Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-08-18
WHY NOT "mR. M'KINLEy's WAR" !?


In a revamped editorial from the
Washington Post, our friend the imper
ial organist of Fourteenth street in try
ing to clear good Mr. McKnley's skirts
from the wicked imputation that the
un-American war on the liberty-seeking
Filipinos is MIR. McKinlsys war;" de-
liyers himself of this bit of bril-
liancy:
It is possible that there are citizens in
the country, perhaps number of them,
who are so ignorant of the constitution and
laws and the facts of the situation now
before the public that they can be actually
convinced that one man. one solitary indi-
vidual has made and is carrying on the
alleged war on the F'ilipinos.' However,
it does not appear that this number is ex-
traordinarily large; ii could not be so, for
they would have to be abnormaly credu-
ous and to imagine that would be to re-
fleet on the intelligence of the population.
Now, without doubt, this is one of the
most brilliant things, one of the most
able efforts yet made to clear the skirts
of the good, but always irresponsible
man in the White House of the re-
sponsibility for the Philippines war
for Mr.. Mckinley cannot stand re-
sponsibility and there is no scapegoat
or commission handy just now to
shoulder it for him.
No, dear, not lone man, one solitary
individual has made and is carrying
IN this war" There are several
mighty interests behind the President
~ this unrighteous undertaking. Some
Of them may honestly believe that the
United States have outgrown all the
e-honored traditions, including the
Constitution and the Monroe Doctrine,
which the American people have always
held sacred as their guiding stars, but
he bulk of these interests are repre-
>euted by the various imperial synd1-
IONS at the expense of the American peo-
pies blood and treasure, out of spec
slative, stock jobbing operations in this
'erritory after it is wrested from it's
rightful owners, the Filipinos, who for
hundreds of years have been fighting
Cor that liberty guaranteed by our Con-
stitution, which the imperialists say we
have outgrown. No, dear, the Presi-
dent is not alone The imperial hood
,ers, who bought the Presidency for
MIN, are still with him.
Now, as to the justice and propriety
Of calling this 'Mr. McKinley's war on
he Filipinos,' we will endeavor to en-
tighten our esteemed contemporaries
&C to the why and wherefore of it.
First, it is war that was never de-
clared by Congress-therefore, it is not
the country's war; second, it is not
mere insurrection against American
authority, as the imperialists declare it
is, for the United States have no law
full authority over the islands, since
Spain could not cede nor sell 10 any
other nation an authority which she
herself certainly did not possess; and,
thirdly, since it is not CONGRESSES and
hence not the country's war, nor an
ity, whose war is it? The war didn't
lies grow" like Topsy.
Who refused to listen to the fervent
plea of the Filipino leader that the
Art OF one or two of his soldiers In
running the guard lines at Manila,
which precipitated the conflict, was with
out authority? Who refused to listen
TO this plea for peace at the beginning
and who refused to receive the repre-
sentatives of the Filipinos sent to
Washington on similar mission?
Who but William Mckinley? Who,
then, is responsible for the war on the
Filipinos but William Mckinley
Whose war is it but William McKin-
ley's?
We repeat. it is not the country's
war, for it was never declared by Con-
gress; it is not = rebellion against