Arizona republican., 1907-07-12
PHOENLX ARIZ. JULY l2. 1907.
THE ANTI-IMPERIALISTS
 HEARTENED.

The Republican has received. as we presume most papers of the United States have communication from the Anti-Imperialist League. which has evidently been encouraged by the sit uation in the Pacific to resurrect it. self and inform us that it told us SO.
 There are a great many more peo- pie than formerly. who believe with the anti-imperialists that the Philip pines were a bad investment; that the losing of them in a war with Japan would not be the worst thing for us that could happen to those outlying possessions. but that on the contrary. if the war brought us no other mis- fortune. it would be something of a blessing.
 To that extent the ranks of the anti imperialists have been greatly in creased. less by apprehension of a war than by a realization of the cost of maintaining the islands and their pos sible derangement of our continental system. as was threatened in the Philippines tariff bill.
 But beyond this the mass of the people will probably not want to go with the anti-imperialists who are crazier if possible than they were some years ago on the subject of the capacity of the Filipinos for self-gov- ernment.
 Any other disposition of the islands than the recession of them to the na- tives is regarded as criminal. It is criminal to retain them and would be equally criminal to put them out of our possession into the possession of any other nation:
 A sale to Japan has been suggested in many quarters as a method of es- caping from the dilemma. But to sell 5000. 900 people and their homes to any one is clearly immoral and contrary to American principles. There is no evidence that Japan or any other country now wants the islands. There is abundant evidence that the Filipi- nos. especially with the fate of Korea before their eyes. are bitterly opposed to a cession to Japan.
 There is nothing, think the anti imperialists, to do. except undo what We have done.-re- establish the status quo which existed before ''the govern ment which was successfully coaIuct- ed under Aguinaldo's Camocratic con- stitution was destroyed ny the armies of the United States"
 The anti-imperialists believe that the situation in the islands is much worse than when after the American occupation of the territory which Spain had held for centuries the Fili- pinos were in a state of general insdr- rection. which was after all the ex- pression according to the circular, or a patriotic sentiment: It proceeds:
 There might and probably would he occasional disorder and disturbances for a time. but these could hardly equal the disorders arising from our >attempt to conquer the islands, and they always accompany the struggle for free government. The republic of France rests upon a foundation built by many revolutions. Mexico. now so prosperous and orderly, had formerly a revolution or rising almost every year. The United States waged for four years the greatest civil war m history. Our peace was broken pS "ehaos and excesses;" the commerce and industry of the world were dis turbed Every people must work out it's own salvation and destiny accord ing to its own genius. This is the aspiration of the Filipinos.