The Elbert County tribune., 1900-01-25
sroP 1nE FooLIsHNEss.

The so-cnlIcd anfi-iinperIalist oppo-
sition 70 the administration policy in
the Philippines has lis humorous side,
and II Is from thnt side that II has been
treated generally In the press OF the
| country. II is high time. however, that
| the serious view should be considered.
| md that the opponents OF the ndmlnis-
tratlon should be called upon to formu-
late their policy In n positive state
ment. That the speeches Of Senator
iioar and others, teiegraphed 10 Hong
Kong and thence 10 Manila. encour-
aged AguinnIdo and his followers, and
that the continuance OF the insurrec-
lion, and the blood OF General Lawton
and many others is directly chargeable
TO these trcasonablc encourngements of
the armed enemies OF our country. has
been put beyond a doubt. Ii is time
now to stop the foollshncss.
The so-cnlIed anti-imperiallsts differ
among themselves as to the policy to
be pursued; but one thing all OF them
apparently ARE united on: TINT the
Emitted States, when II abandons the
Philippines to AguInaldo and the
Hong Kong junta. shall guarantee that
no other nation shall put stop TO the
anarchy which would naturally result
from the withdrawal Of the United
States forces. or tnke possession OF the
islands or any part thereof, for the
time OF ten years af least. This is the
most definite proposition upon which
nIl the nntl-imperialists appear to be
united. This is a policy which can
only be characterized as dog-in-the-
manager policy. Docs any one Imagine,
who has any sense. TINT the other M
tlons who would be glad to get pos
session of the islands would acknowl-
edge for moment the right OF the
United States to withdraw from them.
md mt the same time announce to the
world that no other nation should take
themi So long us we hold the lslnnds,
other nations acknowledge our right to
do so; but the moment we withdraw.
and allow the natives to make war on
each other undisturbcd. to violate the
rights of traders. TO pillage and mas
sacrc mt their Will, other nations are
bound to see that the rights Of their
subjects nre protected. and they Will
do so; and II we should undertake to
prevent them we should have on our
hands worldwide war.
The guaranty which the anti-lmperi
alIsts propose. therefore, Is n guaranty
Of war with England and Germany and
Russia and probably France. all In the
interests OF peace. A more absurd
proposition was never formulated by
man insane.
There is not single nntl-imperialist,
80 fur us their utterances disclose, who
would have this country simply with
draw from the Philippines and leave
the United States to guarantee them
from Interference by any other power.
Such guaranty involves nll the re-
sponslbilities and none of the benefits
which would come from an occupa-
iIon by this country. That the Fill
pnos would have under our govern
ment larger measure of individual
freedom. a better administration OF
Justice, and better chance to life,
liberty and the pursuit of happiness
than under the dictatorship of an
Aguinnido, IL not worth arguing. The
question is whether this country, hav-
| Ing undertaken a responsibility, shall
funk II. There Is but one answer to
such question that can be given
by the American people, and II Mr..
Bryan and the majority of the Demo-
Gratis In their next national convention
shall declare that this country ought
to adopt any such course us is now
proposed by the Democratic leaders
who seem to have most influence In the
party, the popular verdict In the next
election will be so overwhelming TINT
the party Will need II quarter OF a
century more TO recruit Its shattered
forces enough to make n respectable
contest.