The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1904-10-22

leave open the door of hope. The adj
ministration rails at the democratic
proposition to'promise them i~ndepend-
ence as soon as they are prepared for
it. Indeed, it suggests to 100000 OF
Intelligent people that such a promise
would stimulate the vicious to be moro
vicious, instead of encouraging the m
provement which would secure them
what they most desire on earth-free-
dom.
] but state the proposition. 1t argueS
itself. If Il people agree that the adj
ministration is wrong in threatening
by its silence that which 1t undoubted-
ly intends. namely, perpetual bondage
for the Filipinos, the remedy is in
their hands. We could have donated
to Spain a number of millions and an
nexed Cuba with equal justice and less
suspicion of imbecility than we dis
played in acquiring the Philippines.
But We have done our duty to Cuba
We have left her to work out her own
salvation-to take her place in the
march of civilized nations. Shall We
forbid the Filipinos to hope for, indie
pendence? Shall We prevent their
building up their own civilization and
try to force ours upon them? Civiliza-
ton is a growth, not diss use; every
race must work out it's civilization in
its own way.
Duty to FiIlpinos.
Our duty TO the Filipinos demands
a promise of independence. But our
own interests demand that we be re-
lieved of the Filipinos just as soon
as they are reasonably prepared for
self-government. A colony-holding ma
ton is ever subject to expensive wars
with other nations and with it's COLO
nies. This necessitates strong garri-
sons and powerful navies, and draws
heavily upon the treasury. And his
tory records no instance of a nation
receiving from her colonies anything
like an adequate return for the blood
and treasure spent. England's nation
al debt was doubled by the revolt of
the Is colonies it had cost her so much
to secure.
ask of the republican party wheth-
eT, If the administration of the United
States should be continued in its
hands, it proposes to undertake Or ap-
ply any remedy. Will it enact for
the Philippines proper statutes regu-
lating their affairs with some view to
their interest? Will it give their per-
ishing shipping relief? Will it give
them tariff regulations under which
they can exist?
Attitude Toward Islands,
We hold%he Philippine islands. Have
we taken proper steps to fulfill the
obligations therein assumed? Are the
Philippine islands to-day a ~self-sup.
porting community? Are not their ef-
forts toward acquiring such position
embarrassed at every turn by the legis-
latiOn We have forced upon them? Had
we left them to their own devices they
might have dealt with foreign nations.
Had we brought them within the
United States of America they might
have dealt with as. To-day they can
do NEITHER
Where are the Philippine markets?
Where the development of their nat
ural resources? Why should not those
asserted by all and conceded
by all to have great natural
be self-suppOrting? warn the repub-
party that it is not an unheard-
Of proposition that an oppressed use
he term advisedly-an oppressed peo-
pie should be FESTIVE. The true ques-
lions which have concerned our rela-
ions with the Philippine islands, from
he moment Of our taking them, and
remain to-day utterly un-
for an good of the islands
themselves, and the questions which
viii regulate their future; in other
cords, the real basis o n which the
Philippine islands interest us POLITICAL
y are the Philippines tariff, Philippine
axation and encouragement to their
interests. These matters reg
Ilated to the advantage of these
Philippine independence will
Ippear on the immediate horizon. Con-
inue as we are doing to Cypress these
and one of the most vexed
Iuestions that this nation has ever
'een called upon to deal with will
onfront us interminably.
But aside from the duty we owe the
philippines in preparation for the en-
of the blessed privileges we
'ossess, We should guard carefully
gainst the danger to ourselves of an
mperialistic policy. History teaches
hat from re~publicanism to imperial
SIM the movement is gradual and un-
erceived of the people. It's ominous
rogress when discovered leaves open
two courses, submission or resort
D violence.
That our people may never be COM
elled to choose between these fearful
should be our prayer. But
re Should work as well as pray. And
1T work should be to guard the
,undation on which our government
ssts. It's basis is that of declared
that are stronger than
attleships and armies, ideas which
n more than a century have stimu-
fed orr ~lOD and which hava