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arisen before the ratification of another treaty. But whatever differences
opinion may have existed as to the best method of opposing a colonial policy,
there never was any difference as to the great importance of the question and
there is no difference now as to the course to be pursued. LLont
The title of Spain being extinguished, we were at liberty to deal with the
Filipinos according to American principles. The Bacon resolution, introduced
2 month before hostilities broke out at Manila, pre mised independence to the
Filipinos on the same terms that it was promised to the Cubans. I supported
this resolution, and believed that its adoption prior to the breaking out of hos-
tilities would have prevented bloodshed, and that its adoption at any subsequent
time would have ended hostilities.
If the treaty had been rejected, considerable time would have necessar-
ily elapsed before a new treaty could have been agreed upon and ratified, and
during that time the question would have been agitating the public mind.
Ii the Bacon resolution had been adopted by the Senate and carried out
by the president, either at the time of the ratification of the treaty or at any
time afterward, #t would have taken the question of imperialism out of poli-
tics and leit the American people free to deal with their domestic problems. But
the resolution was defeated by the vote of the Republican vice president, and
from that time to this a Republican Congress has refused to take any action
whatever in the matter.
: When hostilities broke out at Manila, Republican speakers and Repub-
lican editors at once sought to lay the blame upon those who had delayed the
ratification of the treaty, and during the progress of the war the same Repub-
licans have accused the opponents of imperialism of giving encouragement to
the Filipinos. This is a cowardly evasion of responsibility.
IF IT IS RIGHT FOR THE UNITED STATES TO HOLD THE PHILIPPINE IS
LANDS PERMANENTLY AND IMITATE EUROPEAN EMPIRES IN THE GOVERN-
MENT OF COLONIES, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OUGHT TO STATE ITS POSITION
AND DEFEND IT, BUT IT MUST EXPECT THE SUBJECT RACES TO PROTEST
AGAINST SUCH A POLICY AND TO RESIST TO THE EXTENT OF THEIR ABILITY.
THE FILIPINOS DO NOT NEED ANY ENCOURAGEMENT FROM AMERICANS NOW
LIVING. OUR WHOLE HISTORY HAS BEEN AN ENCOURAGEMENT, NOT ONLY
TO THE FILIPINOS, BUT TO ALL WHO ARE DENIED A VOICE IN THEIR OWN
GOVERNMENT.
IF THE REPUBLICANS ARE PREPARED TO CENSURE ALL WHO HAVE
USED LANGUAGE CALCULATED TO MAKE THE FILIPINOSHATE FOREIGN DOM -
INATION, LET THEM CONDEMN THE SPEECH OF PATRICK HENRY. WHEN
HE UTTERED THAT PASSIONATE APPEAL, “GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME
DEATH,” HE EXPRESSED A SENTIMENT WHICH STILL, ECHOES IN THE
HEARTS OF MEN. LET THEM CENSURE JEFFERSON; OF ALL THE STATES-
MEN OF HISTORY, NONE HAS USED WORDS SO OFFENSIVE TO THOSE WHO
WOULD HOLD THEIR FELLOWS IN POLITICAL BONDAGE.
JET THEM CENSURE WASHINGTON, WHO DECLARED THAT THE COLON-
ISTS MUST CHOOSE BETWEEN LIBERTY AND SLAVERY OR IF THE STATUTE
OF LIMITATIONS HAS RUN AGAINST THE SINS OF HENRY AND JEFFERSON
AND WASHINGTON, LET THEM CENSURE LINCOLN, WHOSE GETTYSBURG
SPEECH WILL BE QUOTED IN DEFENSE OI] POPULAR GOVERNMENT WHEN
THE PRESENT ADVOCATES OF FORCE AND CONQUEST ARE FORGOTTEN
Some one has said that a truth once spoken can never be recalled. It
goes on and on: and no one can set a limit to its ever-widening influence ‘But
it it were possible to obliterate every word written or spoken in defense of the
principles set forth in the Declaration of Independence, a war of conquest would
still leave its legacy of perpetual hatred, for it was God himself who placed in
every human heart the love of liberty. He never made a race of people so low
in the scale of civilization or intelligence that it would welcome a foreign master.
Those who would have this natior enter upon a career of empire must
consider not only the effect of imperialism on the Filipinos, but they must also