The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-08-15
THE PHILIPPINES

There IS another thing upon which all
democrats are united and that Is condem-
nation OF tho policy pursued by the govern
ment in the Philippines. It is not strange
thar a party who believe that all Just pow
ers Of government arc derived from the
consent VI the governed should condemn
this policy. Neither IS It strange that one
should oppose II who lived in the South
and remembers the oppression and corrup.
jiou Of the military and "carpetbag" gov
erumeut inflicted upon the Southern people
after the close of the civil war, and who
considers that If such oppression was com
mittcd upon people Of their own race and
blood, how much greater will be that on
preston upon an alien and inferior Dcoplp
ana If corruption was so prevalent right
here within the confines Of our own couu-
Try, how much more corrupt will be the
same hind "l government administered 1000
miles away.
The outrages aud atrocities which by the
senate investigating committee have been
shown to have been committed upon these
helpless people. are enough to cause us to
blush with shame, If We are not dead to
all those feelings Of humanity aud Justice,
which should MI the hearts OF noble neo
pie. The issue is one Of commerciillsm and
gain against humanity. justice and right
II remains TO he seen upon which side tho
people of this country will array them
selves.
From the very first the democratic policy
mas been To treat these people as we treated
/ Il
over them until they are ready for self
government and then grant them absolute
Independence, To me this seems In accord
with the same spirit which actuated our
| forefaShers In their struggle for independ-
once, The republicans have never been
bold or frank enough with the public TO de-
clare what their ultimate purpose Is rela.
tive to these people, but We know that
their purpose IS to retain them and govern
them as dependent colonies. and wlthout
the pale of the constitution, In support Of
this cite tue fact that in the las: con
grcSs, visible he Philippine government bin
was under consideration, Mr.. Mccall n re.
| publican Of Massachusetts, offered the fol-
lowing amendment:
'ln the first organic civil government bnl
! II IS hereby solcnnly declared to he the
| settled purpose OF congress TO extent 70 the
| Inhabitants Of these Islands every aid IN
enabling them 10 develop the capacity for
| self government. and when such capacity
| shall have been developed we pledge the
| faith Of the Republic 10 confer upon them
| the right OF self government after the fash
| ion az the really free nations
This amendment was defeated by the
! solid republican cote with the exception OF
| Mr. Mccall and Mr. Tftlehcld.
| To me this seems "a he akin TO The same
| spirit which actuatcd England as against
! our forefathcrs In their struggle for indie
nendence and akin 10 the same spirit
! which actuated England in wipng from
| the map the republics OF South Africa. Our
| republican friends say that the Justification
! for forribe conquest Of these people Is that
We win ciyilze, uplift and improve them
| The only way by which we can civilze
| them. according 10 the present standard Is
by lns,iWng into them high ana lofty IDEAS
| az liberty and Independence. Does any one
! imagine that we can DO this through a
| military or carpetbag government, or ny
| any government not limited by eonsttu.
tlonal restrictions:
| There Is but one way by which we can
| uplift and Improve them, and that Is by
| Encouraging their enterprises and indus
| tries. watch Includes an enlarged market
! FOR their products and the right 70 seek
| cuniovment In any cline and IN every ua
| tion Does any one believe that the Amert
ran marker viii ever be thrown open %
Inc philippine manufacturers II would not
i no right because 4 would throw goods
manufactured ny the American lahorer n
eornpetition with goods manufactured by
pauner labor Does any one believe that
he Filipino will be permitted % seek en-
nlovment In this country No. for the same
reason which excludes the Cinnamon er
cludes him.
There aro mt two WAYS that this conn
try can permanently retain these islands.
The ono Is 70 INCORPORATE them, as was al
,err,tn,v acquired aud annexed Under dem
oeratlc administration, as territories 1nti