Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-08-14

JENNINGS BRYAN.
people? If not, how did we secure title
to them? Were they thrown in with the
land! Will the Republicans say that in
animate earth has value, and when that
earth IS nodded by the Divine Hand and
stamped with the likeness of the Creator
1t becomes fixture and passes with the
SOIL! Ii governments derive their just
powers from the consent of the governed,
1T IS impossible to secure title to people,
either by force or by purchase. We could
eXtinguish SPANS title by treaty, but if
we hold title we must hold it by some
method consistent with our ideas of gov
eminent. When we made allies of the
Ellipinos and armed them to fight against
Spain, we disputed Spain's title. If we
buy SPANS title we are not innocent pur-
chasers. But even if we had not dis
puted SPANS title, she could transfer no
greater title than she had, and her title
was based on force alone. We cannot de-
fend such title, but, as Spain gave US
quit claim deed, we can honorably turn
the property over to the party in posses
sion.
Our Duty in the Philippines.
Some say that it is our duty to hold
the Philippine Islands. But duty is not
an argument; it is a conclusion. To as
certain what our duty is, in any emer-
gency, we must apply well-settled and
generally accepted principles. 1t is our
.iuty to avoid stealing, no matter whether
the thing to be stolen is of great or lit
tie value. 1t is our duty to avoid killing
human being, no matter where the hui
man being lives or to what race or class
ne belongs. Everyone recognizes the OBJ
Igatlon imposed upon individuals
to observe both the human and
moral, but, as some DENY
the application Of those laws to nations, it
may not be out of place to quote the opin-
IONS of others. jefferson, than whom there
Is no higher political authority, said:
know OF but one code OF morality for
men whether acting singly or collectively"
FRANKLIN. whose learning, wisdom and yir-
tue are part of the priceless legacy be-
queathed to US from the Revolutionary
days, expressed the same idea in even
stronger language when he said
Justice is as strictly due between neigh
Dor nations as between neighbor citizens
A hlghwayman is as much a robber when
ne plumbers in gang as when singly; and
the nation that makes an unjust war is only
a great gang"
Men may dare to do in crowds what they
would not dare to do as individuals, but the
moral character of an act Is not determined
by the number of those who join in it.
Force can defend right, but force has
never yet created a right. If ii was true
as declared in the resolutions of intervention
mat the Cnbans ARE and of right ought to
he free and independent" Language taken
from the Declaration of Independence 1t is
equally true that the Filipiuos "are and of
right ought to be free and independent
Who will draw a line between the natural
rights of the Cubans and the Filipinos? Who
will say that the former has right to lib
erty and that the latter has no rights which
we are bound to respect? And, II the Fill
ipinos ARE and of right ought to be free
and independent" what right have we 10
x.-ft
their consent? Before our duty can be as
certained, their rights must be determined
and when their rights are once determined
it Is as much our duty to respect those rights
rights of the people of Cuba, or the duty of
England TO respect the rights of the Ameri-
lean colonists. Rights never conflict: duties
never clash. Can it be our duty to usurD
political rights which belong to others? Can
1t be our duty TO kill those who, following
the example of our forefathers love liberty
well enough to fight for it?
1t is argued by some that the FIlipinos
therefore we owe it 10 the world to take
control of them. Admiral Dewey in an Off
cial report to the navy department, declared
the FllipinoS more capable of self govern
ment than the Cubans, and said thar he
based his opinion upon knowledge of both
races But | will not rest the case upon the
relative Advancement of the Filipinos Hem
ry Clay, in defending the rights of the peo-
PIC Va oONtA ~AAAtAANd ~ SSAl government,
said:
'It Is the doctrine of thrones that man Is
too ignorant TO govern himself. Their par
tisans assert his incapacity in reference to
all nations; II they cannot command univer-
sal assent to the proposition, tt Is then re-
manded to particular nations; and our pride
and our presumption too often make CON
yerts of us. | contend that Ii is to arrafgn
the disposition of Providence Himself, to
suppose that He has created beings ineapa-
BILE of gov erning themselves, and to be tram
pied on by kings. Self-goyernment is the
natural government of man."
Clay was right. There are degrees of pro-
ficiency in the art OF self government bur
1t is a reflection upon the CreatGT to say tint
he denied 10 any people the capacity of self
government. Once admit that some people
are capable of self-goyernment and that 9th
ers are not. aud that the capable people
have a right TO seize upon and govern the
Incapable and you make force-brute force
the only foundation o3 government and in
vite the reign of the despot.
Chapuitepec Precedent.
Republicans ask: .'Shan we hauI down
the dag that floats over our dead in the
Philippines The same question might
have been asked when the American fan
Heated over Chapnltepec and waved over
the dead who fell there; but the tourist
who visits the City Of Mexico finds there
national cemetery owned by the United
States aud cared for by an American citi-
when the treaty With Mexico was ssigned.
American authority withdrew 10 the Rio
GTande. aud | venture the opinion that dur
ing the last fifty years the people OF Mex
leo have made more progress under the
stimulus of Independence and self-g0vern-
ment than they would have made under
carpet bagging government held In place by
bayonetS. The United States and Mexico
friendly republics are each stronger and
happier than they would have been had the
former been cursed ana the latter crushed
by an imperialistic policy. disguised be
nevolent assimilation.
"Caa we not govern cOolteSf'' NO are ask
ed The question i not what We gan do but
What we oagnt 10 do. This nasion can do
whatever il desires 10 do. but il must ac
eept responsibility for what Ii does. II the
can amend the Constitution. | repeat. the
nation can do whatever Il desires 10 do. hut
X cannot avoid the natural and legitimate
results Of its own conduct. The young man
piea seS. He can disregard the teachings Of
his parents, he can fr1mpie upon all that
he has been taught u consider sacred: he
cen dIs0hey the laws Of the State. the laws
az society and the laws Of cod. He can
stamp failure upon his life aud make bis
very existence 4 curse 70 his fellow men,
and be can bring his father an6 mother in
sorrow - Vhe graves bet lie cannot annuI
the sentence. The Nages az sin Is DEATH
And 80 With this nation. Ii Is Of age. and I.
can do what IL pieaSeS. il can SpnFn the ira
dtti0uS OF the pa>ts X can Ecau9iate the
principles upon which the nation rests. II
can enEdey force Instead & reaSoa. il car
Substitute might for rights II tan coaQuer
Ayesker. people II can expictt their landS. ap-
pr0pTikte their property and kils their pea
pie. bur Il earnet repeal The moral .aw or
escape the Punishment dccreesl Tor the vlo-
lAsioa II human rights
Sore argue that Amersgka yusa III the
Ephiiippiue Islands VIZ reSast Il fae better
Question 81 the Fs;spsnrS- BE not deceived
IL we expect 20 saaL1tAi2 cCl0alal policy,