Joshua Jin

American History Honors

Mr. Malt pd.5
November 19, 2009

Address to the Senate:

The Annexation of the Philippine Islands

Fellow patriots of the United States of America, today we gather here to discuss

the most controversial addition to this soon- imperialistic nation. I believe that the United

States of America has crossed the boundaries of oppression and tyranny by over-

extending its reach into the aspiring Philippines. Although Spain manifested aggressive

intentions by invading the islands, it was both unjust and hypocritical for America to

oppressively liberate and occupy the Philippines. For three reasons, the United States

should have never annexed the Philippines. Annexing the Philippines presented the

United States in an imperialistic fashion and displayed to the rest of the world that we are

evolving into an imperialistic nation, put the United States in a hypocritical position, and

deprived the indigenous people of the Philippines of a country of their own.

Most of us politicians here probably never even heard of the group of islands off

the southeastern coast of Asia we know as the Philippines, until we actually took military

action into the nation. When Admiral George Dewey defeated the Spanish fleet in Manila

Bay, the Filipino people thought of the 11,000 American marines and sailors as their

heroes that have come to liberate them from the oppressive invasion of the Spanish. But

when the Filipino came out in arms to fight along side America, they felt betrayed when

we did not allow them to ally us. They had thought of us as saviors, but instead we were

conquerors. When we signed the treaty in Paris to annex the Philippines, that to the
world, was a progressive step to becoming an imperialistic nation. Who are we to think

that we are a more civilized and successful people and that somehow makes them a lesser

brand of indecent people? President McKinley writes that the Filipino people were unfit

and unorganized to govern themselves and that they would soon end up in misrule and

anarchy if left in their current state. Were the 12 colonies not just as unorganized and

confused when they revolutionized against the tyranny of England? It is in human nature

that people will learn to face adversity and overcome it through persistence and integrity.

So the excuse to occupy to “civilize” and evangelize to the people of the Philippine

islands because we believe that they are “unfit” to govern themselves is just not a valid

argument. We, as Americans have so much pride in the foundations and upbringing of

our country that we fail to contain a sense of humility when it comes to foreign policy. To

the rest of the world, we must look like boastful, prideful people who think that our

country is superior all others. This is the crossing the line of imperialism and America has

been flirting with it. We will regret this annexation when there comes a time when we

must negotiate with other foreign powers. Our imperialistic fashion will be the first thing

other nations judge us by. They will say “ How could a country fight for its

independence, then turn to deprive another’s by seizing it”.

Statements like that also contribute to the increasing hypocrisy in America.

Another negative aspect of annexing the Philippines is the hypocrisy brought on by

destroying all the what the Filipino people have been fighting for, for the past several

years and seizing the land for our own. This annexation could be compared to the

American Revolution, in which our forefathers would have shaken their heads in

disappointment because their morals and causes were forgotten. It was over 100 years
ago when we were signing our own Declaration of Independence. It is ethical that we

allow no other country to do this themselves for the start of their own nation? To other

anti-imperialists and I, this is some of the greatest examples of hypocrisy that can be

presented by a whole nation! Our valor and admirable spirit persisted throughout the war

with such a conviction, it granted us our liberty and freedom. Through these many years,

this same reward should be given unto the indigenous people of the Philippine islands.

For we are the same exact oppressive force that bound our hands 100 years before. We

are the “King Georges” to Filipinos. Are we so blind to our pride that it leads to the same

despotism we fought over 100 years ago? The Filipino people need a sense of urgency

and conviction in their own liberation.

For several years, the Filipinos have been at war with the Spanish. Having no real

governing force, the Filipino have been fighting sporadically in militia like figures.

Having enough pride to make a stand for their own countries, Filipino insurgents have

continued to patriotically fight for a number of years. When we arrived in Manila with

11,000 troops, the Filipino people thought that their liberators have come, or better yet,

their liberty. But rather, we crushed their dreams of becoming an independent nation with

the annexation. It would appear that years of blood, labor, and revolution does not pay

off. After hearing the news in the Paris, the Filipino insurgents began to turn their guns

toward us. Personally, I do not even disagree with these actions. They have been fighting

for their independence for considerable amount of time and now they recognize the

United States as just another oppressive Spain.

The annexation of the Philippine Islands will leave us to question the integrity of

our own principles and morals. Are we a band of people who will say but not do? Are we
really that more successful than others to go into other nations and claim them as our own

because we think that the people there do not meet the luxurious standards that we so

intimately know and feel? There are some people in this very senate whom would

answer yes and I quote onto those who do,

"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of

patriots and tyrants. ... What country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not

warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them

take arms."

-Thomas Jefferson

It is in our dear president Thomas Jefferson where we can find the origins of our just

causes and how we must reflect what our forefathers have laid down for us. I say unto

you, my fellow Americans, this was not an annexation… but rather, it was theft. Dear

Americans, remember the roots of our once glorious and patriotic culture.