The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1898-09-15
LET THE PEOPLE SPEAK AGAIN

Iact tnaG ne had no pollcy TO enforce
against the will of the people. Lin
coin fully tested the sentiment of the
public before he issued his emancipa-
tioD proclamation. Grant abandoned
his annexation policy when he was
made to believe that the people were
against it. Mckinley made hurried
preparation for war long before war
was declared, because he knew the
people demanded it. He seems to be
hestitating now about a definite
policy as to the Philippines, because
the anti-annexationists have repre-
sented that the masses of the people
are strongly against the retention of
the islands conquered by Dewey and
held by Merritt.
Neither the anti-annexationist nor
those who put peace above national
honor or national duty can speak for
the people who rallied about the ad-
ministration at the beginning of the
war with such unanimity, high spirit,
and resoluteness. The disposition of
the Philippines is one of the most
momentous questions ever presented
to civilized nation for decision. On
the instructions issued to the Paris
commission, or on the position taken
by the president and his immediate
advisers, may hang not only the de
termination of our own future, but
the direction to be taken by the
forces of Christian civilization. On
such question the people must
speak for themselves.
They have spoken in terms that
could not be misunderstood, but il is
now represented that there has been
a reaction, and that on sober second
thought the people are against hold
ing the Philippines. They are not.
The sober second thought is better
than the first impulse. The more the
question has been studied, the strong
er has grown the sentiment in favor
of retaining the islands. The re-
ligious press, which rarely enters the
field of political discussion, is almost
unanimously in favor of American
control in the Philippines. There is,
In fact, no public sentiment in favor
of their surrender. Not even the few
individuals who assume to represent
the sober second thought of the peo-
pie go that far. There is absolutely
no public sentiment in favor of re.
turning the islands to Spain. There
is no European sentiment IN support
of snch proposition, The Filipinos
themselves are in rage because they |
fear that the United States contem-
plates such a course.
Under the circumstances, it seems
impossible that the people should be
misunderstood. But if they have
been, if any one is in doubt as to the
trend of public sentiment on this
question, the people should again
speak out. They should speak to and
through their congressman, to and
through the pulpit, to and through
the press. Clubs should take action.
business mems associations should 90
on record, and, If need be, mass
meetings should give expression to
the sentiment of cities, counties, and
states.
The people are not IN Indifferent
or acquiescent mood. They are i'm
patient over indecision and restive
under the intimations that the presi-
dent is in doubt as to what policy
should be pursued. Little has been
said about the matter in the last two
or three weeks, because the presi-
dents appointments to the peace
commission seemed to give assurance
that the administration had definite
and satisfactory policy as to the Phil
lppines. 1t probably has, but there
are those who are striving to convince
the president that the views held bv