Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1904-10-13
|CUBAAND THE PHILIPPINES
THE LOGIC OF JUDGE PARKEg'S
POSITION.
Consequences Of til, War With Spain
Involve the Graye Question Whether
We Shall Remain a Republic.

Was not the experiment of turning
the Cubans loose to govern themselves
good enough! Has not even Il little
time proved that they were capable ot
self-gOvernment?
And how is it with the Filipinos? In
those 2000 islands there is Il saving
proportion of intelligent people sensi-
bic enough to govern the rest of them.
They were our allies in the struggle
with Spain, whom they had fought for
nearly 200 years. Cuba's battle had
been very much briefer. The Demo-
cratic party started in to force the war
with Spain III the high ground of hui
mainly. The existing Republican Adj
ministration, for one reason and an
other, held off the var as long as it
possibly could i'll the face Of over
Whelming public opinion. To the
credit of some Republican patriots, but
not of the party, there was a body Of
members of the House of that party
who Joined cheerfully with the Demo-
Gratis who were clamoring for some
thing Of a definite and positive policy
which should justify the olden boast
for this Republic that it was the home
OF the brave and the land of The free,
and that the harbors of all its long
extending shores afforded haven for
the oppressed of all nations. For this
the Democracy of Congress, Endorsed
by the Democrats Of the United States
and the patriotic, sympathetic people
of this country, forced, drove and
goaded the Republican Administration
to go into the wal with Spain. 1t was
no to Cypress anybody; it was not in
any spirit of bravado. The American
| people have ever been a peace-loving
population. They had their wars enough
and a plenty. They had fought each
other to the bloody finish of better and
happier mutual understanding. They
| went into that little fight with Spain,
united and determined to win. They
did win, and the glory, scant as it was,
was enough to go all around to be
shared by our common country. Cuba
was freed and put where she. could
| govern herself. Exactly the same con-
ditions obtained and prevailed as to
the Philippines. 1t was early an
nounced to them that there would be
no conquest for territory. (Sce Nc
Kinley's papers.l- By all the truth Of
the history of this Republic they had
every reason for faith in the sincerity
of American professions. Their Lead
ers of thought--not the miserable Mo-
ros Wood has been k%illing-but right
eously. ambitious human beings, home-
loving, home-preserving people, had
read with thrills of delight the story
Of America, the Republic Of the United
States; read the words of the Declara-
ton of Independence, studied the
meaning of our Constitution, and were
satisfied. And how are they feeling
now? What security, what hope is
held out to them in the professions and
promises and pretenses of our Chief
| Executive, who has belittled and
| abused the statesmen who have made
our Republic the boast Of the highest
attainment of human government?
Definite promise of self-govcrnment
was made to the Cubans and was kept.
They have justified our confidence in
them. A like promise was made to
the Filipinos. 1t has not been kept. 1t
will not be kept with Theodore Roosc-
welt still President Of the United
States. and ambitions longer and in
definitely TO rule this country rs he
has recently been dominating his own
party.
The last analysis of it all is, shall
we remain a Republic or embark upon
empire, which would mean our ccr-
tain destruction?
"The people of the United Statcs,'
as Judge Parker says in his letter Of
acceptance, "'stand ut the parting OF
the ways
10 return to the old right way OF
the Republic he has made IL noble APP
peal. He has met all the boastful
challenges of the Republican President
bravely. un%shrinkingly, The people Of
the United States will endorse Judge
Parker in November.