Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-08-09

d l.
| For 10 decades it has been the most po-
tent influence in the world. Not only has
II been Il world power. but IL has done
| more to affect the politics of the human
race than all the other nations of the
world combined. Because our Declara-
| ton of Independence was promulgated.
Others have been promulgated: because
| the patriots Of l17G fought for liberty 9TH
ers have fought for 1t: because our con-
stitution was adopted. other constitutions
have been adopted. The growth of the
| principle of self-government. planted on
American soil. has been the overshadow
| ing political fact of the 18th century. II
has made this nation conspicuous among
the nations ana given ii a place in history
! such no other nation has ever enjoyed
Nothing has been able to check the on
ward march or this idea. | am not will
| Ing that this nation shall cast aside the
omnipotent weapon of truth to seize
again the weapon of physical warfare. |
would not exchange the glory of this re-
| public for the glory of all the empires
that have risen and fallen since time be-
| gan.
The permanent chairman of the last
Republican national convention presented
the pecuniary argument in ali its BALD
ness. when he said:
I'VE make no hypocritical pretences Of
being interested in the Philippines solely
| on account OF others. While We regard
| the welfare of those people as sacred
| trust, we regard the welfare of the Amer
| lean people. first. We see our duty to our
selves as well as to others. We believe
| in trade expansion. BY every legitimate
means within the province of government
and constitution. We mean to stimulate
| the expansion of our trade and open new
markets"
This is the commercial argument. 1t is
based upon the theory that war can be
rightly waged for pecuniary advantage.
and that il is profitable to purchase trade
by force and violence: Franklin denied
| both of those propositions.
Imperialism would be profitable to the
army contractors; il would be profitable
| to the ship owners. who would carry live
soldiers to the Philippines and bring dead
| soldiers back: it would be profitable to
those who would seize upon the fran
chises, and it would be profitable to the
officials whose salaries would be fixed
| here and paid over there. but to the
| farmer. to the laboring man. and TO the
vast majority of those engaged in other
occupations. 1t would bring expenditure
without return and risk without reward
Farmers and laboring men have, as IA
rule. small incomes, and, under systems
which place the tax upon consumption.
pay more than their fair share of the ex-
people who receive least benefit from i'm
perialism will be injured most by the mil
itary burdens which accompany 1t.
In addition to the evils which he and
the farmer share in common. the labor
ing man will be the first to suffer If ORR
entail subjects seek work in the United
States: the first to suffer if American cap
ital leaves our shores to employ Oriental
labor in the Philippines to supply the
trade of China and Japan: the first to
suiier from the violence which the mill
tary spirit arouses. and the first to suffer
when the methods of Imperialism are APP
piled to our own government.
1t is not strange. therefore. that the
labor organizations have been quick to
note the approach of these dangers and
prompt to protest against both militarism
and imperialism.
The pecuniary argument. though more
effective with certain classes. is not likely
to be used SO often or presented with so
much emphasis as the religious argument.
If what has been termed the ''gunpowder
gospel were urged against the Filipinos
only, it would be a sufficient answer to
say that a majority of the Fiipinos are
now members of one branch of the Chris
tan church: but the principle involved Is
lenges serious consideration.
The religious argument varies in posi-
tiveness from passive belief that Provi-
dence delivered the Filipinos into our
hands. for their good and our glory. 10
the exultation of the minister who said
that we ought to thrash the natives
Filipinos> until they understand who We
are, and that every bullet sent. every
cannon Shot and every. flag waved means
righteousness.
The argument. made by some. that 1t
was unfortunate for the nation that. 1t
had anything to do with the Philippine
islands. but that the naval victory at Ma
Mia made the permanent acquisition of
those Islands necessary. is also unsound.
we WoH Il NiStoiy 1T otHlldSO, Dut Thai
did not compel us to hold Cuba. The
shedding of American blood in the Phil
ippine islands does not make II impera-
tive that we should retain possession for
ever; American blood was shed at San
Juan Hill and FL Caney. and yet the
President had promised the Cubans inde-
pendence. The fact that the American
flag floats over Manila does not compel
us to exercise perpetual sovereignty over
the islands; that flag waves over Havana,
today. but the President has promised to
haul IL down when the flag of the Cuban
republic is ready to rise in its place.
Better a thousand times that our flag in
the Orient give way to a flag represent
ing the idea of Self-government' than that
the flag Of this republic should become
the flag of an empire.
There is an easy honest. honorable So
luton of the Philippine question. 1t is
set forth in the Democratic platform and
1t is submitted with confidence to the
American people. This plan ! unreserv-
edly endorse. If elected. l shall convene
Congress in extra ordinary session as soon
as | am inaugurated. and recommend an
immediate declaration of the nations pur-
pose, hrst to establish a stable form of
government in the Philippine islands,
just as we are now establishing a stable
form of government in the island of
Cuba: second, to give independence to the
Filipinos, just as We have promised to
to protect the Filipinos from outside in
reference while they work out their des-
tiny. lust as we have protected the re-
publics of Central and South America
and are. by the Monroe doctrine, pledged
to protect Cuba.
After the Filipinos had aided us in the
war against Spain. We could not honor