The Topeka state journal., 1908-02-13
In Speech at a Grand Rapids,
Mich, Banquet.
ASKS THE QUESTION
What Would Lincoln Have Done
In McKinley's Place3
Believes He Would Approve the
Governments Course.

Grand Rapids, FEB. 15.-Aho I'LL
coin club banquet here was a brilliant
success with a galaxy OF speakers new
er equaIled in Michigan political pan
quets More than 2,000 persons occu-
MED seats at the tables, The hall was
eiaborately decorated and as compn-
xaent to Ambassador Jusserand of
France, French colors were mingled
with the American.
The speakers were Ambassador JUS
ssanrd, Congressman George Edmund
sEoss. Secretary Taft, Governor Curtis
kCuild, 1r,. of Massachusetts, and Direc-
Flor John Barrett of the bureau OF
sAmerican republics at Washington.
sAlthough all of the speakers were
lgreeted with enthusiasm. 1t was Secre-
l1ary Taft who received the greatest
Foutburst of applause.
It continued for several minutes be-
k2ore he could begin his address. Inter-
kTupted frequently by applause, ne
F6poke as follows:
without our design. In war one must
hpursue his enemy where he can ind
Ehim. It was necessary that Dewey
kehould destroy the Spanish fleet in the
kPacif1c to prevent its use against our
Fcommerce and against our Pacific ter
kritory. The destruction of the Spanish
Fleet put the Philippines at our mercy.
1--WE had no troops, however, and as a
REASONABLE war measure. we invoked
kthe assistance of Aguina1do and his
Mellow insurrectos against the power
kof Spain, to assist us in gaining control
kuntil our army could traverse the 1000
miles between our ports and the
Aguinaido's army we took the city of
Manila and then peace came. The
squestion was what course lay open
to US.
Should we turn our Philippine allies
=.
Efhe oppression against which they had
revolted? Would Abraham Lincoln
have advised that course? I do not
think so. Should we turn the islands
over to Aguinaldo and his military
lsubordinates? They had, themselves,
lin the nine months intervening, tried
ito establish a civil government and
the tyrannies and the insufficiencies of
j that government in trying to maintain
order would have made it a crime
against the whole people of the islands
for us thus to dodge responsibility and
seek to escape the burden which Proyi-
dence seemed to have thrust upon us.
What Would Lincoln Do?
Would Abraham Lincoln have ad-
vised policy of scuttle and retreat
from these islands, to leave them with
no government and a chaos that would
only increase the suffering of those nm
fortunate people. Clearly there is moth
ing in the declaration of Independence
as interpreted py ADraham Lincoln that
would have compelled this pusiIIanfmo1s
action. It is true the declaration recites
that all just government must relv on
the consent of the governed: but that
is to be interpreted meaning a con-
sent of the governed who have intel
hgence sufrlc1ent to enable them to dis
criminate as to what is government in
their own interest. Lincoln in debate
with Douglas did not insist that the
colored men as they then were. should
take part in the government as voters.
but he evidently treated the postu1ate
in the declaration of Independence as
the ideal toward which all government
should work. He would have been the,
last man to affirm that it was the duty
iof Mckinley and the Republican party.
responsible for the administration. to
have turned those Islands over to a
ipeople of seven millions, with so per
cent having a density of ignorance
thard for us to understand and with 10
kper cent, though somewhat educated
Eand Intelligent, yet without the slight
lest experience In the exercise of politi-
cal and governmental control I affirm
that the policy adopted by William Nc
lKinley and embraced by the Republi-
can party under which it is proposed
by gradual extending of self govern
nsnt to the people OF the Philippine is
lands as they shall become better DO
htically educated by practice and by
the school system, Is following the true
spirit and proper Interpretation of the
principles of the declaration of indie
pendenoe- No man would have been
quicker to scout as impracticable dog
ynatism, the bitter criticism, the unrea-
Esonable opposition and the almost
Itraitorous sympathy with the opposition
OF our government in the Philippines
displayed by the antf-imperialists and
their Democratic followers than Lin
coin.
What Has Reeu Tsona
I'm the now nearly ten years that we
have been in the islands we have pro.
duced tranquility and freedom from
1.-THE ladronism and disturbance which
slong interfered with the agriculture o.
1.-THE islands. We have done this at the
cost OF blood and treasure WouIt
Abraham Lincoln have disapproveG
this policy?