The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1902-03-06


"The opposition contend that the
manner in which we are going about
the task of pacification and the estab-
fishing of government is subversive
of the principles of human freedom.
for which our patriotic and illuStriOus
forefathers contended and made war.
1t is said that we are ruling in con-
travention of the rights of the gov
erned. This charge raises essentially
a question of fact. l have examined
authorities. and the conclusion at
which | have arrived is that only a
small minority of the Filipinos have
ever disputed our sovereignty, and
that only a very small minority today
object to our presence in the islands.
In other words, vast majority of the
inhabitants either affirmatively or pas.
sively accept and acknowledge the
sovereignty of the United States. 1t
is true that a small minority took up
there are bands today engaged in, a
guerrilla-like warfare and who oppose
our sovereignty
A Sacred Obligation.
when we acquired the Philippines
in an entirely lawful and constitution.
al way under the distinct and positive
terms of the treaty of Paris it became
the duty of our government to estab,
lish its authority, and those who op-
posed it did so wrongfully. If, in fact,
a majority of the Filipinos accept our
sovereignty and a minority only chal.
lenge it can it rightfully be said that
Ge are ruling against the consent of the
governed and that We are violating
the great doctrines for which our i'm
mortal forefathers pledged their lives,
their fortunes and their sacred honor
I'VE are advised by our commission
that great majority of the people
long for peace and are entirely will
ing to accept the establishment of a
government under the supremacy OF
the United states l am not disposed
Mr.. President, to challenge the accu.
racy of the information which is sub.
mitted to us through our chosen rep
resentatives. By every just consid
Grafton we must accept their state
ment of actual conditions as founded
in fact. And if their statements be
true, we are not ruling in contraven
ton of the will of the governed. The
minority are those who are engaged
in guerrilla warfare, and who are bent
upon pillage and murder. Is it at
their behest and their dictation that
we should proclaim our purpose now
or hereafter to withdraw from the
Philippines?
1T is one of the cardinal doctrines
of republican government that the ma
jority shall rule. This doctrine pre-
walls in national, state and municipal
governments with rare exceptions
throughout the entire United States
and until the opposition can show by
q fair preponderance of evidence that
a majority of the inhabitants of the
Philippines are hostile to American
rule there can be no predicate for the
charge that we are ruling without
the consent of the governed. If the
annexation of the Philippines to the
United States were to be determined
by referendum and it were to ap
pear that vast majority assented and
the. minority dissented, could it be
said that the annexation was violative
of the rights OF the governed? Gould
It be said that the minority should
defeat the will of the majority, and
that they might rightfully rebel:
Such, conceive it, is in essence the
case here.
"But three years have passed since
the ratification of the treaty of Paris
1t is, indeed, brief period in the
life of a nation. but much has beer
accomplished. The course of the ad
ministration has from the beginning
been characterized by thoughtful re
gard for the welfare of the Filipipos
and pacific policy has been desired
and pursued. President Mckinley, de
sirous of establishing peace and pros
perity in the islands, promptly sent q
commission of able and experienced
men to supplement the war power and
to report such measures as should be
requisite for the maintenance of or
der, peace and public welfare The
commissioners were to be the bearers
of the good will, protection and the
richest blessings of a liberating ra
ther than a conquering nation This
was indeed the dominant note Of the
national purpose. 1t was so then, II
is so now. The first or Schurmann
commission was followed by a second
or the Taft commission, composed ol
equally eminent, patriotic and just
men. charged with the important
function of promoting peace and erect
ing civil government in the islands
Most commendable progress has been
made in the accomplishment of their
purpose. 1t is. indeed. surprising that
beset with so many difficulties and EN-
barrassments, our authorities have
accomplished so much in so brief q
time. 1t is, indeed, a happy augury
for the future.
Education.
There has been considerable de.
bate as to whether the constitution
follows the flag. No matter how di-
verse and conflicting our opinions may
be on this subject, there is one opin-
ion which we all possess, and that is
that the American schoolhouse follows
the flag. The transports which car.
- ~..- col1;o~o to- - nL:1s-s