Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-01-03
WHY
Make Distinction Between
Black Nations
Correspondent Refers to Mont.
uomerv's Visit.

| To the Editor. The following accu-
rate information concerning the rea.
son for the cruiser Montgomery's
visit to Liberia In October, was given
In Washington dispatches Dec. Both:
| THAT the government deemed the
cruisers presence in Liberlan waters
to be necessary as guarantee that
the United States still exercises a pa.
ternal interest In the black republic,
and will view with concern any at
tempt Of foreign nations to menace
the integrity of that country"
This information came from an Off.
cial whose knowledge of the facts
and right to speak for the Administra.
tion are unquestioned. The dispatch
says that the Liberian government
fearing the seizure Of territory by
Germany, France, or Great Britain
appealed to the government of the
United States for its support in pre-.
serving its integrity. The United
States government promptly requested
assurances from the three powers
and received from each assurances
that they had no designs on the terri
tory of Liberia.
II is stated that the Montgomery
was sent to Liberlan waters to show
the world that this government was
prepared to resist any attempt on the
part Of foreign nation to annex the
territory of Liberia.
Perhaps these reports are untrue
and the Administration has no inten-
| tiOn of opposing the progress of i'm
perinlism ON behalf of the black re-
public in Africa. But, being true,
how clearly do they show the hypocri-
sy OF an administration which pro.
tects one black republic from aggres-
sion and makes war on another which
declares in ,.-ect that the few thous-
and civilized and more that a million
half-savnge Vels, Bassas, Krus and
Mandingoes of Africa are more cap
able of self-government and more
worthy of protection in that right
than the blacks and mixed races In the
Philippines. Or was the visit of the
Montgomery u warning to the Liber.
lans that Uncle Sam is about to civil.
lze and enlighten them by means of
his policy OF benevolent assassination.
Mr.. Bryan has been censured and
rldlculed for advocating some form of
protectOrnte by this country and self
government for the Filiplnos. Mr..
Mckinley, IN his message to Congress,
declares that u prOtectorate over the
| Philippines Is incompatible with our
| form of government. Yet he estab-
! fishes one, in fact, II not In terms,
over Liberia. The Monroe doctrine of
protection to sister republics from the
encroachments of imperial powers
seem to have given way to the McKin-
ley doctrine. or. shall we say the Alex
andrlan, Caesarian, Napoleonic ideas
of the duties of u great State. But
while our President strains at the
gnat of a Republican protectorate in
the case of the Philippines, he does
not hesitate to swallow the camel of
Republican conquest and absorption
of sister republic, Notwithstanding
the fact that the foundation principle
OF the American republic is that the
just powers of government are de-
rived from the consent of the gov
erned.
1t is possible that the spirit of lib
erty ana justice in America will be
overcome by the spirit of greed or
stlfied by partisan bigotry. 1t is pos
sible that cries of treason" "trea-
son." will for n time blind the eyes
of justice, but Chatham will come
with the courage to declare: Were
| Filipino, as l am an American, l
would never lay down my arms" A.
Henry will appear to tear the mask
from the eyes of Justice and hurl back
the charge of treason into the throats
of the real traitors to American
principles.
HARRY JAMES.
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