The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-10-16

establish and maintain good and stable
government in the island of Cuba The
patriotic sons of the North and the South
responded to the call of their country to
arms, and in ninety days Spain lay pros
trate before us suing for peace. There
had never been suggestion that more
would be required of her than to surren-
der up her possessions in the West In
dies and to withdraw her 1ags from this
hemisphere.
But in an evil hour the President began
to dream of empire and possessions in the
far off inslands of the seas and he in
structed our peace commissioners to de-
mand of Spain the cession of the Philip
pine Islands. Right then and there our
troubles began. Spain had no alterna-
tive but to We'd to our demands and the
islands became ours. The seat of war
was transferred from Cuba to the Philip
pine Islands. While we were at war
with Spain the Filipinos were our allies,
when we made peace with Spain we turn
ed our guns upon them and, if accounts
be true, we have since been shooting
them down by the hundreds and the thou
sands.
We now have an army of GO, 900 in these
islands making war upon these people
And for what? Because they love lib
erty and wish to govern themselves. They
say to us: You taught us to love lib
erty; that government derives it's powers
from the consent of the governed and that
a republic is the best government that
man has ever devised. We have believed
you and we want to set up a republic
and govern ourselves
To This apnaal Mr. MoK;DIox, ropI;oc
with the cannon, the sword and the
rifle.
Now ! put the question to you, my fell
low citizens, are we not ourselves as
sailing the very foundation principles
uron which our system of government
rests? Can nation assail it's own foun-
dations without assailing itself? Can we
raise great armies and make this armed
assault upon the liberties of other people
Without endangering our own liberties?
THE REPUBLICANS ANSWERED.
Touching the frequent reference bv
he imperialists to the North Carolina
Amendment disfran-
,hising the negro. Governor Jarvis ex-
blamed that the amendment disfran-
.hised both white and black alike, if
hey came within its provisions, and
declared that it was simply the negro's
that more of his race than
IF the whites were thus DISTINGUISHED.
rhe speaker added:
If Mr.. Mckinley wants to make his case
1t ours let him submit the question to the
votes Of the Filipinos instead of to the
bullets of his soldiers let him settle it
by an appeal to the ballot box instead
Of to the cartridge box.
Governor Jarvis spoke of the argl-
nent of the Republicans that lit will
)ay.f He declared that this was put
ing the question on Il low plain.
We used to hear talk of the rich mans
war and the poor mans fight. This is
certainly a case of it.
With the trusts all things are right
that pay They are given over to the
commercial idea. But even on that
ground we are willing to meet them and
when | say that it is more profitable to
trade with friends and freemen than
with enemies and subjects, 1 but assert
that which all men do know
We ask the imperialists what is to be
the end of this new and untried policy
of the Republican party, and they an
swer not word. We put the more spe-
;ifc question to them: Is it your inten-
ton to take these islands into the Union
with their population of all races, creeds
and colors-or is it your purpose to hold
and occupy them indefinitely by military
force? There comes not a word in an
swer
The imperialisS seek to justify their
position by appealing to American pride.
They say we must make the republic a
great world power. | reply that it has
been the greatest world power for good
the earth has ever known From the
Declaration of Independence till now it
has done more to lift up humanity and
Tighten the burdens of mankind than all
the other governments OF the world. 1t
has lessened the power of the crown and
the power of the people as no
other system has done. 1t has driven
from this continent and made
its people free. 1t has made the thrones
Of the old world to tremble, and if we
will but be true to the teachings of our
fathers it shall, in Gods own appointed
time. shatter every throne and set all
people free.
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