The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1900-08-17

tion followed the flag into the new ter
ritory. 1t Is now proposed to sieze up
on distant territory already more
densely populated than our own coun-
try and to force upon the people gov
ernment for whicn there is no war
rant in our constitution or our laws.
If we have an imperial policy we
must have a large standing army as
It's natural and necessary complement.
That a large permanent in
crease in our regular army is intended
by the Republican leaders is not a
mere matter of conjecture, but a mat
ter of fact In 1896 the army
contained about $4,000 meh. Within
two years the president asked for four
times that many. and Republican
house of representatives complied with
the request after the Spanish treaty
had been signed and no country was IT
war with the United States
\ large standing army is not only y
pecuniary burden to the people and.
II accompanied by compulsory service.
constant source of Irritation. hut it
Is ever menace to Republican
form OF government. The army is the
perSonification of force. and militariSm
will inevitably change the ideals Of the
people and turn the thoughts of our
young men from the arts of peace to
the science of war. The government
which relies for its defense upon its
citizens, is more likely to be Just than
one which has at call a large body of
professional soldiers. small stand
ing army and a well equipped and
we'll disciplined state militia are sutfi-
cient in ordinary times. and in an
emergency the nation should in the
future as in the past place its depend
ence upon the volunteers who come
from all occupations at their country's
call and return to productive labor
when their services are no longer re-
quired-men who fight when the coun-
try needs fighters and work when the
country needs workers
FUTURE STATUS OF THE FILIPINO.
What Are We to DO with Him Now That
We Have Him?
The Republican platform assumes
that the Philippine islands will be re-
tanned under American sovereignty,
and we have right to demand of the
Republican leaders a discussion of the
future status of the Filipino. Is he to
be citizen or Il subject? Are we to
bring into the body polite eight or ten
million ASiatics, so different from lis 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 has been bold enough to
advocate such proposition. The Nc
Emery resolution, adopted by the SELL
ate Immediately after the ratification
of the treaty, expressly negatives this
idea. The Democratic platform de-
scribes the situation when it says that
the Filipinos cannot be citizens with
out endangering our civilization. Who
will dispute it? And what is the alter
native? If the Filipino is not to he a
citizen, shall we make him a subject?
On that question the Democratic plat
form speaks with emphasis. Lit de-
clares that the Filipino cannot be a
subject without endangering our form
of government. A republic can have
no subjects
The Republican platform SAYS that
1.-The largest measure of Self-govern-
ment consistent with their welfare and
our duties shall be secured to them
(the Filipinos) by law This is a
strange doctrine for government
which owes its very existence to the
men who offered their lives as a pro-
test against government without CON
sent and taxation without representa-
ton. In what respect does the position
of the Republican party differ from the
position taken by the English govern
ment in 1776? Did not the English
government promise a good govern
ment to the colonists? Did
not the English government promise
that the colonists should have the larg-
est measure of government CON
sistant with their welfare and English
duties? = The Republican par
ty has accepted the European idea and
planted itself upon ground taken by
George III. and by every ruler who
distrusts the capacity of the people for
self-governmert or denies them voice
In thir own affairs.
The Republican platform promises
that some measure of government
is to be given to the Filipinos by law:
but. even this pledge is not fulfilled.
Why does the Republican
party hesitate to legislate upon the
Philippine question? Because law
would disclose the radical departure
from history and precedent contem-
plated by those who control tine Re
publican party. The storm of protest
which greeted the Porto Rican bill was
an indication of what may be expected
when the American people are brought
face to face with legislation upon this
subject:
If the Porto Ricans. who welcome
annexation are to be denied the guar
antee of our constitution. what is to
be the lot of the FilipinoS. who resisted
our authority? II secret influences
could compel a disregard of our plain
duty toward friendly people, living
near our shores. what treatment will
those same influences provide for un-
friendly people 1000 miles away? If.
Ia this country where the people have
the right TO vote, Republican leaders
dare not take the side of the people
against the great monopolies which
have grown up within the last few
years. how can they be trusted to pro-
tect the Filpinos from the corpora
tions which are waiting to exploit the
islands?
Is lltt SuHllSul VI lull GlIlIeHSnlp TO
be enjoyed by the people of the United
States. and the twilight of semi-citizen-
ship endured by the people of Porto
Rico. while the thick darkness of per.
petual vassalage covers the Philip
pines?
The Porto Rico tariff law as
serts the doctrine that the op-
Grafton of the constitution is confined
to the forty-five states. The Democratic
party disputes this doctrine and lie
! nounces it as repugnant to both the
letter and Snirit of orr nrcanic lazy