Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-16
@. H. Berry & Co.,
Main and Tenth Streets.
General Merritt's Pronunciamento.

philadelphia Record.)
The after-dinner speech OF Md1or-1ehe-
raj Merritt. on the eve OF his departure
as Military Governor OF the Philippine
Islands. in favor OF 1.-THE new national
policy" continues TO cause much discus
sion, as well it may. on what grouha
the Military Governor OF the Philip
pines assumes that the project to hold
those islands and the Carolines also,
along with Hawaii. is a new national
policy" is not very clear. BY whom,
outside of a few lingo organs, has TINS
national policy been proclaimed In behalt
of the American people? In what ma
tional convention Of Republicans or Dem
ocrats. or In what resolutions OF Con-
gross, has the imperial policy OF conquest
and colonization been ~announcedY Even
the CHAMPIONS of Hawaiian annexation
in Congress are now making a demure
pretense that their project of earth-hun-
ger has nothing in common with the
scheme TO onver the philippines INTO d
colonial possession Of the United states.
In issuing his pronunciamento in behalf
of a new national policy, Major-General
and Military-Governor Merritt has widely
departed from the line of his duty. He
should have learned from the example OF
General Grant and General sherman, not
TO 90 farther back for honored prece-
UfTlE. THAT IL ID lbL Epbh 80
republic at least, for a commanding gene
raj on the way to the front 10 sea up a
political programme of his own make
and TO give IL the name Of "a new ma
tional policy" General Washington, when
at the head of the American army ana
under the orders OF Congress, displayed
n much more moderate demeanor than
that of Major-General Merritt. But II not
defining his own views as 10 n new ma
tional policy, was General Merritt SPEAK
ing under an occult administration IN
fuence not yet revealed to the American
people,? But whether speaking for him.
self as Military Governor OF the Philip
mines or for the administration under
whose orders he acts, it does not belong
TO one or the other 10 launch the country
upon A new and strange "pOJcy OF I'M
perialism" without saying to me Ameri-
can people as much as "by your leave
Commenting on General Merritts speech
our esteemed contemporary, the Philadel-
phia Press, a foremOs champion OF the
new policy, says he Is premature IN
asserting that we will keep the Philip
pines. lust as those are premature who
assert that we will not keep them. For
our part. the rashness of General Mer-
rift Is preferable TO the prudence which
seeks to gradually tutor and school the
American people into familiarity with the
new national policy. According to the
Press. 1.-THE Philippines are ours by an
act Of war and without our wish or de-
sire. But being ours, we cannot dodge or
blink the moral responsibility created by
the unexpected occupation" In the stu
alton thus created the Press car see
"only two ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS United
States can keep the islands or cede them
10 another Power"
At the risk Of being premature" also
we may suggest that there Is another al
tentative, and hat is to let the inhabi-
tants of the Philippine Islands alone, TO
work out their own political salvation.
our British cousins and allies discovered,
after much tribulation, that this was
the best national policy for them, and
as a result Canada and Australia are
British Colonies only in name. But to
our male Mrs. Jellabies. in press and pull
pit. whose mouths are filled with ''our
moral responsibility" and whose solemn
duty" 1t is TO give the Philippine Islands
and their 5000. 900 inhabitants 1.-THE largest
measure Of peace, freedom, prosperity,
and growth" such a thing as letting other
people alone and minding our own bust
ness is not to be tolerated. What between
the military spirit which seeks new fields
Of ambition and glory, and the ~busybody
spirit which will not be content until all
the INHABITANTS OF tue 'dillibdt lHidllhH
shall have been whitewashed into Ameri-
can citizenship. the new national policy"
Is doubtless making some progress.
To plain people this attempt 10 pervert
n war which has been officially proclaim
ed by Congress and the President as
having for its sole aim the freedom OF
Cuba into a policy of conquest is a mon
umental exhibition Of bad public faith.
OF course, II is in the power of the Amer
lean people TO thus change the whole
purpose Of the war by a decree at the
ballot-box i'm the choice of President and
representatives I'm Congress-; but they
nave as yet given neither Military-Gov-
ernor Merritt nor anybody else authority
TO announce a new national policy for
them. Short, however. as this war has
been IT has been long enough 10 reveal
to the American people glimpses OF the
~selfshness ana sentimental folly blended
I'm this policy OF Imperialism, as well as
the political dangers and sacrifices with
which IL is fraught.