The Van Buren press., 1900-08-11

the Filipino. Is he to be a citizen or a
subject? Are we to bring into the body
| polite 100000 or l0.OW.UO Asiatics SO
different from us in race and history that
amalgamation is impossible? Are they
to share with us in making the laws and
shaping the destiny of this nation? No
! republican of prominence mas been bolo
! enough to advocate such proposition.
The McEnery resolution, adopted by the
senate Immediately after the ratification
of the treaty. expressly negatives this
! idea. The democratic platform describes
the situation when 1t says that the Fill
pinos cannot be citizens without endan-
gering our civilization. Who Will dispute
| 1t? And what is the alternatives? IL the
| Filipino Is not to be citizen, snail We
make him a subject? On that question
the democratic platform speaks with EN-
phasis u declares that the Filipino can
not be a subject without endangering our
form of government. A republic can
have no subjects. A subject Is possible
| he Is unknown In government deriving
its Just powers from the consent of the
governed. The republican platform says
that the largest measure or seit-goVern,
ment consistent with their welfare and
our duties shall be secured to them lthe
Fiiipinos) by law" This is strange doc
trine for government which owes Its
very existence to the men who offered
ment without consent and taxation with
out representa- ton. In what respect does
the position OF the republican party differ
from the position taken by the English
government in 1776? Did not the English
government promise good government
to the colonists? What king ever prom
ised 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
eminent promise to give to the Cubans
the largest measure of self-government
consistent with their welfare and Spanish
duties? The whole difference between
monarchy and republic may be summed
up in one sentence. In monarchy the
king gives to the people what ne believes believes
to be a good government; In a republic
the people secure for themselves what
they believe to be a good government.
The republican party has accepted the Eu-
ground taken by George III. and by every
ruler who distrusts the capacity of the
people for self-government or denies them
a voice in their own affairs.
The Presidents VIII the Only Law.
The republican platform promises that
some measure OF sell government Is TO be
given to the Filipinos by law; but, even
this pledge is not fulfilled. Nearly IL
months elapsed after the ratification 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
American authority extends. why does
the republican party hesitate to legislate
upon the Philippine question? Because
law would disclose the radical departure
from history and precedent contemplated
by those who control the republican party.
Porto Rican 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. II the Porto Ricans,
who welcome annexation, are to be de-
MED the guarantees OF our constitution,
what Is to be the lot of the Filpinos, who
resisted our authority? II secret infiu-
ences could compel a disregard of our plain
our shores, what treatment will those same
Influences provide for unfriendy people
I 900 miles away? If, In this country where
the people have the right to vote, repub-
people against the great monopolies which
have grown up within the last few years,
how can they be trusted to protect the
Filipinos 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,
and the twilight of semi-citizenship en-
dured by the people of Porto Rico, while
covers the Philippines? The Porto Rico
tariff law asserts the doctrine that the
operation of the constitution Is confined
to the As states. The democratic party dis
putes this doctrine and denounces 1t as
repugnant to both the letter and spirit OF
our organic law There is no place in our
system of government for the deposit of
arbitrary 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 II this nation de-
liberately enters upon career OF empire,
The territorial form of government Is TEN.
porary and preparatory, and the chief
security citizen of 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
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 what nation
1t Is applied.
Title to the Philippines.
What is our title to the Philippine Is
lands9 Do we hold them by treaty or by
conquest? Did we buy them or did we
take them? Did we purchase the peo-
bS e u t RS nov Were sd they eve Sss%rs
in with the land? VIII the repub-
leans say that inanimate earth has value,
and when that earth Is nodded by the
Divine hand and stamped with the like
ness of the Creator 1t becomes fixture
and passes with the soil? II governments
derive their Just powers from the con
sent OF the governed. 1t Is Impossible TO
secure title to people, either by force or
title by treaty, but II we hold title we
must hold 1t by some method consistent
with our Ideas Of government When we
made allies OF the Fillpinos and armed
N IA n "a 1iQnnt
SPANS title, II we buy SPANS title we
are not innocent purchasers. But even
II we had not disputed Spain's title, she
could transfer no greater title than. she
alone. We cannot defend such title but,
az Spain gave us quit claim deed, we
can honorably turn the property, over to
the party in possession Whether any
nal assurance OF Independence Is not
material. There can be no doubt that we
accepted and utilized the services of the
Fillpinos, and that when we did 80 we had
for their own Independence, and submit
that history furnishes no example OF
turpitude baser than ours II we now sub
stltute our yoke for the Spanish yoke.
which have been given in support OF an
imperialistic policy, Some say that 1t Is
our duty to hold the Philippine islands.
But duty Is not an arguments II Is a con-
cIuSlOn, 10 ascertain what our uuty y,
In any emergency, we must apply we'll
settled and generally accepted principles.
II Ia our duty TO avoid steal ing, no matter
whether the thing to be stolen IL OF great
or little value II IL our duty to avoid
killing n human being, no matter whore
the human being lives or TO what race
or class he belongs Everyone recognizes
the obligation imposed upon individuals to
observe both the human and mornl laws,
but as some deny the application N those
laws TO nations, 1t may not be out OF
place to quote the opinion of others JEFF
ierson, than whom there il no higher po-
lltical authority, said
III know of but one code OF morality for
men, whether acting singly or collec-
lively"
Franklin, whose learning wisdom and
virtue are n part OF the priceless legacy
bcqucathcd TO US from the revolutionary
days, expressed the same Idea In even
stronger language when he sald'
Justice IL Ms strictly due between
neighbor nations M between noighbor
,iti luh xnn ~ IL mi IA