The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-08-09

breaking out or hoStilitieS would nave pre-
vented bloodshed, and that its adoption
at any sub:equ mt time would have ended
hostiities
If the treaty had been rejected. con-
siderable time would have necessarily
| elapsed before a new treaty could have
/ been agreed upon and satisfied. and dur
ing that time the question would have
been agitatirg the public mind. II the Ba
/ con I. solution had 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, it
would have taken the question of imper-
/ ialsm out of politics and left the Amer-
+ can people free to deal with their domes-
4 tic problems But the resolution was de-
feattd by the vo G of the Republican Vice
President and from that time to this a
1 Republican Congress has refused to take
any action whatever in the matter.
/ When hostnities broke out at Manila,
1 Repub lean speakers and Republican edi-
tors at once sought TO lay the blame upon
those who had delayed the rati-
| fication of the treaty, and, dur
! ing the progress of the war. the same Re
! publcans have accused the opponents of
| Imperialism of giving encouragement to
! the Filipinos. This is a cowardly evasion
! of responsibility
should state Its Position.
! If it is right for the United States to
/ hold the Philippine Islands permanently
and initiate the European empires in the
/ government of the colonies, the Republi-
| can party ought to state its position and
/ defend IL, but it must expect the subject
races to protest against such a policy and
/ to resist to the extent of their ability.
/ The Filpinos do not need any encourage
ment from Americans now living. Our
whole history has been an en-
couragement not only to the
| Flipinos, but to all who are
denied a voice in their own gov
eminent. If the Republicans are prepar-
ed TO censure all who have used language
calculated TO make Filipinos hate foreign
DONNA ton, let them condemn the speech
OF Patrick Henry. When he uttered that
passionate appeal: Give me liberty or
give me DEATH" he expressed a sentiment
which still echoes in the hearts Of men.
Let them censure jefferson; of all the
statesmen of history, none have used
words so offensive to those who would
hold their fellows in political bondage.
Let them censure Washington, who de-
clared that the colonies must choose be-
tween liberty and slavery. Or if the stat
u - of limitations has run against the sins
of Henry and Jefferson and Washington,
let them censure Lincoln, whose Gettys-
burg speech will be quoted in defense of
popular government when the present adj
vocates of force and conquest are forgot
ten.
Some one has said that a truth once
spoken can never be recalled. 1t is true,
1t goes on and on. and no one can set a
limit to its ever widening influences But
if it were possible to obliterate every word
written or spoken in defense of the prin-
ciples set forth in the Declaration of In
Remembrance of .
still leave its legacy of perpetual hatred,
for it was God himself who placed in
every human heart the love of liberty.
lie never made a race of people so low
in the scale of civilization or intelligence
that ID would welcome a foreign master.
Lincoln said that abe safety of this ma
ton was not in its fleets, its armies or
its forts, but in the spirit which prizes
liberty and the heritage of all men, in all
lands everywhere; and he warned his
countrymen that they could not destroy
this spirit without planting the seeds of
despotsm at their own doors.
Those who would have this nation en-
ter upon career of empire must consider
not only the effect of imperialism on the
| Filipinos, but they must also calculate
! its effect upon our own nation. We can
/ not repudiate the principle of self-govern-
ment in the Philippines without weaking
that principle here.
Effects of Imperialism.
Even now we are beginning to see the
| paralyzing influence of Imperialism. Here
tofore, this nation has been prompt to ex-
press its sympathy with those who were
f1ghung for civil liberty While our sphere
| of activity has been limited to the West
ern Hemisphere, our sympathies have no,
| been bounded by the seas. We have felt
| II due to ourselves and to the world as
well as to those who were struggling for
The right 10 govern themselves, to proclaim
the interest which our people have from
the date of their own independence. felt
| in every contest between human rights
and abitrary power Three-quarters of a
century ago, when our nation was small
| the struggles of Greece aroused our people
and Webster and Clay gave eloquent ex-
preston 10 the universal desire for Greciar
| independence. In 1896, all parties manifest.
ed lively interest in the success of the
! Cubans, but now when war is in prog.
ress in South Africa, which must result ir
the extension of the monarchial idea or in
the triumph OF a republic, the advocate
| of Imperialism in this country dare not say
| a word in behalf of the Beers. Sympathy
| for the Beers does not arise from any un.
| frlendliness toward England; the Ameri
can people are not unfriendly toward The
people of any nation. This sympathy /.
due to the fact that, as stated in our plat.
form. we believe in the principle of self
government and reject, did our fore
fathers, the claims of monarchy. II thi:
nation surrenders its belief in the universe
! application of the principles set forth ir
the Declaration of Independence 1t will
lose the prestige and influence which il
has enjoyed among the nations as an cx
ponent of popular government.
Our opponents, conscious of the weak
ness of their cause. seek to confuse impe
riaism with expansion, and have ever
dared to claim Jefferson as a supporter OF
their policy. Jefferson spoke so freely
and used language with such precision thai
no one can be ignorant of his views Or
one occasion he declared: IF there be one
principle more deeply rooted than any 9th
er in the mind of every American it is
that we should have nothing to do with
conquest" And again he said: "Conques
is not in our principles; it is inconsistent
with our government"
The forcible annexation of territory tc
be governed by arbitrary power, differs az
much from the acquisition of territory tc
| be built up into states as a monarchy diff
fers from a democracy. The Democratic
party does not oppose expansion wher
| expansion enlargeS the area of the repup.
! lie and incorporates land which can be set
tied by American citizens. or adds to on,
| regulation people who are willing to be.
! co4ne citizens and are capable oil
dischargng theid duties as such. The ac.
| QUESTION of the Louisiana territory
! Florida Texas and other tracts uybich