West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1902-06-12
T.


Now that the tediously prolonged Philip.
pine debate in the Senate is concluded. n
brief retrospect of the Democratic position
should prove interesting Going back TO
the time when practically all of the Rcpubli.
can aud many of the Democratic Senators
voted to raiify the treaty of Paris, 1t should
be remembered that at that time il had no,
entered the mind of any man in this country
tia, the constitution would not follow the
flag. Soon afterwards, however, the cx.
tfeme proieciinnis,s, fearing some cur,ail.
men, of their profits MS a result Of frec trade
with Porto Rico and the Philippines, be-
sieged the administration to assess the full
D'ngley tariff rates on impor,a,ions from
those countries II The islands were an in.
,egrsl part of the United States, pro,ec,eJ
by the provisions of the constitution, the
leyying Of a tariff would he unconstitutional
but the administration yielded TO the impor.
inniiies OF the protcciionists aud the tariff
was collected. Immediately test suits we're
brought and the Supreme Court praclicall,
decided tha, the islands were mere possess
ions. not entitled Il, the rights guaranteed
10y The constitution Ind entirely subject to
the legislative dieluNu Of Congress From
'ha, time, prseIieAily every Democrat
opposed their permanent retention on the
ground that every principle of liberty and
every tenet of the Republic would Je
violated by The cocrrive subjcction of a pco.
pie who were not io receive The same pry
'ce'on of their liberty MS is guaranteed To
every citizen Of the United States by The
constitution.
Coming down 10 the two bill, which have
been proposed in Congress by the Republi-
can party, the Democrats have opposed them
because they were essential combinations of
The imperial policy of the party in power.
In order To bring 10 tho attention of the
people the perpicious results of such policy
II became necessary TO expose 10 public view
the atrocities which had, perhaps inevitably.
accompanied the war of conquest which the
United States was waeing in the Philippines
and The result has been that the RepuI,li
cans, absolutely unable 10 present any log.
ical rcfuia.ion of the charges made agains,
their policy. adopted the position OF defend.
efs OF The army and appealed 10 the patriot.
ism OF The people sgainst wha, they termed
the ISLANDERS Of the Democrats Space
will not permit lengthy examination of the
Philippine debate bui IL is worthy Of remark
that there cannot he found In the Congress.
ional Record single speech which, when
slorn of its ora,oIical ornam nialion and
vainglorious exaggera,ion, presents a com.
nonsense, logical defense Of The impetial
policy 81 The administration. Moreover
There viii be found the grossesi misrepre.
senialion If the Democratic position which
has been, briefly expressed, simply a demand
that guarantee Of ultimate independence.
ai such time as the Filipinos may have
demonstrated their capacity to make the
proper nse Of their liberty, he made now.
and before the country is irevocably com.
niIied 20 The imperialisiic policy. The con.
tcniion that the Democrats, while Opposing
military domination have also opposed a
bill which extends civil government Is un.
worthy the men who have advanced il Tor.
rs they we'll appreciate. Democratic opposi.
lion has been well grounded on The fact
that while the Lodge bill osicnsibiy ex.
lends The civil government, II is simply
Transfer OF the aniocralie powers nov cx.
creised by the War Department 20 the
Philippine Commission aud the conferriug
on that Commission Of an authority which
Is repug"a"t to every American IDEAL Of
justice and iibcriy.