The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-06-25
DEMOCRATIC. "ARGUMENTs''

A good specimen of democratic reason
ing upon the Philippine policy of the ad-
ministration was given yesterday IN the
house by Congressman Williams of Mis-
sissippi. Like other democrats who read
American history revised by themselves
to suit their own ideas. he read into
United States history new chapter,
and in the course Of his remarks, said: =
We are not doing in the Philippines, what
we did in Florida We are not doing in
Louisiana nor in any other place ever annexed
to this country what we are doing IN tne
Philippine islands. Every man knows that
heretofore We have annexed areas peopled
with a white race or else peopled with an
Indian race so sparsely settled that they
did not interfere with home making In the
annexed territory by the sons and daughters
of American people. Every man knows, that
this is the first time that we ever undertook
to annex against their will, fighting with
arms against it,, people. densere than that
In the state of Mississippi to-day. s<"
The received history of the United
States Says that we acquired all the land
between the Mississippi river and the
original states by series of cessions by
the original states without the consent
of the persons occupying the land which
had been acquired by the original states
by occupation and conquest, without ask
ing the consent of the previous occupiers
We acquired Florida and Louisiana in
1919 and 1903, respectively, without ref
erence to the will Of the Inhabitants. We
just took them in as territories or prov
inces,4 and Florida. was not allowed state:
hood for twenty six years, while
Louisiana remained nine years subject
to congress. The territory acquired
from Mexico by the treaties of 1S4S and
1853 was taken in without any reference
to the views of the inhabitants, and
after over half century Arizona and
New Mexico are still territories. Mr..
Williams would do we'll to consult vol
ume on our Indian policies, recently
published by the government and en-
bodying the decisions of the supreme
court as to manner of obtaining our title
to Indian lands The position of our
government, under: every administration
since the beginning, has been that con-
quest and occupation give title, without
deferring to the wishes of the inha bit
ants. Our government has fought; all
y. -.
our Indian wars, and some of themj in
volved Desperate lighting, to force the
reds to- submit to us. We have spent
hundreds of millions of dollars in this
country to force people to submit who
did not want us to rule over them. Mr..
Williams thinks that the size of the pop
ulation transferred to us by treaty OF
conquest makes difference. Because
there are 100000 of Filipinos. more or
less, on the islands. he thinks we should
abandon all efforts to reduce them to
obedience and leave the country. II.
We have been doing in the Philippines
exactly what we have done in this coun-
try. We have put down with the sword
revolts Of Indian tribes: Had the in
habitants of Louisiana and Florida risen
in revolt, they would have been put
down by the sword. An attempted re-
volt in Louisiana, under the provincial
government was nipped in the budding
by Governor Claiborne by force Of arms.
1T makes no difference whether there are
few or many people in revolt against the
United States in the Philippines. The
United States will maintain law and or
der in the territories subject to it's juris-
dictfon