Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1913-01-08
WILSON NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..

elect Wilson takes advanced ground
on the Philippine Islands menace. He
said in his Stanton speech: 1.-THE
Philippine Islands are our present
frontier, but 1 hope we presently are
to deprive ours elves of that frontier.
Today We can get out of the Phil
lppines with honor, tomorrow, it may
be, we cannot, To great many peo-
pie, in fact, to most people, the Phil
lppine Islands have appeared as a
bomb with fuse set and all necessary
to start a disturbance that would not
only affect the Islands and this coun-
try, but draw in the whole world. The
only thing lacking was for someone to
apply the match.
1t was with many disturbing
thoughts that most people viewed the
settlement with Spain and our pay
ment of $2O,000,000 for the Islands
$500 per head for yellow bellies" as
Tom Reed expressed it. 1t seemed, at
that time, the only honorable thing
10 do. And yet, nobody had in mind
the permanent retention of the is
lands; nobody desired that this coun-
Try start out on a career of imperial
ism and acquire land and a people
way off at the other end Of the world.
Most people feared "entangling ALI
ances;" most people, today, desire to
heed the admonition Of those farsee-
ing men who gave us the Declaration
of independence, and who advised
against entanglements with the world
and nothing so induces entangle-
meuts as imperialism and the owner
ship of other countries and other
peoples. World power means a lot
to the people of this country; it
means the mixing up into the affairs
Of the world and that spells endless
trouble. ..-........ ......,..E
There are several view points and
all against retention Of the islands
longer than necessary. Our organiza-
ton does not intend we should hold
people in subjugation, or govern 9th
err people without that peoples con-
sent. 1t is contrary to our principles
and our ideals. Man, to us, is creatte
free and equal and entitled to certain
right and privileges.
Again, what has it cost us to &C
quire the Islands; what has it cost
us 70 hold them; what will it cost us
before we let go? This can hardly
be estimated, in dollars and cents,
or from any other standpoint. We do
know that we have done some good
On the Islands. We have started
Them on the way to stable govern
inent. Where they will land >We do
not know. How long we will be COM
PEELED to do the brothers. keeper act
we cannot reckon. And, we agreed to
give the Filipinos their independence.
Why delay? All our traditions, all
our boosted ideals and ideas of gov
eminent, are against longer occupa-
lion of the Philippine Islands than alb
solutely necessary. From the earli-
est moment we have advertised our
selves as the apostles of liberty and
self-government' We might fill
pages on what we have done for the
Philippines; yet it would all be blot
ted out by few words written across
and those words: We have given the
Fiipinos no definite promise of indie
pendence, after Is years.
The democratic platform adopted at
Baltimore favors AN immediate de-
claration of the nations purpose to
recognize the independence of the
Philippine Islands as soon as a stable
government can be established, such
independence 10 ne guaranteed, ny uS
until the naturalization Of the islands
can be secured by treaty with other
powers" All this country will ask,
presumably is necessary coaling sta
lions and naval bases. The country,
not alone the democratic party, al
though this party has been bold
enough to take strong position, has
never favored a policy of imperialism
and has abhorred colonial exploita-
ton. Our financiers have exploited
and have tried to fasten the Islands
about our necks. We have paid $780,
600, 900 to Spain in cash; we have
spent $3.50, 100000 in benevolent as
similation' work, as Mckinley called
it, and now why should we longer
hold the sack, while it is increasing
in weight at every moment?
Oh, that we had the Philippine Is
lands off our hands and out OF our
minds. We rejoice at President-elect
words. Let action be taken
before it is too observation-disclosures.