The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-07-10

selves capable of using without
carrying liberty into license.
Every person who has made a
study of the Philippine question
knows that to give independence
to this people now means con-
tinuation of bloodshed and the es-
tabllshment OF an absolute auto
cratic government headed by
Aguinaldo and based upon the
support of a minority but savage
tribe of the islands. The third
proposition of democracy, that we
shall give the Philippines protec
ton from outside interference,
gives to the United States all the
responsibilities. all the disadvan-
tages of a colonial policy with none
of its advantages and benefits. 1t
means that if the Philippines gets
into trouble with another country
our ships and our men and
our money shall! be used for their
benefit and protection without our
having anything to say as to the
acts on their part which may have
brought on the trouble and with
out our reaplng any reward either
in influence or materially. The
difference between that policy car
ried into effect in the Philippines
and South America is that it is
deemed peril to this country and
its institutions to have any Euro
pean nation gain stronger foot
hold on the western continent.
This principle has been recognized
In various ways by European
countries and has been of material
benefit not only to the United
States but to the countries south
of us. 1t would, however, be a
difficult matter to convince other
countries that our land was I'M
periled or our liberty endangered
by any act of theirs in the far east.
Other countries would not in a
crisis accept this dictum of the
United States in the far east, with
out an appeal to arms. We thus
see that the democratic policy lies
parallel with that of the republi-
can in the establishment of a sui.
table government in these islands.
That it guarantees to the people
an independence which they have
not as yet shown themselves cap
able either of maintaining, appre-
ciating, or using rightfully. And
third, it advocates policy traught
with all the dangers of militarism
of which they are SO fearful and
with all the responsibilities of the
colonial system without a single
one Of the compensations which a
colonizing government may ex-
pect.
The platform further goes on
to state owe are in favor of ex-
tending the republics influence
among the nations, but believe
that influence should be extended
not by force and violence but
through the persuasive power of a
high and honorable example" The
people have seen the effect of high
and honorable examples in China.
The American people have never
treated the Chinese government
with anything but respect and con.
sideratlon. They have never at
tempted to take possession of its
property, they have been guidec
only by the friendliest of motives
yet hundreds of Americans have
been slaughtered there within Z
month. Minister Conger and his
family, who are among the nobles
of Iowa's citizens, have been ruth
lessly slain and is it any wonder
that our people are beginning to be
lieve that it takes more than a higf
and honorable example to deal with
savage, Ignorant and blood thirsty
people.
We have seen that the thirc
proposition of the democratic