West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1902-07-24
AN ELOQUENT APPEAL.
United states Scnator William n.
Mason Of Illinois. Tells Why Mc
Left The Republican Party, On
Their Imperialism Record.

columns OF your paper u seems as II
could hll every column. giving good
reasons why Lincoln was right when he
said that no man was good enough "a
govern another man without that othe,
mans consent.
For three aud n half years I have been
asking why we should adopt one rule IN
the Philippines and another in Cuba. and
toi three and half years have failed 10
get an answer. Three and a half years ago
was told that the plan adopted would
bring peace in the Philippines the same as
the plan adopted In Cuba. The plan An
Cuba has not cost us a dollar. u has not
cost us one life; whereas the plan In the
fhuippinos has cost us over 100 600 lives
counting both sides. and over Sooo oco. 600.
| counting our side
You ak the reason Tor my descisiop
answer that because OF the teaching OF my
father and mother I hate slavery. and
without their consent Il Is just as much
slavery as when England tried to govern
the United States without ours
will no, stop to consider the proposi.
ton that we can give the Philippines
better government than they can give
themselves, because II is the same propo.
sitlon that King George made to my
fathers who fought In the Revolution.
The fathers OF the Republic said that self
government was better than any other
government. and after long life OF study
upon that question find that rule to be
liked as the law OF gravitation.
have even discovered thai m ma, h,,
the name OF Daniel Webster was right
and am pleased TO learn that Governor
Schnrman. whom we FIRST sent 10 the
Philippines and who distinguished me by
practically calling me fool. has himself
came back 10 the homciy doctrine an,
nounced by Webster--that no people can
be happy unless they make their own laws
have to-day forgiven MIR schurman for
All his criticisms announced three years
ago, because after he had tried the doc
trifc hc condescends TO adopt the truc
principle which The fathers fought for at
Bunker Hill
| You ask why I cannot vote for the mend.
ing bill. How can I vote intelligentiy for
iawto govern the Philippine islands,
do not know their language can neither
read u. write nor speak IL. | do not know
their religion. their past'times nor their
sports have never been there. Thomas
| Jefferson was once asked to write rules TO
govern a new community, aud being an
honest man. in substance said II do not
know you. do not know your environ
mcnt nor yonr language. ! know nothing
about you. VIII you ask me TO enter
like fool where angels fear 20 treadr
know men who would send me TO Iail
Tor smoking cigar II they had the power.
know other men who would send you TO
the pen'teDtiary for drinking a glass OF
beer. wine of whisky " they had the
power They are good people. aud they
VIII tell you that they want you to be
happy. bu, they want you TO be happy their
way; and ] so deicst the doctrine OF
governing another man that as a rcprescn.
taiiye OF my nation cannot vote TO govern
another people without their consent.
remember as boy In one community
TO have felt the grind OF religious intolcr.
ancc heard the minister In our pulpit
preach that slavery was divine Institution
and born OF God. but the love OF liberty
was so much above my devotion to that
creed thar sat up during whole nights
TO help the negroes escape TO Canada,
where they could puckcr up their lips and
whistle Yankee Doodle"
We have just as much right 10 govern
the Philippines as England had to govern
us. as Austria had TO govern Hungary and
as Spain had 10 govern Cuba and when a
man tells me that they are not able 10
govern themselves am fearful that hc
VIII want TO come into my family and tell
me how to govern my children.
In the great debate between Lincoln and
Dous slas, Douglas asked as he sat down.
Perhaps Mr.. Lincoln would like a black
woman for his wife " Mr.. Lincoln rose
lard get this from an intelligent witness
who was presently and walking In front OF
the platform in Chicago between the
Court House and the Sherman House. his
eyes flashing and his face pale. because
rcsenting an insult he replied Il do not
wish her for my wife. neither do | wish
her for my slave"
do not wish the Philippine for citizen
OF this country. do not wish him 20 help
govern us and. standing In the sacred
precincts OF government. how can ask to
help govern another man whom cannot
trust to help govern me ? ~ am good
enough to govern htm he must be good
enough 10 govern me ! do not wish the
Philippine ia my Congress. lie is not my
race. lie Is not my color. lie Is not OF
my language He cannot understand the
duty owe to my family aud my wife and
ms children. fe has the same rich. TO
ask the question OF me What do YOU
know Of my country. Of my language: what
do you know OF my wife and children
Will give you now the concluding
reason for voting against this proposition
] do not mean that IL IL my best reason
for my best reason IS based upon the
question Of right but mean the reason
based upon the protection We owe to our
people. Let some one tell me why we
should spend the money OF the American
people aud the lives Of the American boys
20 spread the doctrine IN the Philippine
Islands. and not adopt the same course
IN the Windwafd Islands and the fiji
Islands.
They answer me that Cod put those
Islands in our hands. Thai Is the answer
given by every master that ever owned
slave. King George said that Tor the
grace Of God he would govern America
and put tax upon ous tea Spain. with
her cruel yoke and shameful government
IN South America and in the Antilles. as
IN her olhcial documents always charged
her crimes TO God The truth Is that IL is
the divine plan 10 give self government
the divine plan means progress and right
eousncss. and wherever sclf.govcrnment
maintaios itself progress. civilization and
improvement come 20 the people. The
only place where progress has developed