The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-08-16
THE AKGu MENT OF OBLIGATION.


THE ARGUMENT OF OBLIGATION.
Also the Contention That Filipinos Cannot
Govern Themselves.
If it Is said that we have assumed
before the world obligations which
make it necessary for us to perma-
Aently maintain a government in the
Philippine islands. 1 reply, first, that
the highest obligation of this nation
is to be true to itself. No obligation to
any particular nation, or to all nations
combined, can require the abandon.
ment of our theory of government and
the substitution Of doctrines against
which our whole national life has been
a protest. And, second, that our obll-
cations to the Filipinos who inhabit
the islands are greater than any obli-
CATION which we can owe to foreigners
who have temporary residence in the
Philippines or desire to trade there.
1t is argued by some that the Fiji
pinos are incapable of self-government
and that therefore we owe it to the
world to take control of them. Ad
miral Dewe. in an official report to
the navy department, declared the Fill
pinos more capable of self-government
than the Cub us. and said that he based
his opinion upon a knowledge of both
races. But will not rest the case upon
the relative advancement Of the Fill
pinos. Henry Clay, in defending the
rights of thu people Of South America
to self-goyernment, said: ut is the
doctrine of thrones that man is too ig-
norant to govern himself" = II
contend that 1t is to arraign the dispo-
sition OF Providence Himself to sun
pose that He has created beings inca
pable Of governing themselves, and to
be trampled on by kings. Self-govern.
ment is the natural government Of
4 men.
80 Clay was right. - once nd.
NIT that some people are capable of
self-governD- ent and that others are
not, and tina. the capable people have
a right to seize upon and govern the
incapable. and you make force-brute
| force-the only foundation of govern
ment and invite the rei1fai I'm 15i- ffs S5sg,v
Republicans as!!i sshall we e1pu, ha"i
down the flag that floats over our dead
In the Philippines" The same ones.
ton might have been asked when the
American flag tloated over Chapulte-
pee and waved over the dead who fell
there; but the tourist who visits the
City Of Mexico finds there national
cemetery owned by the United States
and cared fol- by an American citizen.
Our flag still floats over our dead, but
when the treaty with Mexico was
signed Amc. ican authority withdrew
to the Rio Grande. "Can
we not govern colones?" we are asked.
The question Is not what we can do,
but what we ought to do. This nation
can do whatever 1t desires to do, but 1t
must accept responsibility for what it
does. II the constitution stands in the
way, the people can amend the consti-
tuition. repeat, the nation can do
whatever it desires to do, but it can
not avoid the natural and legitimate
results of its own conduct.
1t is Of age, and it can do what it
pieases; 1t can spurn the traditions of
the past; it cap repudiate the princi-
pies upon which the nation rests; it
can employ force instead of reason;
1t can substitute might of right; it can
conquer weaker people; it can exploit
their lands, appropriate their PROPERTY
and kill their people; but it cannot re-
peal the moral law or escape the pun
ishment decreed for the violation of
I human rights.
Would we tread in the paths of ty-
ranny.
Nor reckon the tyrant's cost?
Who taketh anOther's liberty
His freedom is also lost
Would we win as the strong have ever
won
Make ready to pay the debt,
For the God who reigned over Babylon
Is the God who is reigning yet"