The times., 1898-12-09
The Un.An ericnn Minority

| II the minority who are opposed TO
the keeping of the Philippines could be
| locked. up in a small room and COM
| PEELED to discuss the subject, it would
| end in the refutation of the arguments
| of one another and make the wisdom
| of expansion clear. There Is an utter
| lack of agreement among them, except
on the one point that we should not do
| it. For such a limited number of per-
| sons they show a most extraordinary
| diversity of opinion. The effect of their
successive representations to the sena-
| tors who are to pass on the question of
ratification will be TO bewilder the legis-
! lators. Perhaps more of them agree in
| the criticism that we have treated Spain
cruelty than in any other, but even in
| this they are inconsistent and contra
| dictory. At least several of them have
| blushed at the spectacle of the Ameri
| can Commissioners pursuing the relent-
| less policy of an iron-hearted President,
using might instead of reason to induce
| the defeated nation to surrender the
possessions of centuries to a foe that
disclaimed any purpose of conquest
They are strangely insensble to the
statements and boasts of the stricken
Spaniard. While fostering an undying
| hatred of Americans. whom he regards
as robbers and hypocrites, Sagasta
maintains that the future is bright for
| his blasted country. Relieved of the
| crushing burden of Cuba and the Phil
| ippines, where successive revolutions
| which could not be suppressed ate up
more money than the island revenues
could supply, the strain on her finances
will cease. By encouraging domestic in
| dustry and a wise administration of the
| finances, Spain will advance by leaps
and bounds to the fore of European ma
| tions and may be able to take just
revenge on the ignoble powers that al
lowed her to be so brutally despoiled of
her heavy and ruinous burdens An
| eminent Spanish financier, the head of
| borrowing commission, asserts that
| for years Cuba has been frightful
| drain on the resources of the nation,
| while to meet the present conditions of
the Philippines would have meant actual
bankruptcy. Even the navy that
was such delusive source of pride
and expense will not figure in the i'm
mediate budgets. The twenty millions
to be received from America will be a
saving bridge to financial integrity He
agrees with Sagasta that the situation
is better at this moment than 1t was
when America declared war. This be-
ing the case, why should the President,
who has relieved Spain of her back
breaking load. be accounted cruel by
the Spanish sympathlzers in and out of
the Senate?
Why, they have themselves affirmed
that any nation would be better with
out the Philippines. Referring to the
twenty million indemnity, they said
Spain could better afford to pay us a
hundred million for taking them off her
hands" Yet they refuse to credit the
President with generous act, but
charge him with inhumanity and rob-
berry To be consistent they should
complain rather of our excess of kind
ness and magnaminity toward fallen
foe. They are no more truthful than
no affection for the American Republic
and are naturally opposed to every
thing that promotes its greatness
Some profess to believe that popular in
stitutions are a failure or are saved
from failure only by the arbitrary au-
thority of political leaders who are not
restrained by constitutional limitations.
Felix Adler, who represents the mo-
narchial class, does not expect govern
ment of the people to be able to do what
monarchy does, because we have no
aristocracy to provide capable leaders.
There are few who have no fears and
no convictions, but simply hope for per-
sonal or party capital in opposing the
ground of objection creditable to an
American citizen.
Against this divided, contradictory.
inconsistent and un-American minority
are arrayed the great body of the Amer
lean people, enthusiastic determined
and firmly United, glad of this opportu- !
nifty and proud of their confidence in
the wisdom, strength, and high motive |
of the nation. The same lofty aim that
inspired them to drive the barbarous
Spaniard from Cuba-in which they
were opposed by this same un-Amers-
can minority-leads them to extend to
other peoples the same blessings of per-
sonal liberty that have enabled them