Idaho Springs siftings., 1904-09-24
the exception OF Russia. show produe-
ton by countries as follows:
united Statea
THE PHILIPPINES.
Republican Policy IL In Line with
III. TsrritoriaI PrsceAsnts.

Rspublican Policy IL In Line with
TsrritopiaI PrsceAsnts.
r -Four years ago the Democratic par
~ denounced the acquisition Of the Phil
ippine Islands by the United States ~
dangerous form Of national expAnsion
and their retention as an application OF
militarism. The only logical conclusiou
OF this position was our Immediate -
tirement from the Isisnds. leavine thsm
to shift for themselves. la he hitter 90
cepting the nomination fer Vice Presi-
dent in 1900 Mr.. Roosevelt eommented
on this position as follows.
The simple trtrth is that there i moth
ing even remotely resembling imperial
ism or militarism involved in the present
development OF that policy Of expansion.
which has been part OF the history Of
America from the day whep she became
q nation. The words mean absolutely
nothing as applied 10 oar present policy
in the Philippines. for this policy is only
imperiahstic in the sense that. Jeferson's
policy in Louisiana WAS imperialisiic;
only military in the sense that Jackson's >
policy towards the Seminoles or Clusters
towards the Sioux embodied uiiiitarism; !;
and there is no more danger OF its pro-
ducing evil results. at home now than
there was Of is Interfering with free
dom under Jefferson or Jackson, or in
the days OF the Indian wars on the
plains. 4..e .a...rs..-..rt
The only certain way OF rendering
II necessary FOR our Republic 10 enter
on a career OF 'militarism' would bs to
abandon the Philippines TO their own
tribes, aud at the same time either to
guarantee stable government among
these tribes or 10 guarantee them against
outside interference. A far larger army
would be required 10 carry out any such
policy than win be required to secure
order under the American flag; while
the presence Of this flag on the Islands
is really the only possible security against
outside aggression. Properly
speaking, the question is now not wheth-
er We shall eSpands-for We have already
expsnded-but whether we shall con-
tract"
That was the issue four years ago.
Now the Democratic platform says:
ave believe with jefferson and John
Adams, that no government has right
to make one set OF laws for those at
home and another and a different set Of
laws. absolute in their character. for
those In the colonies. We insist
that we ought 20 do for the Fiipinos
what We have already done for the
Cubans."
There has never been time since
the formation OF the government that
Congress has not made one set OF laws
for the States and another set for the
territories. The laws enacted by Con-
gress for the government OF the Philip
pines are no more absolute than those
which have been enacted during the last
hundred years for our various territories.
The demand that the United States
shall do for the Fiiipinos what It has
done for the Cubans Is unrea sonable. We
never claimed 20 own Cuba. but We pos
sess the Philippines by an nndisputed
title. A Republican administration did
entire justice to Cuba as demanded by
the circumstances % the ease and the
Republican party can he depended upon
to do entire justice to the Philippines.