The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-08-11

already referred to. have, by legislation, encouraged their propagation. What is needed--in addition to the passage of statue revising the tariff duties to reasonable basis--is not so much other and different laws, as officials having both the disposition and the courage to enforce existing law. While this is my view of the scope of the common law, if it should be made to appear that it is mistaken one. then I favor such further legisla- ton within constitutional limitations as will give the people just and full meas ure of protection.
 The Philippine Question.
 It Is difficult to understand how any citizen of the United States, much less a descendant of revolutionary stock, can tolerate the thought of permanently de- nying the right of self-government to the Filipinos. Can we hope to instill into the minds of our descendants reverance and devotion for a government by the people, while denying ultimately that right to the inhabitants of distant countries, whose territory we have acquired either by purchase or by force? Can we say to the Filipinos, Your lives. your liberty and your property may be taken from you without due process of law for all time, and expect we will long glory in that fea- ture of Magma Charta, which has become incorporated, in substance and effect, into the constitution of every state, as well as into the fourteenth amendment to the con stitution of the United Statesf Can we hope for the respect of the civilized world, while proudly guaranteeing to ev- cry citizen of the United States that no law shall be made or enforced which shall abrid-se the privilege or immunities Of -ff of ba Gfof of. to any person the equal protection of the laws and at the same time not only deny similar rights to the inhabitants of the Philippines, but take away from them the right of trial by jury, and place their lives and the disposition of their prop erty in the keeping of these whom we send to them to be their governors? We shall certainly rue it as a nation if we make any such attempt. Viewing the question even from the standpoint of na- tional selfishness, there is no prospect that the twenty millions of dollars expended in the purchase of the islands and the six hundred and fifty millions said to have been since disbursed will ever come back to us. The accident of war brought the Philippines into our possession and we are not at liberty to disregard the re- sponsibility which thus came to us, but that responsibility will be best subserved by preparing the islanders as rapidly as possible for self-government and giving to them the assurances that it will come as soon as they are reasonably prepared for 1t. There need be no fear that the assertion so often made of late that we have now become a world power, will then be without suppos. ours Is world power and as such it must be maintained, but deny that 1t is at all recently that baa atf thence. Our country became a world power over a century ago, when, having thrown off foreign domination, the people established a free government, the source 1 of whose authority sprung and was con | tinuously to proceed, from the will of the people themselves. It grew as a world power as its sturdy citizens, to whose nat ural increase were added immigrants | from the old world seeking to obtain here | the liberty and prosperity denied them | in their own countries, spread over the face of the lanu, reduced the prairies and l forests to cultivation. built cities, con structed highways and railroads till now I nation which at the formation of the l government numbered only three mill l lions in population, has become eighty | millions and from ocean to ocean and the sakes to the gulf, the country is the | aboard or a free and prosperous people, ] advanced in the highest degree in the
 learining and arts of civilization. It is | the liberty the advancement and the I prosperity of It's citizens, not any career
 of conquest, that make the country a | world power. This condition we owe to | the bounty of Providence, unfolded in the | great natural resources of the country.
 to the wisdom of our fathers manifested | Tn the form of government established by them, to the energy, industry, moral character and law-abiding spirit of the | people themselves.
 Not Military Country.
 We are not a military people. bent on | conquest, or engaged in extending our domains in foreign lands, or deslrous of securing natural advantages however great by force; but a people loving peace, not only for ourselves but for all the nations of the earth
 May Excite Pride.
 l The display of great military arma- ments may please the eye and. for the moment excite the pride of the citizen,
 put It cannot bring to the country the Drains, Drawn and muscle of a single im- | migrant, nor induce the investment here or dollar of capital. Of course such armament as may be necessary for the se- curlty or the country and the protection V. ehe rignts of it's citizens, at home or api ioau' must be maintained Any other 1 se would be not only false economy,
 out pusianimous. I protest however, sa"se the feeling. now far too prevalent, .hal oy reason of the commanding posi-
 tion we have assumed in inc world. we