Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1902-01-30
A BAD PRECEDENT
ACTION IN THE PHILIPPINES
CONTRASTED WITH HISTORY.
IF the Founders of the United States We're
Right, How Does the Administration Fix
Itself on the Question of Its Measures in
the Philippines?


the Philippines?
The Outlook of December Z seems to
find cause for congratuation in the fact
That the Philippine tariff bill provides
that the money collected on goods inn
ported from the Philippines to the United
States ''shall be held as a separate fund
and paid into the treasury OF the Philip
pine islands to be used and expended
for the government and benefit of said
islands," The editor of the Outlook re-
minds his readers that his paper insisted
upon this provision in previous issue,
and he rejoices that the demand was
complied with.
Before our esteemed contemporary
jubiates too mucn over this provision it
would be we'll for him to read the protest
against English rule written by John
JAY and approved by the colonial con-
gress, October y, IVA. As this pro-
test is reproduced in the Worlds Best
Orations as well rs in many other publ
cations, the editor of the Outlook will
have no difficulty in finding it. His at
tention is called especially to the follow
ing words, which appeared in that pro-
test.
"These, and many other impositions,
were laid upon us, most unjustly and
unconst'tutionaly for the express pur-
pose OF raising Il revenue. In order to
silence complaint, it was indeed pro-
vided that this revenue should be ex-
pended in America for its protection and
defense. These eXactions, however, can
receive no justification from a pretended
necessity OF protecting and defending us.
They are lavisi.ly squandcred on court
favorites and ministerial dependents
generally avUWed enemies to America,
and employing themselves by partial re-
presentations to traduce and embrOil
the Colonies"
Here is an English precedent for the
provision inserted by a republican con-
gress and gleefnlly indorsed by Il great
religious periodical. 1t is not strange
that colonial policy su, III as England
enforced againgt the American colonies,
should, when adopted here, bring with
it AL the hypocrisy and false pretense
that characterized its administration
against our forefathers, but neverthe-
less it is humiliating that our nation
should be doing today exactly the same
things against which earnest and effec-
tive protest was made century and a
quarter ago.
"To silence complaint" now, as then,
the revenues are to be turned over to
the colonies, but what of the principal
of taxation without representation?
What OF the theory of government with
out the consent of the governed? The
revolutionary patriots were not willing
toeurrender the right of self-govern-
ment merely because the English turn
ed over to them the proceeds of uncon-
stitutional taxation.
There is another parallel between
Jays protest and present conditions in
the Philippines. 1t was complaine d
that the revenues collected without
authority and then turned back to the
colonist "to silence complaint" were
lavishly squandered on court favorites
and ministerial dependents. While we
have no court favorites as vet, we have
} ministerial dependents, men appointed
by the president, who have fixed fol
themselves larger salaries than are paid
: for the same kind OF work in this coun-
try. Complaint WAS made that the
salaried officials appointed by England
were "avowed enemies to America" and
employed themselves in "traducng and
embroiling the colonies" Ii any one will
, read the official reports that come from
) the Philippine islands he will be con-
WINGED that the Filipinos are being
governed by ''avowed enemies" OF theil
principles, however they may profess
friendship for the Filipinos themselves
Step by step the doctrine of imperia l.
ism is advancing and unless the Ameri
can people are prepared to adopt the
, European idea of government there
must be protest that will rescue the
republican party from its present ten
denotes or drive it from power.