The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1902-11-14

@ How can it be settled?
A Either BY applying American
principles 10 the FiiipinOs or by aband-
oning those principles in the United
States
O. Why do republicans declare that
the question is settled?
A Because they do not dare to dis
cuss the principles involved.
O. Is It possible to have self-gOv-
eminent in the United States and a
colonial policy in the Orient2
A Not permanently. As a man for
a while may lead q double life, SO our
nation may for a while proclaim the
principles OF the declaration Of indie
pendence here and deny those princi-
pies to the F'iIipinOs, but the irresisti-
Bile tendency to reconcile preaching and
practice will ultimately compel US to
stop preaching seIf-gOveTnment here or
10 stop practicing eOlOnialism across
the Pacific
Q. By what title did we acquire the
Philippine islands?
A We have no title to the Philip
pine islands that can be recognized or
defended by American citizens
O. What title is asserted?
A. Some argue that we bought the is
lands and the people from Spain, and
others say that we obtained title BY
conquest
Q. Did Spain have a right TO sell Us
eight millions OF FilipinOs at two dol
lars and a half a piece2
A No. A Spanish king had no
more right to sell FiIipinOs TO US than
our president or congress would have
to sell seventy-five million American
citizens to the Spanish king
Gould ~--o hrrr- the Tcfrn6c and then
claim the people as fixtures that go
with the land2"
A. No. The purchase Of cold, imam
innate matter can not be held 70 carry
with it title to living beings possess
ing souls and made in the image Of
their Creator. To claim that the peO-
pie were thrown in" with the land
would be as bad as to buy them at 50
much per head.
Q. Can title be secured by conquest
A No. Seventy-five millions Of peO-
pie can no more secure title to eight
millions by whipping them than a big
man can secure title TO a little man by
whipping him. If the governments de
rive their Just powers from the con-
sent Of the governed then il is i'm
possible to secure title to people either
by purchase or by the exercise Of su-
periOr force.
Q. Does the suppression Of the in
surrectiOn change the situation?
A Not at all. The rights of the Fill
pinO are the same whether he is able
to enforce them or not.
@. But has our nation not promised
to be good to the FilipinOs2
A Yes. But what tyrant ever prom
ised less to his subjects2
- -,
Pine to be a subject Of our government
than to be a citizen under a govern
ment of his own?
A No. Because citizenship stimu-
lates progress, while the conditions Of
a subject destroys hope and ambition.
Q. Could our country afford to have
subjects even if it were best for the
subjects?
A. No. We can not afford to
abandon our theory Of self-gOvernment
even if it would enable US to help peO-
pie held as subjects under a colonial
system. Our duty to ourselves and to
the world requires our nation TO assert
and to exemplify the self-evident
truths: That all men are created
equal, that they are endowed with in
alienable rights; that governments are
instituted among men to secure these
rights, and that governments derive
their Just powers from the consent Of
the governed No destiny can be high
er than this and no advantage obtain
able from a colonial system could com
pensate US for lowering our nations
ideals.
Q. How have the republicans been
able to avoid the issue Of Imperialism
A At first they denied that they in
tended imperialism, then they said that
they could not discuss the future IN
til the FiIipinOs laid down their arms,
and now they say that the FilipinOs
having laid down their arms the ques-
ton is settled and that there is moth
ing TO discuss.
Q. Have the American people ever
Endorsed imperialism?
A Nc. The republicans have never
gone into a campaign advocating a
colonial policy. Even after the election
Of 1900 President Mckinley declared
that no thought Of imperialism lurked
in the American mind
O. Do all republicans favor imperial
ism now?
A. No. But few republicans actual
" favor Imperialism If the really IA
vOred it they would boldly proclaim
theim belief in imperialistic principles.
O. Why do republicans fail to pro-
test against Imperialism
A Because they have not studied
the question sufficiently TO understand
its dangerous tendencies They have
faith in their party and believe that
it viii do right in all things
Q. Will faith save them2
A No. Faith without works is dead
Each republican is a part Of his party
and he can not shirk responsibility for
what his party does He can not expect
other republicans to save his country
he must help save it He ought to have
his opinion on the subject and ought
to express that opinion at the polls
Q. Has the democratic party any
plan for settling the Philippine Ques-
ton?
A Yes. It not only has a plan, but
it has the only plan that has been pro-
posed.
Q. What is the democratic plan?
A It is set forth in the Kansas City
The Washington city man who was
sent to jail for sixty days for stealing
a picked pigsfOot should have stOler
a huge slice Of the public demain and
posed as a trustee of Providence.
A German scientist advocates isOla.