Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1904-10-20

TO Spain a number OF millions and n
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 W
saIvation-to take her place in the
march Of civilized nations. Shall we
forbid the Fiiipinos to hope for indie
~pendence? Shall we prevent their
building up their own civilization and
try to force ours upon them? Civiliza-
ton is q growth, not disguise; every
ace must work OF. its civilization in
its own way.
Duty to Filipinos.
Our duty TO the Filipinos demands
a promise of Independence. But III
own interests demand that we be re-
lieved of the Filipinos just as soon
as they r reasonably prepared for
self-government. A colony-holding ma
ton is ever subject to expensive wars
with other nations and with its colo
MES. 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 13 colonies it had cost her so much
to secure.
The American expansionist, follow
ing the European argument, alleges
that annexation of the Philippines
must promote progress, foster COM
merce and industry and introduce the
leaven of civilization into a backward
and inferior ace The evidence of
history is to the contrary. Certainly
the claim will not be made that we
can ever get back the money that has
been taken from the pockets of our
taxpayers and wasted on the Philip
pines. And it is a like concern that
but two classes of our people a hope
to be benefited by holding the Philip
pines, the class which is always hunt
ing for special government privileges
and the class which seeks to make of
otficehplding a means of livelihood.
The latter class in the Philippines
comprise some officials of whom a
student of conditions there recently
said: "Of the character of many in
| Office too little can not be said. At the
best, they have been inefficient; at the
worst. dishonest, corrupt and ~despotic.
The islands seem to have succeeded in
getting the very dregs of our people,"
He also said: "The situation in the
Philippines to-day is SO terrible that
it passes the comprehension of people
at home. Alphabetically, the country
is for the time ruined. Land is going
out Of cultivation; the population is ill
fed, and, in some places, unable to
get work. The country is overburdened
with taxation; disease is prevalent;
the farm animals dead; the towns in
many places in ruins, whole districts
in the hands of ladrones, the price of
products poor and unremunerative.
Public opinion has no free expression;
newspapers are bought up or are brow
beaten into silence. Men of influence
who criticized the commission are os-
tracized. The plays produced in the
theaters are censored; there is not an
organ of expression of the populace
voice that is not controlled. In pri-
vate life men are subject to a complete,
~far-reaching, thorough system of espi-
onage. Detectives appear in the guise
of servants, and the oath Of a single
one is enough to destroy a mans rep
| utation, property, liberty, or ever life
itself. This country should hasten to
the relief of that situation"
l ask of the republican party wheth-
Ell, 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 the 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 us. To-day they can
do neither.
But aside from the duty we wv the
Philippines in preparation for the en-.
ioyment of the blessed privileges we
possess, we should guard carefully
against the. danger to ourselves of ar
imperialistic policy. History teaches
that from republicanism to imperial
ism the movement is gradual and I'M
perceived of the people. It's ominous
progress when discovered leaves oper
but two courses, submission or resor1
to violence.
That our people may never be com
PEELED to choose between these fearful
alternatives should be our prayer. Blu
we Should work as well as pray. Ant
our work should be to guard thu
foundation on which u government
rests. Its basis is that Of declared
~ideas-ideas that are stronger thai
battleships and armies, ideas whicl
tor more than a century have stimu
lated III development, and which hav'
given promise that u world mis-
ksion" shall be not to seize the territor,
of distant people and rule them witt
a scepter Of iron, but to establish
truth honor. iuStice and Deace anon,