The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-10-16

ever subject 20 extensive wars with other
nstions and with its colonies. This neces-
states strong garrisons and powerful
ravies and draws heavily upon the treas
my. And history records no instance OF
q nation receiving from her colonies any
thing like an adequate return for the
blood and treasure spent. Fnglands ma
tionai debt was doubled by the revolt of
the thirteen colonies. 1t had cost her
much to secure them
The American expansionist following
European argument alleges that anneXa-
ton OF the Philippines must promote
progress. foster commerce and Industry
ana Introduce the heaven of civilization
into backward and inferior race. The
evidence of history IS 10 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 cur tax
payers and wasted on the Philippines
And il IS alike certain but two classes Of
our people can hope 20 be benefited by
our holding the Philippines, the class
witch IS always hunting for special gov
eminent privileges and the class which
seeks 70 make OF office holding means
philippines comprise some officials OF
whom student of conditions there re-
Gently said:
Officials Are Robbers.
OF the character Of many in office too
little cannot be said. At the best they
nave been inefficient. at the worst dis
honest. corrupt and despouc. The IS
s4nds seem to have succeeded in getting
the very dregs of our people"
BE also said: The situation in the
philippines today is so terrible that II
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 RUNS
whole districts in the hands or ladrones'
the price of products poor and unremu-
nerative.
Public opinion has no free express
sions newspapers are bought up or are
browbeaten into silence; men of influ-
ence who criticise the commission are
Ostracised: the plays produced in the the
aires are censored; there is not an organ
OF expression of the popular voice that
IS not controlled. In private life men
are subject TO a complete, far-reaching,
thorough system Of espionage. Detec-
tives appear in the gIiSe of servants ana
the oath of a single one Is enough 70
destroy a mans reputation, property, I'D
erty or even life ITSELF This country
should hasten TO the relief Of the situa-
I'VE ask OF the Republican party il the
administration Of the United states
should be continued in its hands If 1t pro-
poses to undertake TO apply any remedy.
VIII it enact for the Philippines proper
statutes regulating their affairs with
some view to their INTEREST," VIII lt give
their perishing shipping relief? VIII j.
they can exist?
Unfulflled Obligations.
I'VE hold the Philippine Islands. Have
we taken proper steps TO fulfill the obli-
cations therein assumed? Are the Fill
pinos today a self-suppOrting community
Are not their efforts toward acquiring
such positions embarrassed at every turn
by the legislation we have forced upon
them? Had we left them to their own
devices they might have dealt with for
eign nations. Had We brought them with
IN the United States of America they
might have dealt with us. Today they
can do neither
Where are the Philippine markets
Where the development of their natura
resources? Why should not those is
lands asserted by all and conceded by al
to have great natural resources, be self
supporting? / warn the Republican part1
that il is not an unheard of proposition
that an oppressed use the term advised
ly-an oppressed people should be FESTIVE
THE true questions which have con
cerned our relations with the Philippine
Islands from the moment Of our takins
them, and which today remain utterly un
touched for any good TO the island
themselves. and the questions which vii
regulate their future-fu other words. tn
real basis on which the Philippine islands
might interest US politically: The Phil
ipplne tariff the Philippine taxation anC
encouragement to their shipping inter
ests. These matters regulated to the ad
vantage of these islands, Philippine in
utDtiutllNt VIII appear Oii tue A4ilhlSNAtA
horizon Continue as we are doing Z
Cypress these people. and one of the mos
vexed questions that this nation ha
eyer been called upon to deal with VII
confront Us unfortunately.
Danger of Imperialism.
But aside from the duty we owe tn
-. philippines in preparation for the enjoy
ment of the blessed privilege we possess
we should guard carefully against tn
danger to ourselves OF an imperialism
policy History teaches that from Repuh
hcanism to Imperialism the movement ]
gradual and unpeTceived by the people
Its omnouS progress when dtScoyere
leaves open but two courses, submission
or resort TO violence.
THAT our people may never be com
pelied TO choose between these fearful al
ternatives should be our prayer. But W
should work as well as pray And gu
work should be TO guard the foundauol
on which our government rests Its baSi
Is that OF declared ideas-ideaS that ar
stronger than battleships and armies
ideas which for more than a century hav
stimulated our development and whc
have given promise that our world ms
sion shall be not TO seize the terrltor
Of distant peoples and rule them with
soeptre OF iron but 10 establish truth
honor. justice and peace among me ma
I'VE must choose whether within on
borders the basis of government sha
continue 20 be this idealism or "A mater
iaism which is the sure precursor of dis
solution. Tor no nation can endure upo
basis of materialism, however splen
TIf5 Prudence requires that choice mus
be made in time The time IS now