The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-08-09

militia are SuInclenJ III ordinary llueS,
and in an emergency the nation should
in the future as in the past place its
dependence upon the volunteers who
come from all occupations at their coun-
trys call and return to productive labor
when their services are no longer re-
quired-men who fight when the country
needs fighters and work when the coun-
try needs workers.
WHAT SHALL WE DO WITH THEM?
The Republican platform assumes that
the Philippine Islands will be retained
under American sovereignty, and we
have a right to demand CT the Republic
can leaders discussion of the future
status of the Filipino. Is he to be
citizen or subject? Are we to bring
into the body polite eight or ten mil
lion Asiatics, so different from us in
race and history that amalgamation is
impossible? Are they to share with us
in making the laws and shaping the des-
tiny Of this nation? No Republican OF
prominence has been bold enough to adj
vocate such a proposition. The Nc
Emery resolution, adopted by the Senate
Immediately after the ratification of the
treaty, expressly negatives this idea.
The Democratic platform described the
situation when it says that the Filipinos
cannot be citizens without endangering
our civilization. Who will dispute it?
And what is the alternative? If the Fill
ipino is not to be a citizen, shall we
make him a subject? On that question
the Democratic platform speaks with
emphasis. 1t declares that the Filipino
cannot be a subject without endangering
cur form of government. republic can
have no subjects. A subject is possible
only in a government resting upon force,
he is unknown in government deriving
its just powers from the consent Of the
governed. The Republican platform says
that THE largest measure of self-gov-
eminent consistent with their welfare
and our duties shall be secured to them
(the Filipinos) by law" This is
strange doctrine for a government which
ewes its very existence to the men who
offered their lives as a protest against
government without consent and taxa
tion without representation. In what
respect does the position of the Republic
can party differ from the position taken
by the English government in 1776? Did
not the English government promise
good government to the colonists? What
King ever promised a bad government
to his people? Did not the English govern
ment promise that the colonists should
have the largest measure of self-govern-
ment consistent with their welfare and
English duties? Did not the Spanish gov
eminent premise to give the Cubans the
largest measure of self-government con-
sistent with their welfare and Spanish
TNI. hnE1r on
monarchy and a republic may be sum-
med up in one sentence. In monarchy
the king gives to the people what he
believes to be a good government; in a
republic the people secure for themselves
what they believe to be a good gov
ernment The Republican party has ac
cepted the European idea and planted
itself upon the ground taken by George
III and by every ruler who distrusts the
capacity of the people for self-govern-
ment or denies them a voice in their
cwn affairs.
WHY DO REPUBLICANS HESITATE?
The Republican platform promises that
some measure of self government is to
be given to the Filipinos by law; but,
even this pledge is not fulfilled. Nearly
sixteen months elapsed after the rati-
fication of the treaty before the adjourn
ment of Congress last June and yet no
law was passed dealing with the Philip
pine situation. The will of the President
has been the only law in the Philippine
Islands wherever the American author
ity extends Why does the Republican
party hesitate to legislate upon the
Philippine question? Because law
would disclose the radical departure from
history and precedent contemplated by
those who control the Republican party
The storm of protest which greeted the
Porto Rican bill was an indication OF
what may be expected when the Amerl-
can people are brought face to face with
legislation upon this subject If the Por-
to Ricans, who welcome annexation, are
to be denied the guarantees of our con-
stitution, what is to be the lot OF the
Filipinos, who resisted our authority!
If secret influences could compel dis
regard of our plain duty toward friendly
people living near our shores, what
treatment will those same influences pro-
vide for unfriendly people 1000 miles
away? If, in this country where the peo-
pIe have the right to vote, Republican
leaders dare not take the side OF the
people against the great monopolists
which have grown up within the last
few years. how can they be trusted to
protect the FHipinos from the corpora
tisns which are waiting to exploit the
islands?
TWILIGHT OF SEMI-CITIZENSHIP
Is the sunlight Of full citizenship to
be enjoyed by the people of the United
States, and the twilight Of semi citi-
zenship endured by the people Of Porto
Rico while the thick darkness of per-
petual vassalage covers the Philippines?
The Porto Rican tariff laws assert the
doctrine that the operation of the Con-
etitution is confined to the forty-fve
States. The Democratic party disputes
this doctrine and denounces it as re-
pugnant to both the letter and spirit of
our organic law. There is no place in
our system of government for the deposit
of arbitrary and irresponsible power.
That the leaders Of great party should
claim for any President or Congress the
right to treat millions of people as mere
possessions" and deal with them unre-
AZ ton or