Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1900-01-10

stration OF enthusiasm by paying his
respects to the "little Americans" In
this wise:
Expression has been made signi-
Tying n willingness-nay, more than
that, q positive deslre-on the part
Of n small but eminently respectable
and particularly demonstrative few,
which secures Its enlistment without
regard to party, not only to applaud
the reverses encountered by our
troops, but TO hail with delight q
development which would drive them
into the ocean.
"If l thought for a moment that
such expression embodied anything
like a popular sentiment / would feel
concerned for the honor OF our
country and the security OF its gov
eminent. Firm. however, In the
faith of our fathers and impressed
with the view that public sentiment,
when fully aroused, seldom goes
wrong. | prefer to take such a mani
festation as the morbid and aggra-
waited sentiment Of a hopeless and
thoughtless element, which nc o
measures the patriotism OF Our
masses than a grain Of sand In the
hour glass measures eternity.
PERSONALLY l have thought, and
still think, that had we coupled with
the ratification OF the peace treaty
an assurance in the nature Of "A dec
laration made for Cuban independ-
ence there would have been no seri-
Gus disturbance in the Philippines,
and that we would now be In the
peaceful possession of the archipel-
ago, as we are in control of Cuba. |
believe it Is not too late, even now,
to make that broad declaration OF
our policy, assuring domestic control
of internal affairs, combined with the
guarantee of independence whenever,
in the opinion Of the government,
the Filipinos are able to administer
a government which will protect life,
secure property. maintain law and
order and meet the demands Of civil
lization.
"Picture in your imagination the
effect Of the immediate withdrawal
OF the strong arm of the American
people from the Philippines, and the
establishment, out of existing con.
ditions. of agovernment which would
have none other than the tribal re-
s~ponsibility on which 1t would rest!
Where would government end and
anarchy begin? How long would 1t
be before tribal strife and selfish fac.
ton would burst into fierce fury of
maddened riot and lay violent hands
upon the foundation of civilization
and progress which has been firmly
planted on the islands, and whlch,
under the guiding hand OF American
direction, will lead their people into
the broad path OF peace and pros
perity?
sour mission after putting down
the pending revolution is to educate;
and then when their Ieople are fitted
for the establishment of a govern
ment Of their own, to protect them
In its maintenance until theyc pro.
tect themselves. But until then let
us pursue the even tenor of our
way, working out, as hest we can.
the problem Of destiny, putting the
rest of the world on notice, as 1t
watches with eager eyes for an OPP.
~portunity to profit by our possible
misstep, that the performance of a
duty which providence has placed In
our hands will not be shirked.
LET our watchword be Hands
Off to the hungry monarchies Of
Europe, and Hands off, ourselves
only when we shall have established
II government which will be a tribute
to the glory Of our institutions and
a triumph Of the honesty and SINGER.
ity Of our purpose"
Next Mr.. Howell spoke at length Of
the commercial aspect of the Philip
pine question from the viewpoint OF
IA sOutherDer. From the land where
cotton is king to the land where cot
ton IL needed he traced a movement
which would rebound 10 the prosper
ity Of the former and the civilization
and progress Of the latter. As an in
evitable corollary to insure the sue
cess OF this movement he laid stress
upon the Importance OF the speedy
construction of the isthmian canal.
Commit the government" he ex-
claimed. ''to the mingling OF the
waters Of the two great oceans by a
channel across the isthmus. opening
our ports 10 direct connection with
those OF the Pacific and of the Orient.
and the infusion of new life through
the arteries Of souther;. commerce
will put the whole nation ON its way
rejoicing"
Mr.. Howell concluded with the fol-
lowing message to those who con-
siderod expansion and imperialism as
synonymous:
"Much IL being said Of the dangers
OF Imperialism. Ii that term implies
the creation Of a vast standing army
which shall be interposed between
the people and their rights az guar
anteed by the constitution, l would
say that we want none of ID here. II