The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1902-07-30
True Democracy Defined.
Continued from Ist page.)

is made clear by the character of the gov
eminent established to-day. Our imperi-
alsts tell us that the object of annexing
the Philippine Islands by force is to civil
ize, uplift and improve the inhabitants
Now, there is but one way by which
strong nation can aid weaker, and that
is by encouraging the industry of the peo-
pie. There is but one way to encourage
their industry and that is by affording
them a market to its ports.
Does any one doubt that rather than
allow the products of the Philippines free
access to these markets the Republicans
would cutthese islands adrift in an hour
This country now fixes the rates of duty
upon which the goods of the Philippines
come in here and the rate at which ours
are admitted there-that is to say. we
prescribe the conditions on which our
goods will be sold to them and on which
theirs will he purchased by us. Exchange
of conditions between countries cannot be
carried on with justice under a system of
discriminating taxation where the rate
in both is fixed by one of them.
If protection, that is to say, the es
tablishment of advantages in trade by
government. be advisable for this coun-
try. our governmnt is bound to afford
us the fullest measure of it everywhere
But if they give us all the advantages
which they can create in the Philippine
markets. they will necessarily be plumber
ing the Filipinos. andif they give us less,
they will be btraying the American peo-
pie. Can anybody doubt which side will
get the advantage? And any advantage
to us means tribute levied upon them.
THAT the exaction of tribute is the
real purpose of Imperialism in the East
is shown concusively by the provision
of the bill just enacted by Congress re-
moving restrictions on the alienation of
| land in the Philippine Islands"
o not condemn the eXaction of trib-
ute SO much on account of Philippines
as on account of this country. Tribute
is disastrous to the country which plays
it, but has always been the absolute ruin
of every country which persisted in ex-
acting it.
The profits of commerce are nexhaus-
| tible; encourage industry, stimulate in
vention, broaden intelligence, and strength
en- morality. The profits of plumber dead
EN- enterprise, corrupt morals, discourage
production and demoralize industry. Plum
der is always seized by few. 1t is, there
| fore, always conspicuous. Wealth created
by industry is always widely distributed,
and therefore it often escapes notice. The
| palace erected by head of a syndicate
exploiting the Philippines will be observ-
| ed by everybody, while multitude of
houses erected in suburbs, though cost
ing in the aggregate twenty times MS much
may nevr be noticed. Every dollar which
! the palace cost represents the expenditure
of twenty dollars, besides waste of lives
and labor that cannot be calculated. But
| while it stands people can only see that
the schemes of iniquity which produced
| it were profitable to their promoters, and
| the inevitable result is general indiffer-
ence, or aversion to honest labor with its
slower but surer and larger rewards
The whole history of the world SHOWS
that when tribute has once been tasted,
pillage arises in popularity, while indus
try sinks into contempt and the nation
which forsakes industry for pilage is
hopelessly and ilxetrievably lost,
| (To he continual \