Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1900-01-04
THURSDAY, JAN. 4, 1900.
DEMOCRACY AND THE PHILIP.
PINES.

PINES.
After choking the compass" on the
Philippine question, the Seattle Times is
still far from true conception Of the posi-
ton of the Democratic party upon this
issue. 1t fails to comprehend that the
Democratic party is not SO much con-
cerned about the welfare Of the Filipinos
or "certain obligations to the civilized
world" as it is for the perpetuation Of a
free government here at home, and the
wellbeing OF our own people. The posi-
ton OF that party 80 succinctly stated by
Hon. W. j. Bryan at Chicago OH July 20,
when he said: "You may ask NE why
the Democratic party believes in giving
independence to the Filipinos. Iteply,
because we cannot destroy self-govern-
ment in the Orient without endangerng
lf.government in the United States. 1t
is not for the Filipinos that we plead. 1t
is for the seventy million o. people, the
greatest in the world, and yet people
not great enough to do harm to the hum
best people in all the world"
The failure of the Times to grasp the
patriotic sentiment underlying the posi-
ton OF the Democratic party does not de-
ter its ponderous editor from giving
Democracy columns Of advice, in unstint.
ed capitals, anent that position. In an
article entitled ga Progressive Democ-
racy," on Saturday last, our learned con.
temporary was fearful lest Democracy
should "ignore the commercial instinct
OF the country" and IDEAL only with the
abstract and the theoretical side Of this
subject"
In this article, with its usual obliqu:ty
of mental vision on this subject, it dis.
covers in the resolutions introduced in
the senate by Senator Bacon, on Deem
Der 80, some reasons why Democracy
should cease its opposition to the policy
OF the administration in the Philippines,
and that Senator Bacon is taking adj
vanced ground upo.: this question. A
resolution that, after proclaiming it TO be
the duty OF the United States to restore
peace and order in the islands, provides
"That when armed resistance to the
authority OF the United States shall have
ceased within said islands, and peace and
order shall have been restored therein. it
is the purpose and intention OF the United
States. as soon thereafter as the same can
be practically and safely accomplished,
to provide the opportunity and prescribe
the method for the formation Of a govern.
ment by and Of the people OF the Philip.
pine Islands to he thereafter independ-
emily exercised and controlled by them
selves, it being the design OF the United
States to accord to the people Of said
islands the same measure Of liberty and
independence which have been pledged
by the congress Of the United States to
the people Of Cuba"
The memory OF the Times must be ex.
ceedingly short if it believes that the
Bacon resolutions will meet with the ap.
prevail Of the Anglo.American Chinese
syndicate in charge OF the administration,
or ii it thinks the position new one for
the Georgia senator. Armed resistance
to the authority OF the United States
would, in all probability, never have
been made had a resolution been adopted
that was presented by Senator Bacon at
the last session, aud only defeated by the
vote Of the vice president, during the de-
bate on the ratification Of the treaty Of
peace with Spain, and the only difference
between the two resolutions is the differ
ence in the state OF affairs in the Philip
Dimes, as will be seen Ivy the following
copy of the first resolution referred to-:
"Resolved further, That the United
States hereby disclaim any disposition or
intention to exercise permanent sover-
eighty, jurisdiction, or control over said
islands, and assert their determination,
when stable and independent govern
ment shall have been erected therein,