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


magic Of the schoolroom a potential
influence working for the advance
ment of civilization, good order and
civil government in the Philippines.
We do not find any evidence of that
imperialistic purpose which seems to
disturb the Imagination of our patri-
otic friends in opposition. The public
revenues have been faithfully collect
ed and intelligently and conservative
ly administered, so that there is to-
day in the insular treasury a surplus
OF several millions of dollars.
''We invite the attention of our
friends to what we have accomplished
the principles of republican govern
ment and for the promotion of the
welfare of the inhabitants of that is
land. We heard much criticism few
months ago of our legislation with re-
spect to that island and its people,
and the country was for time deeply
stirred, fearing that we were ignoring
and subverting the doctrines for
which our forefathers stood. 1t is a
gratifying and reassuring fact, indeed,
that the people are so sensitive of
the national honor, and that they will
not readily sanction any supposed
breach of it. The storm which ragged
with intensity for a time subsided in
due course, and the integrity and ben
eficence of our action is now beyond
| challenge. Porto Rico is enjoying a
measure of republican government
which is entirely new to her and is
blessed with an unprecedented meas
ure of prosperity.
1--WE are attempting to do in the
Philippines under greater embarrass-
ment. precisely what we have been
doing in Porto Rico, and if we will
but persevere in the right and have
confidence in each others patriotic
and humane purposes similar results
will doubtless follow. While we are a
nation of tremendous commercial ac-
tivities and untold wealth, they are
not our greatest glory, nor are thev
the controlling factors in determining
our national duty. The question of
human rights and human liberty are
the potential questions which have
summoned our mightiest armies and
have assembled our fleets and stirred
our country to the utmost depths.
"It was not gold nor the dream q
empire that summoned us in 1898
from the fields of peace to the theater
of war. 1t was not the thought of ter
ritorial aggrandizement which led the
American congress, in the exercise of
its exalted constitutional power, to
declare war against Spain. 1t was not
the lust for mere martial victory for
which 250.000 of the flower of the
youth of the land left the vocations
of peace and went down to the battle
fields of the republic. No; not that.
But be it said in honor and praise of
the great republic that it was to over
throw the power of tyranny and to
give to the oppressed children of men
the privileges of republican govern
ment. In the presence of such ques-
tions as confront us we must not take
counsel of our passions nor of our
mere material interests, but we must
take counsel of our conscience, of our
exalted sense of justice.
at should be remembered that Pres
ident Mckinley did not wish to take
the islands. Who among us was ac-
tuated by more exalted motives than
he? Who was moved by higher
sense of right and justice than he?
He was total stranger to the ele-
ments OF an oppressor. He stood
against the war. though knowing that
it could but result in the triumph of
our arms and increasing throughout
the world his prestige and his renown.
First Purpose of Mckinley.
''It was the first thought of the pres
ident to take a small zone in the is
lands for a coaling station, military
and naval purposes, and such were
his first instructions to our peace COM
missioners who went to Paris, com
missioners who were of the most able,
experienced and enlightened among
us, with no desire or thought to do
at the council table anything which
was in derogation of our national
rights. our national duty. or which
was in contravention of the great car.
dinal principles upon which our gov.
ernment is founded.
"As the discussion progressed and
the difficulties seemingly increased
aEi the full measure of our respon.
sibilities gradually unfolded the con-
clusion was reached by the president
and the commissioners that we could
not in honor and duty stop short of
the cession Of the entire Philippine
archipelago; not, sir, because of any
desire of foreign domain or of mere
commercial conquest, not for the mere
reimbursement of our national treas
ury, but because of the simple die
tates of humanity; not for the purpose
of holding subject people, but for
the purpose of lifting subject peo-
pie into the full sunlight of modern
civilization, and to preserve the peace
of the world, which would have been
placed in instant peril if we should
have left the islands like derlicts upon
the high seas
Excise duties are imposed by the
congress, and both parties have long
voted for them without a word of pro-
test or a suggestion that we were DEAL
ing with subjects in the sense in
which that term is used by the op-
position. We have been and are act
ing under the broad grant of power