The sun., 1898-12-18
ISSUES OVER PEACE TREATY

ISSUES UVEk FEAUE IhEAII
senate orial Opposition to Its Ratifica.
tion in Its Present shape-..COst of
Our Colonial Expansion Policy
Estimated at Two Hundred
Millions a Year.
New York, Dec. 16.-Still uppermost
in the public mind of the Old World, as
we'll as that Of the New, is the coming
political status of the United States as
viewed abroad from the standpoint OF
The imperialistic policy OF Colonial ex-
pansion. Thoughtful men of all the
great nations are studying the situation
and among our own political
leaders lines are being sharply drawn on
the wisdom, or otherwise, OF wholesale
absorption of foreign territory filled
with people who speak many languages,
millions of whom are in barbarous or
semi-barbarous state. Party politics
are being ignored, and the veteran Ke'
publican Senator Hoar is found support
ing practically the same policy against
the annexation of the Philippines that
William J. Bryan is advocating since mis-
retirement from the army, and vlg.
orous opposition to the ratification oi Q!
the Treaty OF Peace, signed at Paris, will
be led by Senators Hoar, Hale and Cal
frey.
Senator Vest, of Missouri, in a strong
speech against Philippine annexation,
has placed himself squarely on record as
against Colonial expansion, and has de-
clared that he would rather give up his
life than yield to the imperialistic policy
which he declares if carried out would
stultify the fundamental principles OF
our republican form Of government, rest
ing his belief on the assertion that coer-
cion should not be employed and that
the consent of the governed must be &C.
quired by peaceful methods. To ignore
the struggle for independence made fol
years against Spain by the Fillipinof
and to bargain for their purchase like
slaves would, in Mr.. Hale's opinion, be
to violate the liberties of the American
Constitution and to give the lie to oul
own acts for independence when We
fought for our freedom against British
tyranny in revolutionary days.
A cable dispatch from Paris says that
Agoncillo, the representative of Aguin
aldo, leader OF the Filipinos, has entered
vigorous protest with the Peace Com
mission against the acquisition OF the
Philippine Islands by the United States
He reviews the case at length declaring
that at the time of "imploring the armec
cooperation of Aguinaldo and the othel
Philippine Chiefs" both the commander
of the Petrol, Captain Wood, in Hong
kong, before the declaration OF war, ane
the American Consuls- General Pratt, II
Singapore, Wildman, at Hong kong, ane
Williams, at Cavite, acting as the agents
Of the American nation, offered to recog
nize the independence of the Filipino
nation.
The protest claims that Admira
Dewey, "by numerous acts recognized
the autonomist sovereignty OF the Fill
pinos," and calls for the fulfillment o
these promises, and fulfillment "of tn
solemn declaration made by the illus
trious William Mckinley that, on goin
to war, he was not guided by the inten
tion of an extension of territory, but onl
by the principles of humanity; by tn
duty of liberating tyrannized peoples
and by the desire to proclaim the ur
alienable rights, with their sovereignty
of the countries released from the yok
of Spain.
Ifthe United States ignore the protes
as will probably be the case, it may b
necessary to coerce the eight millio
sayages-a neat little war in itself.
British Premier Salisbury has mad
another speech in which he attempts
demonstrate that diplomacy is som'
times better than fghting-especially
the "other fellow" is bigger and yo
have no backing. If the United STATE
and Japan were behind him the Englis
leader would probably not have been
conversative in his utterances.
"The Government" he said, "sh0ul
be Judged, not on individual items, b'
on the success Of a policy as whole.
Minister goes to war on trivial matt
he may find himself without the suppo
Of the people. This should BE- considers
when people ask why we have n
pushed to the point of war some secon
ary difference. :.
"Before condemning us for not goil
to war they should be sure there are
other complications in view compellll
us to economize the force at the Cover
ment's disposal.
"This is a matter Of businesslike cs
, culation. The more the Empire extern
the more necessary to Judge matters fro
this standpoint. 1t is dangerous to
rhapsody take the place Of calculatio
Our strength must be used unfailing
but prudently."
W.
Mary other reasons have been a
yanced by the anti-imperialists again
the ratification of the Peace Treaty, al
if it be not rejected wholly, efforts W
: certainly be made to amend the instr
ment, some of the proposed amendmen
, having been already prepared. The 9
ponents of the colonial expansion poll
u