The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-08-16

test against government without con-
sent and taxation without representa-
ton. In what respect does the position
of the Republican party differ from the
position taken by the English govern
ment in 1776? did not the English
government promise a good govern
ment to the cOlonists? Di,
not the English government promis
that the colonists should have the larg
est measure Of self-government con-
sistant with their welfare and English
duties? The Republican par.
ty has accepted the European idea and
planted itself upon ground taken by
George III. and by every ruler who
distrusts the capacity of the people for
self-government or denies them voice
in thir own affairs.
The Republican platform promises
that some measure of self-goyernment
is to be given to the Filipinos by law;
but, even this pledge is not fulfilled.
Why does the Republican
party hesitate to lcgislate upon the
Philippine question: Because law
would disclose the radical departure
from history and psecedent. contem-
plated by those who control the Re.
publican party. The storm of protest
WHICH kECclVu luC Va W ASiSuu DIll was
an Indication of what may be expected
when the American people are brought
face to face with legislation upon this
subject:
If the Porto Ricans. who welcome
annexation, are to be denied the guar
antee of our constitution, what is to,
be the lot of the Filipinos, who resisted
our authority? If secret influences
could compel disregard of our plain
duty toward friendly people, living
near our shores, what treatment will
those same influences provide for un-
friendly people 1000 miles away? If,
in this country where the people have
The right to vote, Republican leaders
dare not take the side of the people
against the great monOpolies which
have grown up within the last few
years, how ran they be trusted to pro-
tect the Filipinos from the corpora
tions which are waiting to exploit the
islands?
II the sunlight of full citizenship to
be enjoyed by the people of the United
| states, and the twilight Of semi-citizen.
ship endured by the people Of Porto
| Rico, while me thick darkness Of per.
.petual vassalage foyers the Philips.
tsDtnes2 Il sIs
The Porto Rico{ tariff law as.
serts the doctrine that the on
Grafton Of the constitution is confined
to the forty-tive states. The Democratic
party disputes this doctrine and de.
nounces 1t as repugnant to both the
letter aud spirit Of our organic law.
There 10 no place in our system of gov.
ernmenr. for the deposit of arbitrary
and irresponsible power. 9
The territorial form Of govern t,ant {.
temporary and preparatory, and -.
chief security a citizen :ofdh territory
has is found u ipefs fact that he enioys i
J 4sHh1a constitutional guarantees, and
Is subject to the same general laws as
citizen of a state.
Throw away this security and his
rights will be violated and his inter
ests sacrificed at the demand Of those
WEo have political influence. This is
the evil of the colonial system, NO mat
ter by what nation it is applied.
OUR TITLE TO THE ISLANDS.
Were the People Thrown in with the ORR
entail Real Estats?
What is our title to the Philippine
islands? Do we hold them by treaty
or by conquest? Did we buy them or
did we take them? Did we purchase
the people? If not. how did we secure
title to them? Were they thrown in
with the land? Will the Republicans
say that inanimate earth has value,
and when that earth is nodded by the
Divine Hand and stamped with the
likeness of the Creator it becomes a
fixture and passes with the soil? II
governments derive their Just powers
from the consent OF the governed 1t is
Impossible to secure title to people,
either by force or by purchase. We
could extinguish Spain's title by treaty,
but II we hold title we must hold it
by some method consistent with our
ideas of government. When we made
allies of the FilipinOs and armed them
to buy Spaln's title we are not inno-
cent purchasers. But even If we had
not disputed Spain's title she could
transfer no greater title than she had.
and her title was based on force alone.
We cannot defend such title, but as
Spain gave us afquit claim deed we
can honorably turn the property over
to the party in possession. Whether
any American official gave the Fill
pinOs formal assurance of indepen-
dence is not material. There can be
nc, doubt that we accepted and utilized
the services of the Filipinos, and that
when we did SO we had full knowledge
that they were fighting for their own
independence, and submit that his
tory furnishes no example Of turpitude
baser than ours IL we now substitute
our yoke for the Spanish yoke.
Let us consider briefly, the reasons
which have been given In support of
an imperialistic policy. Some say that
1t is our duty to hold the Philippine,
islands. But duty is not an argument;
1t is conclusion. To ascertain what
our duty, is in any emergency we must
apply we'll settled and generally ac-
cepted principles. 1t Is our duty to
avoid stealing, no matter whether the
thing to be stolen is of great or little
value. Every one recognizes the obliga-
tiOn imposed upon individuals to OBJ
serve both the human and moral law;
but as some deny the application of
those laws to nations 1t may not be out
OF place to quote the. opinion of 9TH
ers. Jefferson, than whom there is no
higher political authority, said: II
know Of but one code Of morality for
/ men. whether acting singiy or col
lectively." Franklin. whose learning,
wisdom and virtue are a part of the
spriceless legacy bequeathed to us from
1.-THE revolutionary. daVs eYnrpaapd fhn,