The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-08-09

The Bacon resolution, introduced d
month before hOstlltles broke out al
Manila. promised Independence 70 the
ftliDin0s on the same terms that Il was
promised 20 the Cubans. supported
this resolution and believe that lts
adoption at any subsequent time would
have ended hOstiities.
III the treaty had been rejected, con-
siderable time would have necessarily
elapsed before new treaty could have
been agreed upon and ratified. and dur
Ing that time the question would have
been agltatlng the public mind. II the
Bacon resoiStion had been adopted by
the senate and carried out by the pres-
ident. either at the time Of the ratifica-
lion Of the treaty or at any time after
wards Il would have taken the ques-
ton Of Imperialism out Of politics and
left the American people free to deal
with their domestic problems. But the
resolution was defeated by the vote Of
the Republican president, and from
that time to this Republican congress
has refused tO take any action what
ever IN the matter.
when hOstlllties broke out AT Ma
Mia. Republican speakers and Repub-
llcan editors at once sought 10 lay the
blame upon those who had delayed the
ratification OF the treaty and. during
the progress Of the war, the came Re-
publicans accused the opponents OF i'm
perialism Of giving encouragement To
the FillpinOs. This is a cOwardly eva
sion Of responsibility. II Il is right for
the United States to hold the Philippine
Islands permanently and initiate Euro
pean empires In TIE government Of coli
onies. the Republican party ought to
state lts position and defend Il. but II
must expect the subject races TO protest
against such policy and 10 resist 20
the extent Of their ability. The Filipin-
os do not need any encouragement from
Americans now living. Our whole his
tory has been an announcement not
only 10 FillpinOs. but 10 all who are
denied voice In their own government.
III the Republicans are prepared 20
censure all who have used language
calculated to make Filipinos hate for
eign domination, let them condemn the
speech Of Patrick Henry. When he ut
tered that passionate appeal. Give me
liberty or give me DEATH he expressed
sentiment which still echoes in the
hearts 0f men. Let them censure Jeffer-
son. Of all the statesmen Of history.
none have used words so offensive 20
those who would hold their fellows in
political bondage. Let them censure
Washington, who declared that the col
onies must choose between liberty and
slavery. Or. II the statute OF limita-
tions has run against the sins OF Hen
ry and jefferson and Washington. let
them censure Lincoln. whose Gettys-
burg speech viii be quoted In defense
Of popular government when the pres
ent advocates OF force and conquest are
forgotten.
Some one has said that a truth once
spoken can never be recalled. II Is
true. II goes on and on and no one can
sci a limit 10 its ever widening infiu-
ance But II II were possible to obliter-
ATE every word written or spoken IN de-
fense Of the principles set forth in the
Declaration OF Independence. a war Of
conquest would still leave its legacy
OF perpetual hatred. for 1t was God
himself who placed IN every human
heart the love Of liberty. He never
made race of people so low in the
scale OF civilization or intelligence that
It would welcome foreign master.
Lincoln said that the safety Of this
nation was not in its fleets. its armies.
or Its forts. but in the spirit which
prizes liberty. the heritage Of all men.
In all lands, everywhere; and he warned
his countrymcn that they could not de-
stroy this spirit without planting the
seeds OF despotIsm at their own doors.
Those who would have this nation
enter upon a career Of empire must con-
slider not only the effect OF imperial
ism npon the FilipinDs but they must
also calculate its effect upon our own
nation. We cannot repudiate the pgin-
ciple OF SELF government in the Philip
pines without weakening that principle
here. Ever now we are beginning 20
see the paralyziug influence of inIpe-
rialism. heretofore, this nation has
been prompt to express its SYM
pathy with those who were fighting for
civil liberty While our sphere of nc
tivitv has been limited to the western
hemisphere our sympathies have not
been bounded by the seas. We have
felt Il due 10 ourselves and to the world.
as wen as to those who were struggling
for the right to govern themselves. to
proclaim the interest which our people
nave felt. from the date of their own
independence, in every contest between
human rights and arbitrary power.
"Thrce-quarters of century ago
when our nation was small. the strug-
giles OF Greece aroused our people. and
Webster and Clay gave eloquent express
sion to the universal desire for Grecian
independence. In 1896. all parties man
ifested a lively interest in the success
of the Cubans. but now. when a war Is
in progress in South Africa, which must
result In the extension of the monar-
chical idea OF in the triumph Of a repub-
lie. the advocates OF Imperialism in this
country dare not say a word in behalf
Of the Beers. sympathy for the Beers
does not arise from any unfriendliness
toward England; the American people
Sre not unfriendly toward the people
af any nation. This sympathy is due
to the fact that, as stated in our plat
form we believe in the principle of self
government and reject. as did our fore
fathers, the claims of monarchy. If
this nation surrenders its belief in the
universal application OF the principles
set forth in the Declaration of hide
pendence 1t win lose its prestige and
influence which 1t has enjoyed among
the nations as an exponent of popular
Our opponents, conscious Of the
weakness of their cause, seek to con-
fuse imperialism with expansion, and !
have even dared to claim Jefferson asl
q supporter of their policy. Jefferson
spoke so freely and used language with |
such precision that no one can be ig- |
norant Of his views. On one occasion |
he declared: III there be one prin-
'iple more deeply rooted than any other
N the mind of every American. It is
hat we should have nothing to do with
conquest and again he said: Conquest |
s not in our principles; 1t is inconsist-