Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-02-10
SHALL WE RETAIN THE PHILIP
PlNBS7"

Senator GEORGE r. HoAR OF Msssa-
,husetts in CoLLrER's WEEKLY :of Feb
rusry Bird, discusses, "Shsn We Re-
tain the Philippines %
1t is unquestionsbly one OF the
ablest documents which has vet ap-
peared upon that subject and cannot
fail to make . most favorable impress
sion upon the people OF the United
States regardless of party, race, color
or religion.
He commences as follows:
whether as some people believe,
the wer in the Philippine Islands is
near its end and we are so deal with
the grave question of duty when their
entire submission has bsen brought
about; or whether as others think, we
are at the beg ginning OF long and
costly period Of strife with @ stubborn
foe fighting and ready 60 die for Lib
erty, Is matter of which / do not
deem myself a good judge. Military
experts, who combine with that accom-
piishment knowledge of she quality
and temper of this Oriental people, are
alone competent TO tell US. In either
case It Ia worth while to sum up the
debate as far as it has gone, and to
state briefly and clearly the position of
the two parties that divide the people
OF the United States"
In referring to the War with Spain
he says:
There are persons, doubtless, who
think shat the war with Spain was
wrong. They believe we should have
left Cuba to her fate, or that diplomacy
would have accomplished what we ac-
conplished by arms. do not agree
with them. And L do not think them
important enough either in numbers
or in weight of argument to be spoken
OF further here, especially as that mat
ter lie irrevocably settled.
But the living issue can best be
made clear by saying that it is between
those who have wished, and who now
wish, that the United States should
deal with the people of the Philippine
Islands as we dealt with Cuba, and
those who wish that we should subdue
them, impose on them such govern.
meHt as we think fit, and use their
land as stepping stone to the trads
OF China. We liberated Cuba from
Spain. We declared that il would be
unrlghteouS and criminal to underts ke
co gee any selfish advantage thereby.
The President said: 'Forcible annexa-
ton would be criminal aggresslon.'
de further said: Government must
rest upon the free consent of the gov
erned and all Of the governed. We
have no right in law or morals 60 usurp
that which belongs to another wheth-
er it be property or power
States hereby disclaim any disposition
or intention to exercise SOW ereignty,
jurisdiction or control over said island
except for the pscification thereof, and
asserts it's determination when that ia
to leave the cove rnment
and control Of the island to its peo-
ple.'"
The distinguished statesman de-
clares:
both these declarations had the al
most un Animous approval of the peo-
pie. Accordingly we have from the
beginning disclaimed any purpose OF
smpire over the island OF Cuba. We
purpose to protect Cuba from the am-
billions or greed Of any other people.
We purpose equally to protect them
rom our own. Having overthrown the
government there, such as it
vas, we purpose to maintain order and
10 carry on government until o new
one can be established thereof the
people by the people; and for the peo-
pie. That done, we mean to Withdraw
,s we have promised, it being under
stood, however. that our withdrawal
will let in no other power on earth to
AXE the place of SDainD
Senator HoAR states the issues be-
tween the Imperialists and the Anti
plainly when he remarks:
NOW one party TO this discussion SAYS
hat IL there were any reason growing
1ut of our Constitution, our principles,
the doctrines OF righteousness and
freedom and human rights to which
this country ia pledged, which demand
ID such q course in Cuba, these things
equally demand q like course in the
Eastern Hemisphere, and that the
facts and the situation require it much
more clearly in LuZon than they re-
quire them in Cuba.
When we say this, there seem to be
. singular difficulty in getting our inn
perislist friends to Join issue with as.
We tell them that there is a people in
Luzon and that this people have
their independence. They
reply to you, But there are mountains
of iron there We tell them that our
Declaration of Independence and our
honored leaders and statesmen from
President Washington to Presidents
Mckinley tell as that it ia q crime TO
subdue such people By force of arms.
And shey answer you. But there are
great stores Of coal in those islanda.'
We tell them that we brought over
Aguinaldo ourselves, armed him and
placed him at the head of his people,
we'll knowing that he and they were
striving for independence; that they
told rs again and again that indepsa-