Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1900-08-16

the Filipino. Is he to be a citizen or a
polite 5000. coo or 10, 600. 600 Asiatics, so
different from us in race and history that
to share with us In making the laws and
shaping the destiny of this nation? No
republican of prominence has been bold
enough to advocate such a proposition
The McEnery resolution, adopted by the
senate Immediately after the ratification
of the treaty, expressly negatives this
idea. The Democratic platform deserves
the situation when it says that the Fill
pinos cannot be citizens without endan-
gering our civilization. Who will dispute
it? And what is the alternative? If the
Filipino is not to be a citizen, shall we
make him a subject? On that question
the DEMOCRATIC platform speaks with en-
phasis. 1t declares that the Filipino can
not be a subject without ~endangering our
form of government A republic can
only in a government resting upon force;
he is unknown in a government deriving
its just powers from the consent of the
governed. The republican platform says
that 1.-The largest measure of self-govern-
ment consistent with their welfare and
our duties shall be secured to them Gthe
Filipinos) by law This is a strange doc
trine for a government which owes its
very existence to the men who offered
ment without consent and taxation with
out representation. In respect does
from the position taken by the English
government IN 1776? Did not the English
government promise a ROOQ government
to the ~colonists? What king ever prom
ised a bad government to his peo-
pie? Did not the English govern
ment promise that the colonists should
have the largest measure of self-govern-
ment consistent with their welfare and
English duties? Did not the Spanish gov
nme promise to give to the Cubans
the largest measure of self-government
consistent with their welfare and Spanish
monarchy and a republic may be summed
up in one sentence In a monarchy the
king gives to the people what he believes
to be a good government in a republic
the people secure for themselves
they believe to be a good government.
The republican party has accepted the Eu-
ropean idea and planted itself upon the
ground taken by George Ill and by every
ruler VINO uistrusIs Lne edpaSlty tle
a voice in their own affairs.
The Will the Only Law.
The republican platform promises that
some measure OF self-goVernment is to be
given to the Filipinos by law; but, even
this pledge is not fulfilled. Nearly Is
months elapsed after the ratification OF the
last June. and yet no law was passed deal
ing with the Philippine situation. The will
of the President has been the only law
American authority extends. Why does
the republican party hesitate to legisIdte
law IpQH would disclose the radical departure
from history and precedent contemplated
by those who control the republican party.
Porto Rfcan bill was an indication of what
may be expected when the American peo-
pie are brought face to face with legiSla-
ton upon this subject. If the Porto Ricans,
VIII welcome annexation, are to be de-
what is to be the lot of the Fflipinos, who
resisted our authority? If secret infiu-
ences could compel a disregard of our plain
duty toward friendly people, living near
our shores, what treatment will those same
influences provide for unfriendly people
1000 miles away? If, in this country where
the people have the right 20 vote, repub-
lican leaders dare not take the side of the
people against the great monopolies which
how can they be trusted to protect the
Filipinos from the c~orporations which are
waiting to exploit the islands?
Is the sunlight of full citizenship to be
enjoyed by the people of the United States.
dured by the people of Porto Rico. while
the thick darkness of perpetual vaSSalage
tarir law asserts the doctrine that the
of the constitution is confined
to the As states. The democratic party dis
putes this doctrine and ~denounces it as
to both the letter and spirit of
our organic law. There is no place in our
and irresponsible power. That
the leaders of a great party should claim
for any president or congress the right to
sions' and deal with them unrestrained
the constitution or the bill of rights
from the ancient landmarks, and indicates
may be expected If this nation de-
IIperately enters upon a career OF empire.
porary aud preparatory, and the chief
security a citizen of a territory has is found
in the fact that he enjoys the same con-
guarantees and is subject to
same general laws as a citizen OF a
state. Take away this security and his
rights will be violated and his interest
sacrificed at the demand of those whChave
political influence. This is the evil of the
colonial system, no matter by nation
it is applied.
Title to the Philippines.
What is our title to the Philippine is
lands? Do We hold them by treaty or by
pie? If not, how did we secure
title to them? Were they thrown faoH
licans say that inanimate earth has value.
and when that earth is nodded by the
ness of the Creator it becomes a fixture
and passes with the soil? If governments
derive their just powers from the con
secure title to people, either by force or
by purchase. We could e~xtinguish SPANS
must hold it by some method consistent
our ideas of government. When we
made allies of the Filipinos and armed
title. If we buy SPANS title we
are not innocent purchasers. But even
If we had not disputed SPANS title, she
could transfer no greater title than. she
and her title was based on force
alone. We cannot defend such a title. but.
Spain gave Is d QulI cldlII uSSu. We !
honorably turn the property. over to
the party in possession. Whether any
official gave the Filipinos for.
There can be no doubt that we
and utilized the services of the
Filipinos. and that when we did so we had
full knowledge that they were fighting
for their own independence, and 1 submit
that history furnishes no example of
baser than ours If we now sub
our yoke for the Spanish yoke.
Let us consider briefly the reasons
which have been given in support of an
our duty to hold the Philippine islands.
But duty is not an argument; 1T is a con-
.clusion. To ascertain what our duty Is,
and generally accepted principles.
1t is our duty to avoid stealing, no matter
the thing to be stolen is of great
or little value. 1t is our duty to avoid
killing a human being, no matter where
the human being lives or to what race
Or class he belongs. Everyone
observe both the human and moral laws,
but. as some deny the application of those
place to quote the opinion of others. JEFF
ferson, than whom there is no higher po-
Litical authority, said:
IT know of but one code of morality for
men, whether acting singly or coliec-
Franklin. whose learning. wisdom and
to US from the revolutionary
lays. expressed the same idea in even
stronger language when he said:
Justice is as strictly due between
.eighbor nations as between neighbor
A h~ighwayman is as much a
robber when he plumbers In a gang as
singly: and the nation that makes
an unjust war is only a great gangS
Force Creates No Right.
Men may dare to do in crowds what they
would not dare to do as individuals, but
ermined by the number of those who join
N it. Force can defend a right. but force