The times., 1901-06-19
rAe rr-ue Democratic co.5oor-

she pca,tssS.p sse 40 staa5 In JAe mex
campaign there csnaa. he 100 ussef
care ana oros&-yass,se5 conservatism
= Every uaan. prominent ov obscure, IS
Of course. entitled to his individual
opinion as 10 what our national policy
should be in all its details. ana ire-
quently among members Of the same
political organization these opinions
differ on certain points. The question
then arises how far the individual
should yield in his judgment in order
that the party may unitedly and har-
moniously work for the greater and
more important ends in view.
II is not good practical politics nor
is it necessary as a high moral PROPOSE
ton for . party to force an issue TO
the front which, whatever its intrinsic
merits may be, has already been de-
cided by the people and upon which
the party is absolutely certain to be
defeated. Thus il is conceded every
where that il would be political suicide
for the Democrats again to present the
issue Of the free coinage of silver, al
though the great majority Of the party
believe that such a measure would be
just. But the people have twice re-
jected it by overwhelming majorities,
and there is not the slightest proba-
bility that under prevailing conditions,
upon this issue the Democrats could
win at the polls, or if they did sue
coed in electing the President, that they
could carry a free coinage measure
through Congress. The issue is dead
killed by the inexorable logic Of events.
To present it again would be to in
vite certain defeat
SO in the judgment of The Times it
VIII be equally unwise for the Demo
cratic party to take ground against ex-
pansion, by advocating the surrender
of the Philippines. AS matters now
stand the party declaring in favor of
surrendering those islands and the es-
tablishment of an American protec-
torate over them will be literally bur
led at the polls. This question has
also been decided by the people, and
the proposal to allow the Filipinos 10
set up an independent government un-
der our protection has now far less to
sustain il than it had year or two
years ago The resistance Of the ma
tives has utterly collapsed, the leaders
have surrendered, and there is nothing
to indicate that the people themselves
desire independence.
We Should deal with this question
just as we have dealt with other ac-
quisitions Of territory. Our claim that
the Texas boundary extended to the
Rio Grande, a claim that precipitated
the war with Mexico. has always been
regarded by historians as one of very
doubtful right. But the war was fought
on the basis of it. and we took from
Mexico noe only the territory between
the Nueces and the Rio Grande, but
the whole vast empire of the Pacific
There is not a shadow Of doubt that
California, Arizona, and New Mexico
We're taken against the wishes Of their
inha bitants. But after the territory was
once taken, no political party ever ad-
yocated its restoration to Mexico
The thing for the Democracy to do
is to accept the annexation Of the Phil
ippines as an accomplished fact. and
make the issue broadly that they shall
be governed in accordance with true
American principles-that is, under the
aegis Of the Federal Constitution. This
position ought TO be absolutely i'm
pregnable. The party that upholds the
Constitution is certain ultimately TO
win in this country. But the force and
effect Of this great constitutional argu-
1 l. re
coupled with it is a demand for the
surrender Of the islands. If they are
given up, the constitutional question
becomes mere abstraction. People
naturally win say What is The use Of
talking about extending the Constitu-
ton TO the Philippines if those islands
are not 10 be retained?"
They VIII regard the holding of the
archipelago as the main issue. and vote
against the party advocating its sur
render. Besides, the establishment of
protectorate win necessarily carry
with it some right Of supervision. We
could never afford TO allow those peo-
pie, wholly without experience in self
government to involve themselves at
VIII with other nations, and then un-
dertake 10 protect them. right or wrong.
For our own protection we would b.
obliged TO held the islands under some
restraint. and II IS far better that we
should control them as American ter
ritory than as a foreign dependency.
But it should be as American territory
in the fun sense, with no power lodged
anywhere 10 govern them in the small
est matter outside OF the Constitution.
The Republican party stands as the
advocate II imperialism, and the cham
pion Of me trusts. On both points its
position is utterly irdefensible upon
any principle Of justice. Nevertheless.
ii may very easily triumph in 1904, If
the Democracy goes the unwise length
OF antagonizing the patriotic sentiment
OF the people by demanding the sur
render Of territory that has been ac- |
quired at such a sacrifice of blood and |
treasure. The Supreme Court decision 1
that Congress may govern the Terri |
tories outside Of the Constitution does
not settle the question of how they /
ought TO be governed. That issue still
open, and IT is as big and +