Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1900-08-16
yer differences of opinion may have IN:

ever differences OF opinion may have en-.
listed as to the best method of Opposing
the colonial policy, there never was any
difference as 10 the great Importance Of
the question and there Is no difference
nc W as to the course to be pursued.
The title of Spain being extinguIshed
we were at liberty to deal with The Fill.
pinos according to American principles
The Bacon resolution, introduced d month
before hostilities broke out at Manila.
promised independence to the Filipinos on
the same terms that 1t 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 Rdop-
ton at any subsequent time would have
ended hostilities.
Defends His Own Course.
II the treaty had been rejected con-
siderable time would have necessarily
elapsed before a new treaty could have
been agreed upon and ratified, and during
egitating the public mind. II the Bacon
resolution had been adopted by the Sem
either at the time OF the ratification Of
the tr aaty or at any time afterwards, II
would have taken the question of impert-
alism out of politics and left the Ameri-
can people free to deal with their domeS-
tic problems. But the resolution was de-
feated by the vote of the Republican Vice
President, and from that time TO this a
Republican Congress has refused to take
airy action whatever in the matter.
When hostilities broke out at Manila
Republican speakers and RepuDhcan edl-
tors at once sought to lay the blame upon
those who had delayed the ratification OF
the treaty, and. during the progress of the
war, the same Republicans nave accused
the opponents of imperialism OF giving
cowardly evasion of responsibility.
If 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 party
Ought to state its position and defend II.
but 1t must expect the subject races 10
Protest against such a policy and to re-
sist to the extent of their ability. Inc
tilipinos do not need any encouragement
from Americans now living. Our whole
history has been an encouragement, not
only to the Filipinos, but to all who are
denied a voice in their own government.
IL the Republicans are prepared to CEN
sure all who have used language calcu-
lated TO make the Filipinos hate foreign
o: Patrick Henry. When he uttered that
passionate appeal, Give me liberty or
give me DEATH" he expressed sentiment
which still echoes in the hearts OF men.
Let them censure Jefferson; of all the
statesmen of history, none have used
words SO offensive to those who would
hold their fellows in political bondage.
Let them censure Washington, who de-
clared that the colonists must choose be-
tween liberty and slavery. or, If the
statute OF limitations has run against the
sins of Henry and jefferson and WASH
ington, let them censure Lincoln, whose
Gettysburg speech will be quoted in de-
tense OF popular government when the
present advocates of force and conquest
Those who would have this nation enter
upon career of empire must consider
not only the effect of Imperialism on the
tllipinos, but they must also calculate
/
not repudiate the principle OF self-gov-
eminent in the Philippines without weak
ening that principle here.
The Boer War.
Even now We are beginning to see the
paralyzing influence of Imperialism.
heretofore. this nation has been prompt
were hghting for civil liberty. While our
sphere OF activity has been limited to
the Western Hemisphere, our sympathies
have not been bounded by the seas. we
have felt 1t due to ourselves and to the
world, as well as TO those who were
struggling for the right to govern them
selves, 10 proclaim the interest which
our people have, from the date of their
own independence, felt in every contest
between human rights and arbitrary
power. Three-quarters of a century ago,
when our nation was small, the struggles
of Greece aroused our people, and Web
ster and Clay gave eloquent expression
to the universal desire for Grecian indie
pendence. In 1896 all parties manifested
u lively interest in the success of the
Cubans, but now when a war Is in prog
ress in South Africa, which must result
in the extension of the monarchial idea
or in the triumph of a Republic, the ad-
vocates Of Imperialism in this country
dare not say = word in behalf of the
Beers.
sympathy for the Beers does not arise
from any unfriendliness toward England !.
the American people are not unfriendly
toward the people OF any nation. This
sympathy is due to the fact that, as stat
ed in our platform, we believe in the prin-
Ciple of self-government and reject, as
archy II this nation surrenders its belief
in the universal application of the prin-
ciples set forth in the Declaration of In
dependence, it will lose the prestige and
Influence which IL has enjoyed among the
nations as an exponent of popular gov
eminent.