Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1900-01-18

government, but that it was impossible
to guarantee to the people Of Negros that
the constitution OF the United States
would be the ultimate form OF their gov
eminent, because such question was,
under the treaty, left to congress.
The government now in operation there
is military government, instituted by
military authority and presided over by
military governor, who is in turn under
the military governor Of the Philippine
Islands, who in turn acts under the direct
authority Of the president. As the mill.
tary governor appoints judges and other
officers and has final veto on all legis'a
ton. subject only to the will Of the mill
ts.y governor Of the whole Philippine
Islands, 1t is evident that we are giving
the people Of Negroes not such govern
ment as We enjoy, but such a government
as WE think THEY ought to have.
The flag does not mean in the Philip.
pines what it means in the United States.
Here it stands for elf-government; there
for military despotism. II this is the
form Of government for people who, &C.
cording to the president, 'un'eservedly
proclaimed allegiance to the United
States" what is to be the liberty guaran.
teed to those who have resisted our
sovereignty?
The president says that the future gov.
ernment Of the Philippine Islands rests
with congress, and adds that "few graver
responsibilities have ever been conhded
, to u.s." Certainly few graver questions
have ever fallen to us for solution.
II congress undertakes the permanent
government Of the Philippine Islands it
will enter upon the work which Parlia-
ment undertook for the American colonies
and the Spanish Cortez for Cuba. If
congress attempts to carry the flag be.
yond the limits OF the constitution and
! to govern subject peoples by arbitrary
power. it will mark an epoch in American
history and departure from the doc
trines set forth in the Declaration Of
independence.
Before we invest this new doctrine with
the sanctity Of divine command We
should examine the credentials Of those
Who assume to speak with authority from
above. II our forefathers relied upon the
aid OF Jehovah when they resisted the
doctrine of taxation without representa-
ton, who shall say that the same un-
cllangeable God leads US to force the
same odious doctrine upon distant peo-
pie simply because they are inferior to us
in civilization and weaker in physical
strength?
The president says that the islands "are
ours by every title OF law and equity
Does lie rely upon title secured by con-
quest, or upon title secured by purchase
from O Spanish monarch to whose re.
bellious subjects we ourselves furnished
arms? If governments derive their just
powers from the consent Of the governed,
how can we acquire title to people by
force or by purchase?
The president says that il We desert
the Filipinos 1--WE leave them at once to
anarchy and finally to barbarism." Inc
Bacon resolution declared that we would
first establish stable government anC
then turn that government over to INT
inhabitants.
, Would the president assume the people
, incapable OF taking care Of themselves !
, their plains and valleys were not rici
and inviting?
Has not covetousness always resorrtet
l to some plausible pretext Tor the employ
ment Of force?
The president insists that We could no
protect them from outside interference
j, without involving our government II
. great danger. Have we not protected TN
republics OF Central and South Americ
, / om outside interference?
We must deal with the Philippine quee
i ton according to American principles Q
Q cease to be a moral factor in the progress
. If the world. w. j. BRYAN.