Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-04-22
KEEP 1T IN SIGHT.

NOT 10 De lOSt S1gnt OF by
Oregon republicans is the infu&
ence our state election will have
not only on congressional cleo
tions to follow in other states,
but also on the next presidential
campaign. There is little doubt
that the question of retaining or
ultimately abandoning control of
the Philippines will then be the
chief contention between the par
ties. The state democratic plat
form, the attitude of leading
democrats in congress, the late
utterances of. Henry Watterson
and the tone of the democratic
press foreshadow that this is to
be the issue.
It is true Oregon democrats
have not the courage to declare
for the policy of 'scuttle and
abandon' in clean cut, concise
language, yet it is so plain this is
their purpose, that it must be
discussed before the people in
Our state campaign and receive
their approval or disapproval at
the polls next June. A demo-
cratic victory then would be her
aided to the world as evidence
that the people of Oregon are in
favor of the democratic pur-
pose of abandoning the Philip.
pines to whatever fate may over
take them. Of course, in the al
most certain event of republican
victory the democrats would
claim their platform presented
no such issue. 1t is worded,
they hope, to be equally useful
in either event.
We have no thought that the
American people can be induced
to embrace policy so unpatriot-
ic and cowardly even though en-
dorsed by the people of this state,
and it is equally unthinkable
that Oregonians are less patriotic
and courageous than the mass of
American people. Republicans
of Oregon are not to be deceived
as to democratic purpose. 1t is
abandonment of the Philippines.
Without doubt there are scores
of patriotic democrats in the
state who will not follow their
party leaders one step in a course
which can only end in national
humiliation and shame to our
selves and irretrievable disaster to
the Filipinos.
Since the opposition are doing
their utmos, to confuse and mis-
lead the people on this subject it
may clarity the situation if we
that under internation-
al law we have a clear, indispu-
table right of SOVEREIGNTY over
and title to the Philippines. The
war we waged was against Spain,
not against the Filipinos. For
whatever of conflict we have had
with them they alone are respon-
sible. Before the treaty of Paris
was ratified they made war on .
Dur army and our flag. We had /,
A right-it was our duty as we'll, ,
10 suppress their insurrection. t
But other duties are laid upon f
us. 1t is plain there is imposed I
upon this nation, as a sacred ]
trust, the duty of leading these t
people to a higher and better So Q
:ial and political life-to a civili-
zation of which at present they
nave no intelligent conception. .
No more sacred trust was laid up !,
IN the Israelites of old. We dare v
1ot falter. Having accepted the n
rust and entered upon our duty, t
md having already made sub y
;tantial and gratifying progress a
hall we now or at any time cow
# and draw back and ignomini-
'usly abandon our God-imposed II
luty? a, a
This is just what the democrat k
: party contemplates doing. AT c,
er all our expenditure of blood F
nd treasure; Notwithstanding the W