The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-08-09

I American ofticial gave the Filipinos moral
assurance OF independence is not material
/ There can be no doubt that we accoptea
and utilized the services OF the F1hp'nos,
and that when we did 90 we had flilI
knowledge that they were hghting Tor
their own independence, and submit that
history furnishes no example 81 turpltude
baser than ours if we now substitute cur
yoke for the Spanish yoke.
Let us consider briefly the reasons
which have been given In support OF an
limperialistic policy. Some say that 1t ID
our diitv to hold the Philippine islands.
But duty is not an argument; 1t is con-
iclusion. To ascertain what our duty IL,
in any emergency. we must apply Well
settled and generally accepted principles
1t is our duty to avoid stealing no matter
whether the thing to be stolen is OF great
or little value. 1t Is our duty 10 avoid
killing a human being, no matter where
the human being lives or to what race or
lclsss he belongs. Everyone recognizes
the obligation imposed upon individuals 10
iobserve both the human and moral law
but as some deny the application OF TIL SO
laws TO nations, 1t may not be out OF place
to quote the opinion OF others. Jefferson,
THAN whom there Is no higher political au-
thority, said;
y know Of but one code of morality for
linen, whether acting singly or COLLEGE,
lively"
Frnklin whose learning wisdom and
virtue are a part of the priceless legacy
beaueathed to us from the revolutionary
days, engrossed the same idea in even
stroger language when he said: Justice
is as strictly due between neighbor nations
as between neighbor citizens A highway
man is as much robber when he plumbers
: in gang as when singly; and the nation
that makes an unjust war is only great
gang"
Men max 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 VINO
join in il. Force can defend right, out
force has never yet created right. II
1t was true We declared in the resolution
OF intervention, that the Cubans are
and OF right ought to be free and inde-
! pendent" Language taken from the Dec
. iaration Of Independently it is equally
true that the Filipipos ARE ami 0f right
, ought 10 be free sind Independent The
right of the Cubans to freedom was not
based upon their proximity TO the United
States, nor upon the language which they
Z spoke, nor yet upon the race or races TO
which they belonged. Congress by a
g practically unanimous vote declared that
the principles ,nunciarei at Philadelphia
in 1776 were still aliv2 ana applicable TO
the Cubaus.
Who will draw line between the nat
ural rights OF the Cubals and the Fill
: IkLlOS VINO VIII say IudL llle loIhlSA
HAVE a RIGHT TO LIBERTY
and the latter have no rights which We
are bound to respect? And, if the Fiji
pinos are and Of right Hught to De free
, and independent what right have We to
4 force our government upon them without
: their consent? Before our duty can b.
. ascerLained and when their rights ara
= once determined. 1t is as much our duty
"a to respect those rights as II was the duly
.,,ier1 90 AZ
i pie OF Cuba, or tho duty Of England to re-
0 spect the rights of the American colon
II lists. Rights never conflict; duties never
n clash Can It be our duty 20 usurp ruitti-
y cal rights which belong 20 other3! can
4 1t be our duty to kill those who, following
5 the example OF our forefath9rs, love Id
- erty well enough to fight for il
n Some poet has described the terror
s which overcame a soldier who in the
) midst of battle discovered that he had
o slain his brother 1t is wr.bten: All ye
? are brethren" Let us hope for the com
II ing of the day when life--wnich Wnen once
II destroyed can not be restored-Wlll be SO
% sacred that it will never be taken except
when necessary to punish crime already
committed. or to prevent crime aoou'
TO be committed.
II it is said that We have assumed be-
d fore the world obligations which make II
It necessary for us to permanently maintain
Is A Government in the Philippine islands,
l. reply, first, tina. the highest obligation
10 OF this Nation is to be true to itself. Nc
"a OBLIGATION to any particular nation, or t'
"a all nations combined, can require the
A abandonment of our theory of government
! and the substitution of doctrines against
:, which our whole National life has been :
- protest And. second, that our obligations
y 10 the Flipinos. who inhabit the islands
are greater than any obligation whlch We
can owe to foreigners who have tent
porary residence in the Philippines or de-
- sire to trade there.
it Is argued by some that the Fllipino'
" are incapable Of f-government, anC
CT that therefore we owe it to the world tC
n take control of them. Admiral Dewey, IL
an official report to the navy depar
De declared the Filipinos more capable o.
ed sell government than the Cubans, ant
n said that he based his opinion upon {
l. knowledge OF both races. But / will no
al rest the case upon the relative advance
he ment Of the Filipinos. Henry Clay, il
c. defending the rights of the people OF Scuti
u America TO self-government. said: III
IS. Is the
= DOCTRINE OF THRONES
to that man is too ignorant TO govern him
&c self. Their partisans assert his Inca
pacity in reference TO al. nations; II the!
OF can not command universal assent to tn
a. proposition, IL is then remanded to par
ucufar nations; and our pride aud oul
rs presumption too often make converts o
mr. Ms. l contend that 1t is to arraign tn
disposition of Providence himself 10 sup
hit pose that he has created beings incapa
-. Bile of governing themselves, and TO bl
trampled on by kings. Self-goyernmen
IN is the natural government Of man"
Clay was right. There are degrees o
va proficiency in the art OF self-goyernment
We but it is a reelection upon the Create
10 say that lie denied TO any people tn
u" capacity OF self-goyernment once ad
Mt NIT that some people are capable of self
government and that others are NOT, an
e. that the capable people have right {
OF seize upon snd govern the incapable, AM
YOU make force-brute force-tho onl,
foundation OF government and invite tn
It's raign Of the despot ! am not willing t
lei believe that an all-wise aud an all-lovin
is God created the Filiplnos. and then lef
ne tHem thousands OF years helpless until tn
,ct Islands attracted the attention OF Euro
of pean nations.
ia Republicans ask: Shall we haul dow
AT the tag that floats oyer our dead in tn
ia PhAippgnes?" The same question migh
vi have been asked when the American fla
~ doated over Chapultepec and waved owe
the dead who fell there; but the tours
ne who visits the city OF Mexico Will an
Ia