The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-10-26
AS TO THE FILIPINO !;

II is a favorite Democratic plea that
Mckinley and Congress should have
given the Filipinos independence" and
that their failure to do so brought the
American republic in peril of the en-
pire. Just how a course which Is paral-
lei with that Of the Democrats towards
the earlier civilized Inhabitants of
California, Florida and the Louisiana
purchase could have so different an
effect from that which followed the
Democratic territorial 'conquests," our
friends the enemy do not pretend to
say. AS lately as 1884 they were so
proud of what they called extensions
of the national domain" that they
twitted the Republicans with never
having acquired anything better than
Alaska Now. however. when Repub-
lican hands have carried the flag into
the East and West Indies the Demo-
cracy, with one hoof on Texas and an
other on California and the shadow of
its ears notching the borders of Louisi-
ana, brays Empire. Empire with
hoarse and solemn iteration; or alter
mates with Independence, Independ-
ence for the Fiiipinos.'
Who could give the Filipinos indie
pendence? They number thirty tribes,
hating each other. II the stronger
tribe, the Tagals, whom we are now
fighting, were to be given control f
the Philippines, they would try and en-
slave the rest. There would be an in
terminable civil war as there was wont
h be between Indian tribes in America.
1t is folly to talk of separate independ-
ence for such hostile peoples.
But supposing them to be united why
should they have independence? They
could not keep Ii against the greed of
the wolfish powers of Europe; their en-
slavement would come in time, when
they had grown tired of losing blood
/ Besides. the fact that certain people
occupy soil conquered or purchased
from other people. its valid owners, no
more entities them to inherit the bene-
fits of the transfer, than does the fact
that a tenant lives on the farm -ou
I buy empower him to demand the deed
The principle which the Democrats set
up in defiance of their own traditions.
would put an end to land Indemnity In
war. France attacked Germany In 1870
without provocation; Germany struck
back and won; France had to pay the
costs in part by the cession of Alsece-
Lorraine. Will the special pleaders for
Bryan contend that II the Alsatians
had set up n republic after Sedan as
the Tagals did after Dewey's victory,
Germany could have been adju lged
morally or legally in the wrong IL she
had declined to recognize 1t and had
held on to the prize of victory?
But IL we were to admit that the an
nexation of the Philippines Is wrong,
the question arises as to who made the
act Of annexation possible, and the
blame falls upon the leader of the DEM
ocrats themselves. When the treaty
with Spain covering the transfer of the
Islands lacked one vote of confirmation
In the Senate, VIM. ]. Bryan got hat
vote from his friend Senator Jones of
Arkansas. then and now Chairman of
the Democratic National Committee.
. IL was Bryan who overcame the
strength which Republican Senator
Hoar had ranged against the treaty.
! Why he did 1t does not matter; we are
dealing with condition, not theory;
and the condition is one which the
leader of the Democratic party pro-
duced.
|
lost or are threatened with the loss of
their independence? They had none to
begin with. After 300 years of struggle
they were still slaves of Spain. Is it an
indignity to give them home rule, AM
erican protection and prosperous times,
TO protect them from the outreacfins
claws of Europe; to establish Justice
ana order and tranquility in their 90
main and begin the work of education
that will In time make them citizens of
the freest republic on earth? There Is
put one answer. The truth is-and
history Will give Bryan his share of
credit for it-that the United States Is
giving the Filipinos the only chance for
freedom that they could find in all the
world The choice is between tribal
slavery at home; the exploltations of
Europe and the hospitality and safe
guards of the American republic.
4