Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-02-08
WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY s, 1899.
Observation-Disclosures"


dividing the space they devote to tho
"deplorable conflict" 40 Manila between
arraigning the insurgents for ingrautude
and charging the anti-anncXationists in
the Senate with having been allies Of
Aguinaldos In some instances the lam
cuage Of these organs is violent in the
extreme. The insurgents are reminded
that history furnishes hardly a parallel
TO their treachery and basencss, in turn
ing against nation that has made such
sacrifices to emancipate them from the
yoke Of tyranny, and bestow upon them
the benefits Of liberal, enlightened and
bcnehcent governments" and the anti
imporalstic senators are practically class
ed as traitors One especially violent
contemporary, in an article headed
'.Blood-Guiltiness." declares that those
(moaning the opponents of the treaty.
"vho are responsible for the fight of SAT-
urday night and Sunday 'will Doe held 30
strict accountability by history, ana
should be held TO strict Accountability by
the American people on the instant; and
this sentiment and the charge involved
are echoed in more or less emphatic form
by the expansion papers generally.
Was there ever a more blatant eXhibi-
ton Of cant. a more brazen effort TO dis
credit cold hard facts, and q lamer and
more impudent recourse 10 salye con-
science by attempting to shift response
bility? The only redeeming feature about
these TRADES is that they show that the
ImperiaHst organs are not entirely dead
TO the voice of conscience.
As to the ingratitude of the insurgents,
let us be honest. While we have no use
for them. the plain truth IS that talk
about their obligations TO us is the veriest
'4ommy-rot." Since a conflict has been
brought on, we must, OF course maintain
American prestige, but none the less, we
are responsible for the conditions that
conduced 10 the conflict. The destruction
OF the Spanish fleet in Manila harbor was
n side issue. although a necessity, OF our
war with Spain. II grew out of Dewey's
being I'm the position he was when war
was declared, and had no bearing upon
our announced purpose in going TO war.
But the work accomplished, i'm our own
interest we encouraged the insurgents 20
persevere in their fight against Spanish
authority in the Philippines, and whether
by formal assurance or not led them to
believe that American triumph I'm the war
meant the independence for which they
had so long been battling. When, how
ever the treaty Of Paris was signed. the
Fnipnos found that, without so much as
asking their leave, they had been sold by
one Power TO another at s. per head
were virtually slaves turned over to the
victors by the vanqushed-and soon
thereafter they were told in a proclama-
ton by President Mckinley that they
were as much subjects" as they had
ever been under Spanish dominion. As
these statements cannot be denied, 1t
would seem that our imperialistic friends
are trenching on very dangerous ground
in raising the question of blood-guiltiness
as involved I'm precipitatng the conflict.
The logic of events makes 1t clear that
had not the conflict occurred before the
ratification of the treaty, it would GER
tainly have occurred in the event Of rati-
ncauon. II we admit that the Cubans
are patriots. we must admit that the
Fflipinos are patriots and savages and
semi-savages though the latter be. from
their viewpoint they had a great griev-
ance against us.
AS 10 the charge that the senators who
opposed the ratification of the treaty
were the allies OF Aguinaldo. never was
a more shameless and damnable libel
uttered. If their course was treason.
well may the American people glory in
their treason, for i'm such traitors Is the
hope Of the republic If the debates in
the Senate on the treaty show anything.
they show that these men were the allies
of right, justice. truth, and patriotism,
and the champions Of national honor and
integrity, and the cardinal prin-
ciples upon which our system is
founded. They can well afford TO be
held 10 strict accountability by history
and the American people. and await the
verdict calmly. But can the other side?
We think not Moreover, We think that
out Of their own mouths they arc con-
Tossing the fear that they cannot Al
ready they seem, 10 be essaying TO wash
away the stain fblood-suiluness.
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General Brecknridse ought to be court