The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1900-08-16

the Republican leaders give new owl
dence OF their abandonment OF tht
earlier Ideals Of the party and OF theil
complete subserviency to pecuniary
considerations.
"But they shall not be permitted tt
evade the stupendOus and far reaching
Issue which they have deliberately
brought into the arena Of politics.
When the president, supported by
a practically unanimous vote Of the
House and Senate, entered upon q wal
with Spain for the purpose OF aiding
the struggling patriots Of Cuba, the
country. without regard to party, ap
plauded. Although the Democrats rec
ognized that the administration woalG
necessarily gain political advantage
from the conduct Of q war which, in the
worry nature OF the case must soon end
In a complete victory, they We'd with
the Republicans in the support which
they gave to the president. Wien the
war was over and the Repu blican load.
ers began to suggest the propriety of q
colonial policy opposition at once man.
ifested itself. When the president fin.
which recognized the independence OF
Cuba, but provided for the cession OF
the Philippine islands to the United
States, the menace OF Imperialism be.
came 80 apparent that many preferred
to reject the treaty and risk the Ills
that might follow rather than take the
chance Of correcting the errors of the
treaty by the independent action Of this
country. I was among the number OF
those who beloved it better to ratify
the treaty and end the war, release the
volunteers, remove the excuse for war
expenditures, and then give the Filipi-
| M 1,r fs,A1 ,r,l t1l> t..tS l.
forced from Spain by new treaty.
In view OF the criticism which my
action aroused In some quarters take
this occasion to restate the reasons
given at that time. thought 1t safer to
trust the American people to give in
pendence to the Filipinos than to trust
the Accomplishment OF that purpose to
diplomacy with an unfriendly nation.
Lincoln embodied an argument In the
question, when he asked: Can aliens
make treaties easier than friends can
make laws?' | believe that we are
now In a better position to wage sue
| cesstul contest against imperialism
than we would have been had the
treaty been rejected.
With the treaty ratified q clean
cut Issue is presented between gov.
ernment by consent and government
| the responsibility for all that happens
until the question Ia settled.
| II the treaty had been rejected,
the opponents OF imperialism would
have been held responsible for any in
ternational complications which mil int
havo arisen before the ratification of
another treaty. But whatever differ
ences OF opinion may have existed as
to the best method OF opposing the
colonial policy, there never was any
differences as to the great Importance
OF the question and there Ia no differ.
encs now rs to the course to be pur.
sued.
'"The title Of Spain being oxtinsuish
! ed, we were at liberty to deal with the
tilipinOs according to American prin.
ciples. The Bacon resolution, intro
duced month before hostilities broke
| out at Manila, promised Independence
to the Filipinos on the same terms that
1t was promised to the Cubans. sup
ported this resolution and believe that
It's adoption prior to the breaking out
Of hOstilities would have prevented
blOodshod, and that It's adoption ct any
subsequent time would have ended
hostilities.
=" If the treaty had been rejected
considerable time would have neces.
sarily elapsed before new treaty
could have been agreed upon and rati
lied, and during that time the question
would have been agitating the public
| mind. II the Bacon resolution haC
been adopted by the Senate and carried
out by the president either at the time
OF the ratification OF the treaty or at any
time afterwards, 1t would have TAX on thu
question OF imperialis out Of politics
and left the American people free tt
| deal with their domestic problems
But the resolution wae defeated by the
vote Of the Republican vice president
| and from that time to this q Republi.
can Congress has refused to take any
| action whatever in the matter.
"When bostilities broke out at Ma.
nila, Republican speakers and Repub
lican editors at once sought to lay the
blame upon those who had delayed the
the progress Of the war, the same Re.
puhlicans have accused the opponents
Of imperialism Of giving encourage
ment to the Fllipinos.
"Th's 10 cOwardly evasion Of re-
sponsibility.
"If it is right for the United States
to hold The Philippine islands per-
mauently and initiate European en-
pires in the government OF colonies,
the Republican party ought to state It's
position and defend 1t, but it must ex.
pect the subject races to protest against
such a policy and to resist to the extent
OF their ability. The Filipinos do not
need any encouragement from Ameri.
cans now living. Our whole history
has been an encouragement, not only
to the Fllipinos but to all who are de.
MEDIA voice In their own government.
II the Republicans are prepared to
censure all who have used language
calculated to make the Filipinos hate
foreign domination, lot them condemn
the speech OF Patrick Henry.
| "When he uttered that passionate
appeal, Give mo liberty or give me
DEATH he expressed sentiment
which still echoes In the hearts OF
mon.
" Lot them censure Jefferson OF all
the statesmen OF hiatory mono have
used words 30 Offensive to those who
would hold their fellows in political
bondage.
-" Let them censure Washington,
who declared that the colonists must
choosed between liberty and slavery.