The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-05-01
OUR DUTY IN
THE PHILIPPINES.
"God Moves in a Mysterious
Way His Wonders to Per-
form"
From the Commouer.

always interesting journalist, advises
bis party TO raise the white flag and
surrender to the Republican party on
the question of imperialism ae does
DOT announce that be is convinced OF
the righteousness Of the Republican
position. but he excuses himself by
assuming that it isimpossible TO comb
the forces which seem to be behind the
Repnbliosn party He admits that
imperialism is sn innovation upon
Americso principles and aussgopistic to
the teachings of the earlier statesmen
Here are his words {:
"L.et us say at once that the scheme
of occupying a territory remote from
our borders, of subduing people alien
60 our character aud institution and of
undertaking system of colonial gov
eromens over this territory aud these
peoples without their consent-snd
apparently iu opposition to their will
is not merely serious innovation upon
the original plan embodied BY the
constitution of The United States, and
contemp plated by the authors of that
constitution. bus that it is repugnans to
the prudent counsels delivered By the
wisest of our older statesmen, TO say
nothing about the teaching of his
tory "
After a brief review of the past 100
years he accepts the Republican doc
trioe Of Providence ADD says
".God moves in mysterious way His
wonders to perform He made the
Spanish war he vas nos less behind
Dewey 10 Mapils than He vas behind
Shaf,er and Sampson aud Scbley at
Santiago What vas His all wise pur
pose =? We know not. But there We
were and there we are aod nothing is
surer 10 the future than that We shall
be there ceetury heoce unless some
power turns up strong enough to drive
us ous Instead, therefore, of discuss
ing the abstraction of Imperialism.
illustrated by the rights and wrongs of
the Philippines. Mr. Bryan we're more
proftably engaged 10 considering bow
We may best administer possessions
which, for good or for evil. are With us
to stay -
It will be noticad that he adopts tbe
Republican theory that God is respoD-
sio.e for what we have cone; bat it is
matter of destiny aud 'bas We are
being swept aiooe by iu6aences over
which We have 90 control
The doctrine epunclated by the R
pubIicsos sircs the Spanish var and ns@
endorsed by SO great 40 editor as Mr.
" asterson. is not only dangerous. but
it is immoral Il is politically danger
Gus because it encourages the Repubi-
cao party 10 shirk responsibility for its
sios and shield itself behind the pre-.
tence that it Is working out the will Of
toe Almighty; aod it is immoral be
cause it obliierates the distinction be
tween right and wrong. The Repub
licsn argument is built upoo the theory
that wrong done upon large scale
loses it's evil character and becomes 80
integral part of Gods plan. It is io
keeping With the tendency to call au
embeszIer Napoleon of 6oauce,
provided the amount embessled is
large
Mr. Wattersou hes uot 10 the past
been 10 toe habit of defending bis posi-
toe with the philosophy which he DOW
employs In former years he was
known as the special champion of "shc
star.eyed Goddess of Reform - When
the Democratic party went down TO
defeat as it often did, he did not say
God moves 10 mysterious way His
wonders to perform He made protec
toe and the Republican party. aud,
therefore. We must bow to both " 90
the contrary be raised the Democratic
manner alofs aud Appealed tine and
again to the Intelligence Of the Anerl-
can people Neither has be been in
the habit Of ezcusiog she crimes of
individuals by atsrihu'iug them to
divine inspiration When Gov Goebel
was assassioated Mr. Wat.ersoo did DOT
say God moves in mysterious way
HIS wonders to perform ; He psompsed
the as aSsin TO kill ! We csnnot uoder
S ADD HIS all wise purpose. 30: there
We were and here We are, and there is
oo'hirg to be done ab2u. it y
Instead. be insisted ibat murder
had teeo connie d sod ;hat the guilty
should be brought TO justice
When the Louisyiie and Nashville
Railroad entered the arena If politics,
and began l,s work of corruption and
Intimidation, Mr. War'ersou did not
say &c ID moves il mysterious "a