemporary peoples the Transvaal rather
than Great Britain stands Tor the cause OF pOutica
liberty and purity OF administration