The Irish standard., 1899-05-20

Philippines) just what we proposed do
ing TOR Cuba: to give them liberty, a
stable government and order. We went
there for the purpose of doing good to
the people and they attacked us without
provocation"
Had the government done or pro-
posed to do what Dr. Northrop SAYS
there would be no war with the Fill
P1nos. War might have been averted il
the Presidents first proclamation had
given them any promise of freedom or
even OF autonomy. Instead of saying
that the Filipinos would get the rights
promised to the Cubans, the President
proclaimed the sovereignty of the
United States in the archipelago and
called upon the natives to submit or be
killed. His commissioners issued a
proclamation of the same tenor and de-
manded unconditional surrender. As
tor attacking us without provocation,
Gen. Reeves declared (and there has
been no official contradiction that when
Aguinaldo heard OF the first collision
around Manila he despatched Gen. Tor
res to Gen. Otis to acquaint him that
the conflict had occurred without
his knowledge, and to suggest that a
neutral zone OF any width desired may
be drawn to separate the two armies,
pending negotiations with the United
States. In his bull-headed way Gen.
Otis refused cessation of hostilities
and preferred war to peace. He was
acting under instructions from Wash
ington.
President Northrop is reported to
have further said that "there is nothing
else for the government to do but to
fight those men until the whole rebellion
shall have been crushed and put down"
The administration does not appear to
agree with DR.. Northrop. 1t realizes
that the task undertaken is greater than
imagined, and that there is not sufficient
force to crush out the Filipinos so
easily. The President recognizes that
he has made a blunder and he is now
veering round in his odious policy OF
denying freedom to the natives. The
managers of the Republican party will
not permit him to continue in his stupid,
un-American policy, for they fear an
Inhalation at the coming election. 1t
will require 100000 soldiers or more to
suppress the insurgents, and Mckinley
has not got them. The country will
not furnish him that number for the
benefit of the trusts and corporations
who want the islands for the extension
Of trade.
1t is said that during the delivery of
his speech DR.. Northrop was interrupt
ed by an 1rishman in the gallery who
cried out: "Annihilate the savages."
The brutal expression provoked laugh
ter, wfereupon DR.. Northrop is report
ed to have said: "You may laugh, but
the most eloquent thing that has been
ottlu llClc Ills dllcIuOOll Was THAT cry.
Who the Irishman was we have been
unable to ascertain, but he certainly
does not stand with men OF his race in
the disposal of the question at issue.
What eloqnence DR.. Northrop could
have seen in the Irishmans utterance we
know not, but the Irish Standard takes
this opportunity of repudiating the ex-
clamation of the interrupter, and ex-
presses its regret that any Irishman
would favor the determination of any
people fighting for the right of self
government. We have no fault to find
with DR.. Northrops utterances. He is
Republican, and he stands by his
party, thinking it is right But the
American people will not stand by it.
1t is the Republicans only that have
held the Sunday meetings in Chicago
and Minneapolis, and that shows they
are divided among themselves. The
Democrats have held no meetings here
or elsewhere, and we hope they will not