The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-05

OF the people whose liberty they would de-
stroy are no nobler or higher than the de-
clared purposes OF the tyrants or thou
sand years ago.
All of them were trustees of God and all
were bent upon the benevolent assimila-
ton of unwilling peoples. In the name OF
liberty they would crush out the hopes and
aspirations OF a people who longed 10 be
free. In the name OF loyalty they brush
aside constitutional limitations as though
that sacred instrument were worthless
rag; conjuring with the names OF the sol
diers OF the Republic who suffered and
died for independence and who afterward
nullify every vital principle contained in
the Declaration of Independence, so long
cherished as the very charter OF our liberty
And this is their progress" Thank God.
We are marching the other way, and IL the
people Of America still love liberty and are
yet true 10 republican institutions we are
sure OF ultimate victory, for the perpetual
ton of the government will demand our
triumph
Only yesterday the melancholy announce
ment was made of the death OF two splen-
did republics in South Africa after strug-
gle disgraceful TO the conquerorS and glori-
Gus TO the conquered. IL was announced
in the press that there was great rejoicing
in England, but no manifestations of JOY
in Ireland
1t might have been added that there were
many expressions of satisfaction over this
cruel result amongst Republican politicians
and statesmen in America: but il must be
and a half millions OF men who voted the
Democratic ticket in 1900 there was not one
who did not regard with feelings Of the
deepest sorrow this murder of liberty. and
who does not hope that the heroes of spion
kop and their children may yet be free.
DEMOCRATS AND BOERS.
believe. as 1 believe the Lord nveth. that
if the Democratic party had been in control
of the government of this country the gal
liant people of these two republics would to-
day be free. There would have been no re-
cruiting supply stations maintained by
monarchy in the land of Washington and
Lincoln had William Jennings Bryan or
Grover Cleveland been President OF the
United States.
And few such words in behalf of liber-
ty in the same tone that that sturdy Amer
lean Democrat, Richard Olney, uttered
those ringing words in behalf of justice "a
Venezuela would have resulted in the end
ing of that most cauSelesS and cruel cru
SADIE against human freedom which has
resulted in the blotting from the map OF
the world two republics.
Only a few days ago a new republic was
born-the Republic of Cuba While the de-
struction of the Dutch republic is England
shame, the birth of the Cuban republic is
Americas glory. In Cuba the American
flag went up as the emblem of liberty, and
ii came down as proudly IL went up, the
emblem of self-government 1t went up In
honor; il came down in glory.
1t was because of that resolution passed
by Democratic statesmen and forced upon
an unwilling Republican administration
pledging the honor of this country against
the conquest of Cuba, that Cuba is TO-DAY
a free republic.
l think we may indulge the hope that
some time in the future another star may
be added to the American flag to represent
the sovereign state of Cuba in the Ameri.
can Union. But she must come into oul
sisterhood of States as did the Republic OF
Texas with the free will of her people
God forbid that those gallant Cuban sol
diers who so generously poured out their
blood for the independence of their native
land should ever be compelled by superior
force TO become unwilling subjects OF thi:
or any other nation.
For four years this government ha:
waged war in the Philippine islands, fol
the suppression of an Instruction carried
on by people who desire TO be free. 1t j,
proclaimed by party managers that oul
title TO the land is perfect, both in morals
and law 1t is quite true that this govern
ment has as good title TO those islands a:
was possessed by Spain, for we have IL
the treaty of Paris an instrument quit
claiming all of the right, title and interes
of the Spanish government in and 10 tn
Philippine islands and the Filipino people
1t is also true, however, that Spain,
title has been in dispute for two hundred
years, during which time the people were
asserting their risht to be free; that at tn,
mics of Spain i'm the archipelago had beer
vanquished by the army under Agunald,
and were for the most part prisoners .
war. So that Spain had about the sam
title TO convey TO this government tina
England had after the battle of Yorktowi
TO convey to the French, had that peopl
desired TO negotiate a purchase.
But the forms were observed and Spain
undertook to convey without their consen
nearly ten millions of human souls, and
God help us-we bought them for twent,
millions of dollars
1t was our first venture in imperialism
| The American idea on this subject wa
expressed by that great Republican states
man, Charles Sumner, who in speaking o
a proposition for the purchase Of Canada
once declared: He knows our country lit
tie, and little also of that great nbert
which Is ours, who suppoSes that we coul
| receive such a transfer Territory NAV b
conveyed. but not a people"
Or, as Theodore Roosevelt declared: "W
want no unwilling citizens 70 enter GU
Union; the time 10 have taken the Ian
was before settlers came into them. Euro
| peon nations war for the possession O
| thickly settled districts. which If conquere
will for centuries remain alien and hostil
70 the conquerors; We wiser in our gener
| alton, have seized the waste solitudes tina
| lay near us, the limitless forests and never
| ending plains, and the valleys af the grea
! lonely rivers, and have thrust our son
of years after each conquest we see tn
| conquered lands teeming with people tina
| is one with ourselves"
DISTANT CONQUESTS.
Washington, in his farewell address ha
| warned us against the conquest OF distan
lands, pointing out that the security grow
ing out of our isolated position betwee
the two great oceans would be greatly en-
! dangered by the acquisition of territor
thousands of miles away, to which. in cas-
of war with a foreign power. we would b
compelled to send our soldiers TO defend
But word came that these new posses
sions were rich in gold and coal and tim
! Der and other articles of commerce, an
! that great wealth was in store for thos
1 who would properly and in accordanc
| with modern methods exploit them.
Little was known of the people beyon
| the fact that they loved liberty and longe
! to govern themselves.
On this subject Admiral Dewey declare
| that these people are far superior in the
| intelligence and more capable OF self-goN
| eminent than the natives of Cuba, an
l am familiar with both races"
| Gen. Charles King confirmed this an
| added: The capacity of the Filipinos fC
| self-government cannot be doubted. Nine
! tenths of the people read and write, mo:
| of them are skilled artisans in one wa
| or another; they are industrious, fruga
| temperate and given a fair start, coul
look out for themselves infinitely bette
! than our people imagine. In my opinio
they rank far higher than the Cuban or a
| uneducated negro TO whom we have give
the right of suffrage"
The cupidity OF our people was appeale
10, grandllOquent speeches were made
favor of the march Of the flag, revivin
| the old manifest destiny cry Of year
ago. declaring that we were Gods truste
| for the regeneration Of a benghted pee
pie. carrying 10 them the gospel OF Chri: