The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1901-12-19
4 Democratic I,utr.

| Democratic Iuty.
With the opening of til. FIRST session
of the Fifty-seventh Congress the con
gressiOnal campaign of 1892 begins
The Philippine question will be the
most important matter considered by
this Congress and in all probability the
most important issue in the campaign
of 1902 The Democrats not only Lave
an opportunity To make a strong appeal
TO the country on this question. but
il is their duty to do so. The Repub-
licans do not dare to meet the issue OF
Imperialism openly and honestly; they
do not dare to invite judgment upon Il
colonial policy; they do not dare to
candidly avow their purpose to hold the
Philippine islands permanently. A
| large majority of the rank and file of
the Republican party cherish the belief
| that their party intends ultimate indie
pendence for the Filipinos. The Demo
Gratis can remove this delusion by COM
pelling the Republicans to accept or re-
ject the Democratic plan of dealing
with the Philippine question.
The Democratic platform of 1900 not
only presented plan for the peaceful
and permanent settlement of the Phil
ippine question, but it presented the
only complete plan that has been Of
| fered to the American people. Ii reads
as follows:
We condemn and denOunce the Phil
ippine policy of the present administra
tion. 1t has involved the republic in un-
necessary war, sacrificed the lives of
many of our nOblest sons and placed
the United States. previously knOwh
and applauded throughout the world as
the champion of freedom. in the false
and un-American position of crushing
with military force the efforts of our
former allies to achieve liberty and self
government. The FilipinOs cSanot De-
citizens without endangering our civil
izatiOn; they cannot be subjects with
out imperilling our form of govern
ment, and as we are not willing to sur
render our civilization or to convert
the republic into an empire. we favor
an immediate declaration of the ma
tons purpose to give the Filipinos. first,
stable form of government: second.
independence; and. third. protection
from outside Interference, such as has
been given for nearly a century to the
republics of Central and South Amer
lea.
The Democrats can afford to take
their stand upon this platform and chal-
lenge the attack of imperialists. More
than a year has elapsed since the cleo
tiOn Of 1900. which. >accOrding to the
Republican prophecy. was to terminate
the war in the Philippines. Every month
has shown more clearnly the failure
of Republican arguments and the evils
Of an imperiahstic policy. The Demo-
cratic platform charges that imperial
ism has involved the republic in I'M
necessary war. sacrificed the lives of
many Of our noblest sons and placed the
United States previously known and ap-
plauded throughout the world as the
champion of freedom, in the false and
un-American position Of crushing with
military force the efforts of our allies
to achieve liberty and self-govern-
ment"
The war is unnecessary because the
Filipinos are ready to lay down their
arms whenever independence is PROM
.sed them. The sacrifice of life has con-
tinued unabated and the imperialists
seem as little concerned about the death
Of American soldiers as they do about
the killing of the natives. The effect of
Imperialism has manifested itself i'm the
failure of Republican leaders to ex-
press any sympathy for the Beers, or to
feel an interest in their struggles for
liberty and self-government. The indict-
ment which the Democratic party made |
against the Republican administration
was sufficiently sustained by the events |
that had transpired prior 10 the con-
ventlOn. and the trend of events since |
that time has furnished overwhelming |
evidence in support Of that Indictment.
Let the Democratic leaders in the SEN
ate and house present this evidence in
their speeches so that it may reach the
entire country through the Congress
siOnal Record.
Why do the Republicans hesitate to
outline a policy? The reason is sug- i
gested in a portion Of the platform al
ready quoted: ''The Filipinos cannot
be citizens without endangering our
they cannot be subjects
without imperilling our form of govern
ment."
The Republicans are not willing to
say that they intend to make the Fill
pinOs citizens with a voice in the con-
1ucting of our (and their, fedora! gov
This would be to propose 4
government which would
fall to pieces because of di-
versity Of races and interests. Neither
are they willing to declare that the
FilipinOs are to be kept subjects for
ever, for this would be plainly incon-
,istent with our form of government.
Dur traditions and the well-nigh uni
rersal sentiment of our people. When
,ne understands that we must put the
FilipinOs into training for ultimate citi
,enship or condemn them to perpetual
'ervitude under colonial system;
when one understands that we must
either hold before the Filipinos the
lope of full participation in our gov
or doom them to despair
when one understands this alternative
lie readily sees why the Republicans |
efuse to divulge their purpose. Il
The Democratic plan for the settle
nent of the Philippine question is iden- !
ical with the plan proposed by the Re
,ublicans for the settlement of the Gu
IAN question, and the Republicans can
lot reject the Democratic plan without )
howing some essential difference be- {
ween the rights of the Cubans and the {
lights of the Filipinos. First, stable L
orm OF government must be estab-
shed in the place of the one over r
brown by us. but it will be easy 10 es- L
ablish this stable government when e
he Filipinos know that it is to be their I
overnment. There would be insurrec- I
ion now in Cuba il we had treated the I
4