Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1900-08-24

sects- A subject II possible only In a gov
eminent resting upon force. he r. un-
known In a government deriving It's Just
POWERS from the consent OF the governed.
Inc Republican platform says that The
largest measure OF self government con-
sistent with their welfare and our duties
shall be secured TO them (the Filipinos) oy
Jaw This IL a strange doctrine for a gov
eminent which owes its very existence TO
the men who offered their lives as q pro-
test against government without consent
and taxation without representation In
what respect does the position OF the Re-
publican party diner from the position
taken by the English Government IN i77sf
DID not the English Government promise
good government TO the coionistsf What
King ever promised a bad government 20
his peopleG Did not the English Govern
ment promise that the colonists should
have the largest measure of self govern
ment with their welfare and English du-
tiesg Did not the Spanish Government
promise TO give the Cubans the largest
measure OF self-government consistent
with their welfare and spanish dutiesf
The whole difference between a monarchy
and republic may be sV~,med up In
one sentence. In a monai> : the king
gives to the people what he believes TO be
good government: Ia a republic the peo-
pie secure for thsnselVes what they be-
lieve to be good government.
The Republican party has accepted
tho European idea and pianted itself
upon the ground taken by George III.
and by every rulor wle aistrusted the
capacity 81 the. people for self-govern-
ment or denies them a voice In their
own Affairs.
THB REPUBLICAN POLICY.
The Republican platform promises
that some measure OF self-goyernment
Is TO be given to the kilipinos by law:
but even this pledge Is not fulfilled.
Nearly sixteen months elapsed after the
ratification % 49, I. eaty before the adj
tournment OF Congress last June and
yet no law was passed dealing with the
philippine situation The VIII or the
President has been y only law Tn the
Philippine Islands whegSver the Arneri-
can authority extends. Why doee the
Republican party Hesitate to legtslate
upon the Philippine question? Because
law would disclose the radical depar-
ture from history and precedent con-
templated by these who control the Re
publican party. It's stern of protest
which greeted the Ici % Rican bin was
N ndica sNp sf what Kay be expected
when tRs American le-ple are wrought
lace - facs with le- xlhsR upon this
snbjsct. II tbs psrtS Rtcans. who well
come a-n0exau~p. are u be deRied the
guarantees Of our Constitution, what in
TO be the lot Of tie Flipinos. who re-
slated our authority n secret infiu-
snoes could compel n disregard OF our
plain duty toward friendly people, liv-
ing near our shores. what treatment
WIN those same Influences provide for
unfriendly people 100 miles awayy n
In this country. whore 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 can they be trusted to pro-
tect the Ffiipinos from the corporations
which are waiting TO exploit the ISL
Rnds?
THE DEMOCRATIC DOCTRINE.
Is the sunlight Of full citizenship to
be enjoyed by the people Of the United
States. and the twilight or semi-citizen-
snip endured by the people OF Porto
hico while the thick darkness OF per-
pc vassalage covers the Philip
pinesy The Porto Rico tariff law as
serts the doctrine that the operation OF
the Constitution In confined to the for
ty-hve States. The Democratic party
disputes this doctrine and denounces IL
as repugnant TO both the letter and
spirit OF our organic law. There s. no
place In our system or government for
the deposit OF arbitrary and irrespon-
sfbie power. That the leaders Of "A great
party should claim for any President
or Congress the right 10 treat millions
OF people as mere "possessions'' and
deal with them unrestrained by the
Constitution or the Bill OF Rights shows
how far We have already departed from
the ancient landmarks. and indicates
what may be expected IL this nation de-
hDerately enterB upon n career OF en-
pire. T,i> territorial form OF govern
meps Ia temporary and preparatory, and
Oe chief security citizen Of a terri
.ory has Is found In the fact that he
enjoys the same constitutional guar
antees. and liz subject Co the same gem
sral laws m the citizeH OF the State.
OUR OBLIGATIONS.
IL IL is said that we have assumed be-
fore the world obligations which make
IL necessary for us to permanently
maintain "A government In the Philip
pine Islands. reply. hrst. that the high
est obligation OF this nation Is to be
true to itself. No obligation to any
particular nation, OF TO all nations COM
bined. can reQuire the abandonment OF
our theory Of government and the sub
stitution OF doctrines against which our
whole national life has been a protest.
And. second. that our obligations to the
Fi!ipinoe. who inhabit the islands. are
greater than any obligation which we
can owe TO foreigners who have a tenn
porary residence Ia the Philippines or
desire to trade there.
IL Ia argued 10y some that the Fill
and that Therefore we owe IL 10 the
world TO take control OF them Admit
raj Dewey. In an unofficial report to the
Navy Department. declared the Fill
pinos more capable OF self government
than the Cubans. and said that ne based
his opinion upon a knowledge OF both
races
Republicans ask: shall we haul
down the nag that floats over our dead
In the Phiiippines?" The same ques-
ton might have been asked when the
American nag floated over Chapuitepec
and waved over the dead = no fell there:
but the tourist who rIeits the City OF
Mexico BINDS there national cemetery
owned by the United States and cared
for by an American citizen. Our nag
still floats over our dead, but when the
treaty with Mexico was signed, Ameri-
can authority withdrew 70 the Rio
0rande. and venture sha opinion that
during the last efty years the people
OF Mexico have iSaSe more progress I'M
der the stimulus OF Independence and
ssif-govefRment than they would have
made under a carpet-bAg government
held IA place by bayonets.