The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1900-08-17

ststutionai guarantees and II subject to
state. Take away this security and his
rights will be violated and his interest
sacrihced az the demand Of those Whey
colonial system. no matter by what nation
Il u applied.
Title To the Philippines.
what Is our title TO the Philippine 10
iandsr DO we hold them by treaty or by
take them? Did we purchase the peo-
Pile? II not. how. did we secure |
title to them, them We're w,,, thsy ' rnnun.
licans say that inanimate earth has value. |
and when that earth Is nodded by the |
Divine hand and stamped with the IKE
and passes with the soilg II governments
derive their just powers from the con-
s secure title to people. either By force or
| by purchase. We could extinguish SPANS
title by treaty. but II we hold title we
with our IDEAS OF government. When we
| made allies of the Filpnos and armed
them to night against Spain. we disputed
are not innocent purchasers. hut even
II we had not disputed SPANS title, she
could transfer no greater title than she
| had and her title was based on force
alone. We cannot defend such title, but,
as Spain gave us "A quit claim deed we
can honorably turn the proRsfy oyer an 70
| American official gave the Filpinos for
NAL assurance of Independence Is not
material There can be no doubt that We
accepted and utilized the services of the
Filipinos, and that when we did SO we had
full knowledge that they were nghting
| for their own independence. and submit
that history furnishes no example OF
.urpitude baser than ours " we now SUD-
stitute our yoke for the Spanish yoke:
Let us consider briefly the reasons
which have been given in support OF an
imperialistic policy. Some say that II Is
our duty to hold the Philippine Islands.
But duty Is not an argument: II Is con-
| clusion. To ascertain what our duty Is,
in any emergency. we must apply Wen
settled and generally accep ,r Pr o matter
whether the thing to be stolen Is OF greas
or little value 1t Is our duty 10 AVOID
killing a human being. no matter where
or class he belongs. Everyone recognizes
the obligation imposed upon individuals TO
observe both the human and moral laws
but. az some deny the application OF those
laws 10 nations. IL may not be out OF
place TO quote the opinion Of others. JEFF
ferson. than whom there Is no higher po-
litical authority said:
II know OF but one code Of morality for
men. whether acting singly or collec-
FRANKLIN. whose learning. wisdom and
! virtue are n part OF the priceless legacy
bequeathed 70 US from the rs S T., 2. ~
stronger Language when he SAID:
; Justice Is az strictly due between
E n n,,,zn na'l hirhwaymSn is as much a
2 robber when he plumbers In yang as
$ when singly: and the nation that makes
; an unjust war Is only great gang.
il Force Creates No Right.
a Men may dare to do In crowds what they
y would not dare to do as individuals but
= The moral character OF an act Is not ce'
e termined by the number OF those VINO JOLT
: in it. Force can defend right. put iorc'
| taA q
. true as declared In the resolutions OF In
e PREVENTION. that the Cubans are and o.
right ought to be Tree anu indspsn ,,on =
independencet, II Is equally true that TN
Filipinos ARE and OF right ought 10 be ire
It and indepe ndent." The right OF the Cuban
l. TO freedom was rot based upon their prcx
e unity TO the United States. nor upon tn
l. language which they spoke. nor J,t upo,
a Congress by a practically unanimous vol
" declared that the principles enunciated q
50 Philadelphia IN l..s were sun ahvs an
At Applicable TO the Cubans.
" Who will draw a line betw ne natura
I'd rights OF the Cubans and the rliipinos
10 Who will say that the former has righ
n. which we are bound 10 respect? And. II N
ne Filipinos ARE and OF right ought TO Q
On free and independent what right have
lis 10 force our government upon them with
es out their consent? Before our duty can I
IL ascertained. their rights must be detel
n mined and when their rights are once d.
te termined. 1t Is az much our duty TO respe.
he those rights as II was the duty OF Spai
to respect the right, Of the people 81 tu1
n rights OF the American colonists. Righ'
n never conflict; duties never clash ca
ur II be our duty to usurp political rign'
an which belong to others? Can II be our dut
lie to Kill those who. following the examp
e; Of our forefathers. love liberty well enoug
hse Some poet has described the terror whio
Us overcame soldier who; In the midst
sna ns hsd Ta bret
he rem" Let us hope for the coming OF u
&C. day when human (which: when on
Its destroyed. cannot be restored-will be
Ell sacred that II will never be taken excel
m when necessary to punish crime alreae
H. committed. or to prevent crime abo
- III it's said that we have assumed befo
sh the world obligations which make u nece
sh sary for US TO permanently maintain
- government In the Philippine Islands.
~ reply. first, that the highest obligation
% this nation is to be true TO Itself. No oh
n cation to any particular nation. or 70 !
n ment Of our theory OF government and g
nd substitution Of doctrines against viii
~, -" our whole national life has been a prote.
" And. second. that our obligations TO Z
-, Filipinos. who inhabit the islands. a
sh greater than any obligations which we G
"a residence in the Philippines or desire
No trade there.
yes Capacity Of self-GOvernment.
, ~ 1t Is argued by some that the FIlipin
- are Incapable of self-government a
-, that therefore we owe IL to the world
~. take control of them Admiral Dewey. In
~ official report TO the navy department. 3
,hs clared the F'ilipinos more capable OF Sc
-, government than the Cubans. and 50
that he based his opinion upon kno,
edge OF both races. But i Will not r.
~. the case upon the relative ADVANCING
=. of the Filipinos. Henry Clay. in defer
"a. ing the rights of the people OF Sou
pe America to se!f-government. said:
'sn 1T Is the doctrine of thrones that m
~ II too ignorant to govern himself. Tn
.ns partisans assert his incapacity in ref
ess ence to all nations. IL they cannot co
Al, | mand universal assent to the proposals
: -. IL is then remanded to particular natiol
~ and our pride and our presumption
~. | often make converts of US. conte
% that II is to arraign the disposition
2 Providence Himself. to suppose that
80 has created beings incapable of COVE
"a ing themselves. and to be trampled on
49, kings Self-government Is the natu
~ | government Of man.
80 Clay was right. There are degr
M OF proficiency in the art OF self-gove
~ ment, but IL Is "A reflection upon the CT
SIC tor to say that He denied to any peo
s' the capacity Of cf-government Oh
~ admit that some people are capable
rho self-government. and that others are
An and that the capable people have a ri
to seize upon and govern the incapal
aar and you make force-brute force-the o
| .e nd