The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1900-08-10

MED the guarantees OF our constitution
what is to be the lot o. the F1lipinos. who
resisted our authority If secret infiu-
ences could compel q disregard Of our plain
r4Tr shores. what treatment viii those same
influences provide Tor unfrtendly- people
ZOO miles awayZ II. IN this country where
fLa neoDle have the right 10 vote. repub-
1frs- leaders dare not take the side OF the
people against the great monopOlies which
ksve crown up within the last few years
how can they be trusted 70 protect the
E'i1foi1os from the corporations 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 Eticos while
the thick darkness OF perpetual Tassalage
covers the Philippinesz Ihe Porto Rico
tariff law asserts the oocIrlne that the
oDeration Of the constitution IS confined
10 the IS states The democratic party dis
putss this doctrine ana oencunces It as
reDugnant to both the letter and spirit Of
our organic law There IS no place in our
system OF government for the deposit Of
s-F7frrarve and IRRESPONSIBLE power. That
the leaders Of q great party should claim
fO- srly president or congress the ria-hf 10
sious' 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 de-
The territorial form Of government is tenn
porary and preparatory, and the chief
security a citizen Of a territory has is found
In the fact that he enjoys the same con-
stitutiOnal guarantees and is subject to
the same general laws as a citizen Of a
rights will be violated and his interest
sacrificed at the demand OF those wh0haye
colonial system. no matter by what nation
1t IS applied
Title to the Philippines.
What is our title to the Philippine Is
lands2 Do We hold them by treaty or by
Ple2 If not. how did We secure
I
in with the land2 VIII the repub-
hcans say that fnanimate earth has value,
and when that earth is nodded by the
Divine hand and stamped with the like
ness OF the Creator IL becomes a fixture
oeElNe their Just powers from the con-
sent Of the governed. Il is impossible TO
Dy purchase We could exunguish Spain
title BY treaty, but II we hold title We
must hold IL BY some method consistent
made allies OF the Filipinos and armed
them to hEnt against Spain, we disputed
Spain s title II we buy SPANS title We
are not innocent purchasers But even
II We had not disputed SPANS title. she
could transfer no greater title than she
had. and her title was based on force
alone We cannot defend such a title, but,
as spain gave US a quit claim deed, We
can hOnOrably turn the property over to
the party in possession Whether any
American official gave the FilipinOS for
nal assurance Of independence is not
material mere can De no DOUBT mat We
accepted and utilized the services OF the
k1nplnOss and that when we did so we had
run knoWIedge that tney were ngnJlng
Tor their own independence and submit
that history furnishes no example Of
turpltude baser than ours II We now SUD
stitute our yoke for the Spanish yoke
Let US consider briefly the reasons
which have been given in support Of an
imperialistic policy Some say that IT IS
our duty to hold the Philippine islands.
But duty is not an argument It IS a con-
in any emergency. we must apply we'll
settled and generally accepted principles
1t is our duty to avoid stealing, no matter
whether the thing to be stolen IS OF great
or little value 1t IS our duty 70 avoid
I killing a human being, no matter where
the human. being lives OF TO what race
or class he belongs. Everyone recognizes
the obligation imposed upon individuals to
observe both the human ana moral laws
but. as some deny the application OF those
laws to nations. IT may not be out Of
place to quote the opinion Of others JEFF
ferson. than whom there is no higher po-
''I know Of but one code Of morality for
men whether acting slngly or cOLec-
lively"
Franklin. whose learning. wisdom and
beQueathed TO US from the revolutionary
days, expressed the same idea in even
stronger language Wnen ne SAD;
Justice IS as strictly due between
neighbOr nations as between neighbor
citizens A hiEhvayman IS as much a
rObber when he plumbers in gang as
when singly; and the nation that makes
an unjust war is only great gang"
Force Creates No Right.
Men may. dare to do in crowds what they
would not dare to do as individuals, but
the moral character Of an act is not de-
termined by the number Of those who join
in IL. Force can defend right but force
true, as declared in the resolutions Of in
PREVENTION, that the Cubans ARE and Of
right ought to be free and Independent,
Language taken from the declaration Of
Independence, 1t IS equally true that the
and Independent Ihe right OF the Cubans
to freedom was not based upon their prOX-
unity to the United States, nor upon the
the race or races to which they belonged.
Congress BY a practically unanimous vote
declared that the principles enunciated at
applicable to the Cubans-
Who viii draw a line between the natural
rights Of the Cubans and the FiiipInos 2
Who viii say that the former has a right
to liberty and that the latter has no rights
FilipinOs ARE and of right ought to be
free and independent what right have We
to force our government upon them with
ouL Inelr consent Be5ore our DUTY can be
aSCertained. their rights must be deter
nIneo, ana Wnen their rights are once de-
leEnnlned- II IS as Inucn our duty 10 respect
those rights as il was the duty OF Spain
to respect the rights Of the people Of Cuba,
OF the QuIy OF england 70 respect the
rights Of the American colOnists- Rights
never conflict; duties never clash Can
which belong to others? Can IT be our duty
TO xiii those who, following the example
o. our torefathers, love liberty ven enough
to fight for it,
Some poet has described the terror which
oFercame soldier who, in the midst OF
battle, discovered that he had slain his
brother. It is written ''AM ye are breth-
rem" Let Us hope for the coming Of the
day when human hfe-Thfch when once
destroyed. cannot be restored-vTiii be 80
sacred that II VIII never be taken except
when necessary TO punish crime already
committed or 70 prevent crime about
to be committed
II 1t IS said that We have assumed before
the world obligations which make II neces-
szrT for Us 70 permanently maintain q
government In the Philippine Islands. ]
reply, first, that the highest obliEatiou Of
this nation Is TO be true TO itself No obi
CATION TO any particular nation, OF 10 all
nations combined can require the abandon
meuL or our theory OF government and the
substitution Of doctrines against which
! our whole national life has been a protest
no secoIQs max our ooligatons TO the
] ELaater lhan anE oh--garinrs - -. -