The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-04-25
ARTHUR ROPES. General Editor
Democratic Criticism.

Take the Brattleboro Ret0rnler by
contraries in any statement it may
make regarding State or national Re-
publican affairs. 1t is as pitiable a
thing for newspaper as for an indi-
vidual to slump into the habit of a COM
mon scold and systematic and persis-
tent perverter of truth. That is what
the Refornser has become-a crooked,
Grabbed stick in the political woodpile.
Why cannot the contemporary practice
something of the manhood and decency,
exhibit something of fairness and rea-
son of some of the independent Demo
cratic newspapers of the country
the Eagle of Brooklyn for exampleP
The Retormer does not like the plat
form the Republicans adopted at the
recent State convention. 1t was not
expected that it would. The resolu-
lions, it is very clear, were not written
with reference to winning the applause
of the Reformer. Had they been, they
would have been kicked out of the con-
vention. But because the contem-
porary doesn't like the platform, that is
no reason why he should lie about any
fact of the instrument itself or any cir
cumstance of its adoption. The Re
former AYERS that "the fact is there
were from dozen to twenty votes for
it from that great assemblage." The
fact is that the reading of the resolu-
tions was often interrupted by express
sions of the approval of the delegates,
heartily manifested, and the division
enunciating the doctrine shat is called
"expansion," or imperialism, was
listened to with intense interest, and
instantly greeted with round of APP
plause that was both general and sig
nificantly earnest and expressive of the
sentiments of the assemblage as a body.
And when the question of the adoption
of the platform was put the response
from every part of "that great assem-
blage" was AYE, and there was in the
utterance no suggestion of the perfume
toriness with which such action is GUS
tomarily taken at the close of conven-
ton proceedings.
The Retormer seeks to extract few
rays of sunshine from the cucumber
the delegates to the second district
convention hastily produced, and par
ticularly this clause: "That they (the
Filipinos) may in time be fitted for
that self-government to which, when
competent, they are entitled" When
have Republicans proposed any other
course, either for the Filipinos, the
Porto Ricans, or the Cubans, or the
Hawaiians? To secure self-govern.
ment for the Filipinos, when Compel
ent, the government of the United
States suppressed the dictator and
usurper, Aguinaldo, his adherents and
his army of thieves, robbers and vaga-
bonds. Self-government is the key
stone of the arch Republican policy is
rearing over all the possessions of the
United States. And it will be not the
sort of self government that prevails
under the Democratic party in the
Southern States of this Union. So
Aguinaldo was suppressed.
The district convention pronounce.
ment was entirely superfuous. Amer
lea can offer nothing else to any people.
when competent, coming into her
dominion. Self-government is in
American institutions. Under them, it
springs up as naturally and inevitably
as the verdure under the light and
warmth of the spring sunshine. The
Filipinos, and every other one of the
two score and more tribes Of the Phil.
ippine islands, may sin time be fitted
for self-government", to which their
title today is as good, under American
sovereignty, as when they shall become
competent" to be intrusted with itf
duties and responsibilities. This state.
ment is automatic, and its incorpora
ton into Republican platform is en-.
tirely unnecessary, as unnecessary as 6
declaration of the sum of two and two
whatever might be the case with ar
assemblage of Democrats, whose party
in many States of this Union persist
emily and systematically denies the
right of self-government, and by Law
and riot and murder suppresses its en-
joyment.