Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1902-04-14
DO WE DESERVE IT?
THE COMPLIMENT OF PRESIDENT
ESTRADA PALMA, OF CUBA.
In View Of Affairs In the Philippines. the
Statement that 1.-THE People Of the United
States Remember Their Own Declaration
Of independence" Appears Slightly Sar.
castle.


OF the Cuban republic, upon the an
nouncement that the United States
would withdraw from Cuba, and permit
the young republic to take its place
among the nations of the earth, issued
statement in which he said:
The government of the United States
has shown most beautiful example of
good faith in dealing with weak gov
eminent which it undertook to rescue
from, its oppressors. 1t has demonstrat.
ed its generosity and patriotism, and by
the shedding of its own blood has help
ed Cuba to break the chain which unit
it with Spain. Some countries would
have sought some pretext for selfish
gain in undertaking work of this char
acter, and would have taken advantage
of some technicality for their own ag-
grandizement, but the contrary spirit
has been manifested by the United
States, and it has given to the world an
evidence of good will seldom found. The
people OF the United States have remem-
bered their own Declaration of indie
pendence, and have fulfilled duty to
mankind.
This compliment would make the
American breast swell with pride, if the
compliment itself did not remind us of
our shortcomings in our dealings with
another people.
The Filipines helped us in our contest
against our foe and their oppressor.
Have we shown toward the PHILIPPINES
"a most beautiful example of good
faith?" Have we demonstrated toward
the Filipinos orr generosity and patriot
ISM"
"Some countries" says President
Palma, "would have sought some pre-
text for selfish gain in undertaking a
work of this character, and would have
eak,di advantage of some technically
for their own ACKNOWLEDGMENT but the
contrary spirit has been manifested by
the United States and it has given to
the world an evidence of good will sell
dom found" This is said with respect
to our actions toward Cuba. Can it be
said, in truth, with respect to our ac-
tions toward the PHILIPPINES? Have we
not "taken advantage of some techni-
cality for our own ACKNOWLEDGMENT" in
our attitude toward our former allies in
the Philippines?
"The people Of the United States"
says President Palma, "have remember
ed their own Declaration of Independ.
ence, and have fulfilled a duty to man
kind" Undoubtedly President Palma
meant we'll in his generous tribute to
the beautiful example OF good faith"
with which he credits our government;
but in emphasizing this beautiful ex-
ample OF good faith"in our dealings with
Cuba, he has emphasized on lack of good
faith in our dealings with the Filipinos?
He has stirred with in the Ameri-
can breast a feeling of pride, so far as
concerns our final act toward the Cub
ans, but that feeling was to some ex-
tent checked by feeling OF shame in
the recollection of our course toward
the people of the Philippine islands.
And why might not the same tribute
that has been paid by President Palma
in the name OF the Cubans have been
paid with equal truth in the name of the
Filipinos? Why might not the American
people have remembered their own
Declaration of Independence" and why
might they not have fulfilled duty to
mankind" in their dealings with the
Filipinos in the same manner and the
same spirit which President Palma says
they displayed with relation to Cuba?