The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-10-18
JUDGE PARkER'S SPEECH.
Judge Parker said in part:

Judge Parker said in part:
Il have before said that we may not
disregard the responsibility imposed
by possession of the Philippines and
that responsibility will best be observ-
ed by preparing the islanders as rap
idly as possible for government
and giving to them the assurance that
il Will come as soon as they are reason
ably prepared for it, This means in
dependence for the Filipinos in the full
sense of the word. When prepared
they may govern themselves as the
CubaIs do, unasssted unless asking
help, un6irccted, unless asking advice
lI'ltrammeled by our politics, nnen-
numbered by our politicians, ard up-
controlled by us.
Secretary Taft has said: "A prom
Use to give ultimate independence will
be construed by the more violent ele-
ment, disposed to agitation, to be a
promise to grant independence in the
near future and during the present
ueration. The success of the eX-
pertinent we are making in the Philip
pines depends on having the FilipinOs
understand that we are working for
their benefit but that we expect to
stay there Indefinitely in working out
the good we propose to do them.
Here we have the issue clearly defined
The Republican party stands for the
Subjugation of defenseleSS foreign peo-
plies. Democracy stands for freedom
We relieved Spain of this thorn in her
flesh, the Philippines, to plunge it into
our own. We paid, and are paying,
enormously for the privilege of per-
forming the operation. Spain had
been trying to conquer the islands
since the early decades of the six
teenth century. she had never quite
succeeded. That is not surprising.
Every true American would desDise a
man who would not fight TO the last
gasp for his fireside and birthplace of
his babes When the battleships of
our great republic destroyed the Span
ish war vessels the E'ilipinOS hoped the
freedom for which they had strug-
gled so long was finally approaching.
our history seemed to guarantee that
our ambition would be to see them
free. happy and prosperous.
The Party Degenerate.
eve perpetually point with pride to
our love of liberty. The Republican
platform asserts that, fifty years ago
the Republican party came into ex-
iStence dedicated among other pur-
poses to the great task of arresting
the extension of human slavery. The
arresting the extension of human
slavery, that sounds we'll. But ii
speaks of the virtue of another gener-
alton. All the leaders of the Repub-
lean party of that day have passed
away. In their place have come
very different men. We need not
point out that which principally diff
ferentiates them. 1t readily suggests
itself But we will refer to one of the
results of that difference.
after our utter defeat of the Span
iards the Republican administration
paid to the vain o0pressor of the un-
conquered Filipino $20,00O,O00 for
In riafi c and ION Il
hereditaments. In the attempt to boil
ster the opinion we have wasted over
$3.50, 100000 more of the peoples
money and sacrificed over 200, 600
lives.
"And the waste of money and the
sacrifice of lives are not yet ended if
the policy OF the administration is to
be continued indefinitely, That policy
refuses to promise independence for
the islanders now, or at any time or
upon any condition. 1t does not even
leave open the door of hope. The
administration rails at the Democratic
proposal to promise them independ-
ence as soon as they are prepared for
it. Indeed. it suggests to eighty mil
lions of intelligent people that such a
promise would stimulate the vicious
to be more vicious, instead OF encour-
aging the improvement which would
secure them what they most desire on
earth-freedom / but state the prop
osition. 1t argues itself. If our people
agree that the administration is wrong
i'm threatening by its silence that
which it undoubtedly intends, name
ly. perpetual bondage for the Fill
pinos the remedy is in their hands.
We could have donated to Spain a
number of millions and annexed
Cuba with equal justice and less sus-
picion of embecilitv than we displayea
in acquiring the Philippines. but we
have done our duty to Cuba. we have
left her to work out her own saliva
tion--to take her place in the narcn
of civilized nations. Shall we forbid
the Filipinos to hope for lndetend-
ence? Shall we prevent their building
up their own civilization, and try To
force ours upon them? Civilization is
Il growth not disguise. Every race
must work out its civilization III Its
own way.
Our Duty to the Eiiipinos.
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