Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-08-09
injured most by the military burdens
which accompany It. et'


If Oriental subjects seek work in the
United States: the first to suffer If
American capital leaves our shores to
employ Oriental labor in the Philip-
Japan; the first to suffer from the vio-
lence which the military spirit
arouses, and the first to suffer when
the methods of imperialism are applied
to our own government.
1t is not strange, therefore, that the
labor organizations have been quick to
note the approach of these dangers
and prompt to protest against both
militarism and Imperialism.
THE RELIGIOUS ARGUMENT.
The pecuniary argument. though
more effective with certain classes. is
not likely to be used so often or pre-
scented with so much emphasis as the
religious argument. If what has been
termed the gun powder gospel were
used against the Fllipinos only, 1t
would be sufficient answer to say
that majority of the Filipinos are
now members of one branch of the
Christian church: but the principle In
volved is one of much wider applica-
ton and challenges serious considera-
ton.
The religious argument varies in no.
sitiveness from q passive belief that
Providence delivered the Fillpnos into
our hands for their good and our
glory, to the exultation OF the minister,
natives Qrilipinos) until they under
stand who we are" and that every
bullet sent, every cannon shot and flag
waved means righteousness"
we cannot approve of this doctrine
IN one place unless we are willing to
appiy IL everywhere If there is poi
son in the blood of the hand 1t will ul-
timately reach the heart 1t is equally
true mat forcible Christianity. IL
planted under the American flag in the
iar-away Orient, Will sooner or later
be transplanted upon American soil.
If true Christianity consists in carry
ing out IN our daily lives the teach
inss of Christ. who will say that we
are commanded to civilize with dyna-
mite and proselyte with the sword? He
who would declare the Divine will
must prove his authority either by
Holy Writ or by evidence OF a special
dispensation. The command Go wa
into all the world and preach the COS
pei to every creature" has no gatIing
gun attachment. When Jesus visited
village of Samaria and the people re-
FUSED TO receive Him. some OF the dis
cipies suggested that fire should be
called down from heaven to avenge
the insult; but the Master rebuked
.hcn, ana SAID "fe know not what
OF Man is not come to destroy mems
| lives. but to save them" SlDpose I've
had said: I'VE Will thrash them until
they understand who we are" how diff
] ~ N'Aih nave DceT the history or
Christianity. Compare. II you will. the
staggering bullying, brutal doctrine
/ vi imperialism with the Golden Rule
ana the commandment Thou shalt
love thy neighbor as myself"
LOVE THE NAZARENE'S WEAPON.
Love, not force, was the weapon OF
/ me ->aza'ene; sacrifice for others. NOT
we eHploitation of them was His
| method OF reaching the human heart.
! y missioner! recently told me that the
stars aud Stiipes once saved his life
/ hcctuSc his aaSii,an. recognized our
| mas as Il has that had no blood upon
! 1t. Let 1t lie known that our mission
/ aries are seeking souls instead of SOW
ere,.:hty: let IL be known that instead
! Oh being the advance guard of con-
qucrilig armies. they are going forth to
! hep and To up;ift, having their loins
sirt about with truth and their feet
| shod with the preparation of the Cos
| pei OF Peace. wearing the breast plate
oil righteousness. and carrying tho
| sword of the Spirit: let IL be known
| that they are the citizens OF n nation
which respects the rights OF the citi-
| Zcns OF other nations as carefully as
1T protects the rights OF it's own citi-
zens. and the welcome given to our
| missionaries will be more cordial than
the welcome extended to the mission
aries of any other nation.
The argument, made by some, that
| IL was unfortunate for the nation that
II lit'i dilN llllIS 10 40 WIN tne PnillD-
pine Islands. but that the naval VIC
| tory AT Manila made the permanent ac-
QUESTION of those islands nee Ssary, liz
also unsonnd. We won IL victory at
Santiago. but that did not compel us
to hold cuba. The shedding Of Ameri-
| can blood in the Philippine Islands
does not make it imperative that we
should retain possession forever;
American blood was shed at San Juan
Hill and FL Caney. and yet the Pres
N spI a VI n inf
pendencc. The fact that the American
flag floats over Manila does not compel
us TO exercise perpetual sovereignty
over the islands: that flag waves over
Havana to-day, yet the President has
| promised to haul it down when the flag
OF the Cuban Republic is ready to rise
in It's place. Better thousand times
| that our flag in the Orient give way
to a flag representing the idea of self
government than that the flag of this
Republic should become the flag of an
empire.
AN EASY SOLUTION.
There is an easy, honest. honorable
solution of the Philippine question. 1t
is set forth III tic Democratic platform
and it is submitted with confidence to
the American people. This plan un-
! reserVcdly lndorSe. If elected, l shall
convene Congress in extraordinary ses-
sion. as soon as L am inaugurated, and
recommend an Immediate declaration
of the nations purpose, first, to estab-
lish stable form of government In the
Philippine islands. just as we are now
establishing a stable form of govern
ment in the island of Cuba; second. to
give independence to the Filipinos, just
as we have promised to give independ-
ence to the Cubans: third. to protect
the Filipinos from outside interference
while they work out their destiny. Just
as we have protected the Republics OF
Central and South America, and are.
by the Monroe Doctrine, pledged to
protect Cuba. An European protecto-
rate often results in the exploitation