The age-herald., 1900-08-09


 
 English government promise that the colonists should have the largest measure of self-government with their welfare and English duties? Did not the Spanish gov ernment promise to give the Cubans the largest measure of self-government con- sstent with their welfare and Spanish duties? The whole difference between a monarchy the King gives to the people what he believes to be a good government in republic the people secure for them selves what they believe to be a good gov ernment. The Republican party has ac- cepted the European idea and planted itself upon the ground taken by George H., and by every ruler who distrusts the capacity of the n"ople for self-government or denies them a voice in their own affairs.
 Seif-Government
 The Republican platform promises that some measure of self-government is to be given to the Filipnos-by law; but, even this pledge is not fulfilled. Nearly sixteen months elapsed after the ratifica tion of the treaty before the adjournment of Congress last June and yet no law was passed deal ing with the Philippine situation. The will Of the President has been the only law in the Philippine Islands wherever the Amer ican authority extends. Why does tn Re- publican party hesitate to legislate upon the Philippine question? Because a law would disclose the radical departure from history and precedent contemplated by those who control the Republican party The storm of protest which greeted the Porto Rican bill was an indication of what may be expected when the American people are brought face to face with legislation upon this subject. If the Porto Ricans, who welcome annexation, are to be denied the guarantees of our constitution, what is to be the lot of the Filipinos, who resisted our authority? If secret influences could compel a disregard of our plain duty to- ward friendly people, living near our shores, what treatment will those same in fuences provide for unfriendly people 1000 miles away? If, in this country where the people have the right to vote Republican leaders dare not take the side of the people against the great monopolies which have grown up within the last few years, how can they be trusted to protect the Filipnos from the corporations which are waiting to exploit the island?
 Citizenship
 Is the sunlight of full citizenship to be en- joyed by the people of the United States, and the twilight of citizenship endured by the people of Porto Rico, while the thick darkness of perpetual vassalage covers the Philippines? The Porto Rico tariff law as- sertS the doctrine that the opera ton of the Constitution is confined to the forty-fve states. The Democratic party disputes this doctrine and denounces 1t as repugnant to both the letter and spirit of our or ganic law. There is no place in our sys- tenn of government for the deposit of arbi- trary and irresponsible power. That the leaders of a great party should claim for any President or Congress the right to treat millions of people as mere posses sions' and deal with them unrestrained by the constitution or the bill of rights shows how far we have already departed from the ancient landmarks, and indicates what may be expected if this nation deliber- ately enters upon career of empire. The territorial form of government is tenn porary ana preparatory and the chief se- curity a citizen of territory has is found in the fact that he enjoys the same coneti- tutional guarantees and is subject to the same general laws a citizen of state. Take away this security, and his right will be violated and his interest sacrificed at the demand of those who have political influence. This is the evil of the colonial system no matter by what nation it is ap- plled. What is our title to the Philippine Islands? Do we hold them by treaty or by conquest? Did we buy them, or did we take them? Did We purchase the people? If not, how did we secure title to them? Were they thrown in with the land? Will the Re publicans say that inanimate earth has value, and when that earth is molded by the divine hand and stamped with the like ness of the Creator it becomes fixture