The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-12-01
RArTFY THE TREATY
Ana sottIo DlRsrsaess About the Philips
uItfra Aftaftgnrdd,

And Settle DiHsreneel About the Philips
pl,fss Afterwards.
New York Press: With the accept
anee OF The ADMINISTRATORS terms BY
Spain the question Of their character
becomes for the time being undebata-
bic, Differences OF opinion as 10 the
disposition OF the Philippines-the main
point Of contention between Americans
-can bessttled when legislation on The
sub3ect Is proposed. The peace treaty
about to be signed will merely termln-
Rte Spnnlsh rule IN the archipelago.
The question Of the Kind Of American
rule there IS left unsettled, save Us TO
the hopeful Indication Of the protection
TO American labor contained In The
"open.doOr" policy. We can discuss It
among ourselves after It has ceased to
pertain % the domain OF foreign ar
fairs.
But for the present the plain duty Of
every American Is TO exert his iutiu-
ence toward the prompt ratification OF
the compact which Will soon be laid be-
fore the senate. II would be disastrous
TO our reputation as q Consistent and
non-Varlable democracy. ruinous to the
good oruer Of the ceded possessions
and q cruel prolongation OF the agonies
OF Spain should this treaty have TO be
sent to new commission Tor amend
ment. We may not care for the Well
being Of the Spaniard or his former
subject, but for own repute Tor stapillty
OF purpose we must care. Probably
never before In our history has the tor-
eign policy OF the United States attract
ed as large u degree OF attention as at
present, II It Is seen to change be-
tween the executive mansion and the
capitol we shall be deemed as tickle and
hence weak. people. The Importance
OF avoiding this judgment lies IN the
fact that throughout continental Eur
ope to-day the degree Of consideration
accorded to us Is Induced solely by re-
spect for our strength. Germany and
France hate US for what We have done.
They would despise US for .undolng ~.
And hatred which may be and Is re-
strained by nrudentfai considerations,
a Tar less dangerous to US and the
peace OF the world than contempt,
which Is always reckless in It's reyela-
ton. - ~
demand sacrifices OF opinion In many
quarters, but nowhere, so far as we can
see. sacrifice OF principle. The Press
cannot, for Instance. imagine why we
should sWeeten SPANS dose with this
wretched little sugar coating OF $2O,VOO,-
600: II looks like a composition without
rOnscience, Ike the 9l0 note with
which, in ante-copyright days, some
American publishers were used TO salYe
the pocket wounds OF some foreign au-
thor, out OF whom they had perhaps
made 1000 times as much. II We take
the Philippines by conquest, as the pub
fishers took by piracy, we should take
them by conquest. II We take them by
purchase We should take them by pur-.
chase. But this Is rather matter OF
logic than morals. and hence
can be waived. The question that can
not be waived Is. OF course, the admis-
sion OF this Malay dependency of a Lat
In race into the American Union. It Is
not waived By this treaty. II is not
intended by the administration, as
shown by It's announcement OF the
"open-door" policy and the outgivings
OF the attorney general and the secre-
tary OF agriculture. Hence we say as
10 the agreement upon terms OF peace
In Paris and the treaty which VIII soon
formally eErtbody them: Ratify now In
the face OF the world, debate as to de-
tails afterward In the comparative pri-
vacy OF domestic affairs.