The Irish standard., 1900-08-11
Hticaf authority, said:
men, whether acting singly or collec-


lively"
Franklin. whose learning, wisdom and
s e
days. expressed the same idea in even
stronger language when he said:
Justice is as strictly due between
citizens. A highwayman is as much a
robber when he plumbers. in 4 gang as
when singly: and the nation that makes
an unjust war is only a great gang"
Force Creates No Right.
Men may dare to do in crowds what they
would not dare to Go as individuals, but
termined by the number of those who join
in it. Force can defend right, but force
has never yet created right. II i was
terventlon. That the Cubans ARE and qt of Of
right ought to be free and Independent"
Language taken from the declaration OF
indspendence), it is equally true that the
and Independent" The right OF The Cubans
to freedom was not based upon their proN-
unity to the United States, nor upon the
the race or races to which they belonged.
Congress by practically unanimous vote
DECLARED that the principles enunciated at
Philadelphia in l776 were still alive and
applicable to the Cubans.
Who will draw line between the natural
Fights Of the Cubans and the, Filipinos?
10 liberty and that the latter has no rights
which we are bound to respect? And, if the
F'ilipinos ARE and of right ought to be
free and independent" what right have we
out their consent? Before our duty can be
ascertained, their rights must be deter
mined. and when their rights are once de-
those rights as it was the duty of Spain
to respect the rights of the people of Cuba.
or the duty Of England to respect the
rights of the American colonists. Rights
1T be our duty TO usurp political rights
which belong to others? Can 1t be our duty
to Kill those who, following the example
to fight for it!
Some poet has described the terror which
overcame a soldier who. in the midst of
bate dffGy ~ that s had slain his
rem Let US hope for the coming of the
day when human life-which. when once
DESTROYED, cannot be restored-will be so
sacred that it will never be taken except
when necessary to punish crime already
committed or to prevent crime about
to be committed.
If it is said that we have assumed before
the world obligations which make it neces-
sary Tor US TO permanently maintain a
government in the Philippine islands, /
reply, first, that the highest obligation of
cation to any particular nation. or TO all
nations combined. can require the abandon-
ment OF our theory of government and the
our whole national life has been a protest.
And, second, that our obligations to the
filipinos; who inhabit the islands, are
greater than any obligations which we can
RESIDENCE in the Philippines or desire to
trade there.
Capacity of SeIf-Govcrnmcnt,
1t is argued by some that the Filiplnos
are Incapable of self-government and
That therefore we owe 1t to the world to
take control of them. Admiral Dewey, in an
clared the Filipinos more capable of self
government than the Cubans, and said
that ne based his opinion upon {; knowl-
the case upon the relative advancement t
OF the Filipinos. Henry Clay. in. Defend
Ing the rights of the people Of South
America to self-government, said:
1T is the doctrine of thrones that man
is too ignorant to govern himself. Their
partisans assert his incapacity in refer
ence TO all nations: II they cannot com
n universal assent to the proposition,
1t is then remanded to particular nations:
and our pride and our presumption too
often make converts Of us. l contend
That It IS to o., arraign the disposition of
has created beings incapable of govern
ing themselves. and to be trampled on by
kings. f-government is the natural
government of man.
degrees
of proficiency in the art of self-go1ern-
ment. but it is reflection unon the Crea-
tor to say that He denied TO any people
the capacity of self-government. Once
self-government. and that others are not,
and that the capable people have right
TO seize upon and govern the inca pable
foundation OF government and invite the
reign of the desuot. l am not will
ing to believe that an all-wise and an
oil -lo>yi 1,r y,f1 p{o,1 II: ,
then left them thousands of years he pless
until the islands attracted the attention
of European nations.
Republicans ask: "Shall we haul down
Philippnes?' The same question might
have been asked when the American flag
floated over Chaputepec and waved over
Who visits the City Of Mexico finds sG there
q national cemetery owned by the United
States and cared for by an American
citizen. Our flag still tloats over our
was signed American authority withdrew
to the Rio Grande, and l venture the
opinion that during the last 50 years the
under the stimulus of Independence and
self-government than they would have
made under a carpet-baE government held
and pa Msx Sy Daye ensy %9 limited STATES
stronger and happier than they would
have been had the former been cursed and
the latter crushed by an imperialistic pol
t ton" disguised as benevolent assimila'
Responsibility of the Nation.
Can we not govern colonies?" we are
asked. The question is not what we can
do, but what we ought IL do. This nation
can do whatever it desires to do, but it
must accept responsibility for what it does.
If the constitution stands in the way, the
people can amend the constitution. re-
peat, the nation can do whatever it desires
to DO. but it cannot avoid the natural and
legitimate results Of its own conduct. The
young man upon reaching his majority
can do what he pleases. lie can disregard
pie upon all that he has been taught to
consider sacred; he can disobey the laws
of the state. the laws of society and the
laws of God. He can stamp failure upon
his life and make his very existence a curse
to his fellow men, and he can bring his
father and mother in sorrow to the grave;
but he e cannot mn annu the 1.-The
nation. It is of age, and it can do what it
pleases; it can spurn the traditions of the
past: it can repudiate the principles upon
instead of reason; it can substitute might
for right; 1t can conquer weaker people;
1T can exploit their lands, appropriate their
and kill their people: but 1T cannot
repeal the moral law or c,cape the punish
ment decreed for the violation Of human
rights.
Would we tread in the paths Of tyranny.
Nor reckon the tyrant'S cost?
Who taketh another's liberty,
His freedom Is also lost.
Would we win as the strong have ever won.
Make ready to pay the debt,
For the God who reigntd over Babylon
Is the God who Is reigning yet"
Some argue that American rule in the
Philippine islands will result in the better
OF the F'ilipinos: BE not de-
ceived. If we expect to maintain colon
fal policy we shall not find 1t to our ad-
to educate the people. The edu-
Gated Filipinos are now in revolt against
US, and the most ignorant ones have made