Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-08-09

phns, Dut now, WHeH WAL 10 III pVk
ress In South Africa. which must resdi
or In the triumph of republic. the ad
vocates Of Imperialism In this countr,
dare not say a word In behalf OF tn
Beers. Sympathy for the Beers does no
arise from any unfriendllness towar'
England; the American people are no
unfriendly toward the people OF any ma
ton. This sympathy Is due to the fac
that, AS stated In our platform. we be
lieve In the principle OF self-governmen
and reject, as did our forefathers, thu
claims Of monarchy. II this nation sur
renders Its belief In the universal appli
cation Of the principles set forth In tn,
declaration of independence, It will lose
the prestige and influence which II has
enjoyed among nations as an exponent OF
popular government
our opponents, conscious OF the weak
ncss~of their cause, seek TO confuse I'm
perlalism with expansion, and have even
dared to claim Jefferson as supporter
Of their policy jefferson spoke so freely
and used language with such precision
that no one can be ignorant Of his views.
Ga one occasion he declared III there
be one principle more deeply rooted than
any other in the mind Of every Ameri-
can, 1t Is that we should have nothing
II do with conquest" And again he
said. Conquest is not In our principles.
| It Is inconsistent with our government"
The forcible annexation OF territory
to be governed by arbitrary power, DIFF
| fere as much from the acquisition OF
territory to be built up into states as a
monarchy differs from democracy, The
democratic party does not oppose expan-
sion, when expansion enlarges the area
of the republic and Incorporates lands
which can be settled by American clti-
zens, or adds to our population people
who are willing to become citizens and
ar capable Of discharging their duties
as such The acquisition of the Louisiana
territory, Florida. Texas and other tracts
which have been secured from time to
time, charging the republic, and the con-
stitutlon followed the flag into the new
territory, II IL now proposed to seize
upon distant territory more densely pop
ulated than our own c0uptry and to
force upon the people a government for
which there is no warrant In our con-
stituion or our laws. Even the argu-
ment that this earth belongs to those who
desire to cultivate It and have the phys
teal power to acquire It. II cannot be
invoked to Justify the appropriation OF
the Philippine Islands by the United
States If the Islands were unInhablted
American citizens would not be willing to
20 there and TIL the soil, The white race
will s0t live so near the equator. Other
nations have tried to colonize In the
same latitude. The Netherlands have
controlled Java for 800 years, and yet
to-day there are less than 10000 people OF
European birth scattered among 25,OOO,-
600 natives After century and a half
of English domination In India, less than
one-twentieth Of one per cent, Of the
a. L.. J..I lr ,f iut NJ nt,I
il requires an army Of 10000 British SOL
dIers to take care OF the tax collectors.
Spain has asserted title to the Philippine
islands for three centuries, and yet, when
our fleet entered Manila bay, there were
less than 10000 Spaniards residing In the
Philippines
A colonial policy means that we shall
send to the Philippines few traders,
few task masters and few office
holders and an army large enough to
support the authority Of small fraction
of the people while they rule the natives.
If we have an imperial policy we must
have a large standing army as It's nat
ural and necessary complement The
spirit which will Justify the forcible an.
nexaton of the Philippine Islands, Will
Justify the seizure OF other islands, and
the domination Of other people, and with
wars Of conquest we can expect certain,
II not rapid growth Of our military es-
Enlistment That large permanent In
crease In our regular army Is intended
by the republican leaders Is not mere
matter Of conjecture hut a matter or
fact In his message Of December bth,
iS!S. the president asked for authority to
increase the standing army to 100000 In
lS1G the army contained about @0OC men.
The republican platform assumes that
the Philippine islands Will be retained
under American sovereignty, and we
have right to demand Of the republican
leaders a discussion Of the future status
Of the Filipino. Is he to be a citizen or
vS sJeeo a 5r We ea to hr@E into se BODY
different from us In race and history that |
Is impossible? Are they |
to share with us in making the laws and
shaping the destiny of this nation9 No |
republican of prominence has been bold |
enough to advocate such a proposition,
The McEnery resolution adopted by the
senate Immediately after the ratification
If the treaty expressly negatives this Idea.
The democratic platform described the
situation when II says that the l'ilipnos
cannot be citizens without endangering
our civilization Who will dispute It?
And whit is the attentive II the Fill
pino is not to be citizen, shall we make
hin! a subject9 On that question the dem
1cratic platform sueaks with emphasis
II declares that the Filipino cannot be
subject without endangering our form of
government A republic can have no
subjects. A subject Is possible only in n
government resting upon force: he is
Unknown in a government deriving its
ust powers from the consent of the gov
,rned'
The republican platform promises that
some measure Of self.government is TO
no given 10 the FilipInos-by law, but.
wen this nledge is not fulfilled Nearly
q months elapsed after the ratification Of
he treaty. before the adjournment Of con-
Press last Iune and vet M law was
1assed dealing with the Philippine situa-
ion. The viii of the president has been
he only law in the philippine Islands
wherever The American authority ex-
ends Why does The republican marty
hesitate ia leeislate ,lpon the philipnine
Recouse n irw would DISCLOSE
NE radical depnrturc from history and
nrecedent contemplated nv those who
,ontrol the renuhlican narty m. storm