The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1899-03-04
VOL. XXXIV.--NO. 19.

is need of action If he is sincere why
did he permit his supporters in the Senate
to vote down the other day the Bacon
resolution, which distinctly declared that
the United States entertained no intention
of permanently holding these islands
"Why did he insist that the McEnery
resolution should be passed; a resolution
which is a fraud, delusion and a snare, a
shameful evasion, which, like Christmas
tree, has something upon it for everybody.
That resolution is intended simply to quiet
the conscience Of the American people, to
lull all opposition to sleep while the Presi-
dent goes ahead waging relentless and
merciless war againt the Filpinos and lay
ing deep and secure the foundations for a
permanent American colony
HIS POLICY A CRIME.
Mr. Chairman. | am determined that
the President shall neither befog the issue
between himself and those of the Repub-
liean party, who oppose his Philippine po-
hey nor mislead the public judgment, nor
shirk the responsibility for the gross, off
cial bluders which he has committed in
connection with this great problem. in
sist that the whole policy is not simply an
error, but that it is crime, and that the
Chief Executive of his nation is the one
who has precipitated upon us the embar-
easements and the difficulties by which we
are now confronted
Il insist that he did not simply hold
the Philippines as eommander-in-chief,
leaving the question Of the disposition and
control Of them to Congress, but that he for
mulated and put into execution an afhrma-
tive and aggressive policy, that of the per
manent annexation to this country of the
Philippines. and forced it through the
Senate with all the power and influence
which his high office enabled him to en-
ploy. The President first impressionwas
To demand of the Filipinos simply coaling
station, measure amply sufficient for all
of our legitimate purposes, and the eva
euation of the island by Spain without
compensation by the taxpayers of the
United States
Had he adhered to this all would have
been we'll The whole Union would have
followed him cheerfully, and today we
would have been at peace with the Philip
pine republic; our army aud navy, which is
now waging war against our former friends
aud allies would have been disbanded. No
army bill for standing army of 100. 000
men would have been pending and we
could now be getting ready to greatly IN
crease the burden Of our taxation.
AFATAL ERROR.
But the President committed a fatal
error. He wrote into that treaty Of ab-
solute transfer of Spanish sovereignty over
the Philippines to ourselves, and the pay
ment of $50. 600. 600 as consideration
for the concession. Then he issued 10 the
people of the Philippines that proclamation
in which he informed them that the United
States had succeeded to the title Of Spain,
declared that the government and control oi
their territory belonged to rs, ordered then
to pay their taxes to the military govern
ment which he established over them, ant
blandly made known to them that our mis-
sion in their midst was one benevolent As
similatiou. The President drove the trea
" through the Senate by the unlimited ex
erci>e Of all those powers and influences
which the great office he holds makes
possible
What. then, did the Chief Executive
mean by telling those who gathered around
the banquet board at Boston that up to the
ratification Of the treaty he had simply
held the Philippines as commander chief,
without any policy Of his own, leaving the
whole matter to be determined aiterwarJ
bv the Congress Was he foolish enough
IA believe that his mere statement woulC
be- allowed to pass unchalleged2 Was hi
vain enough to suppose that his ipse di.ei'
would conclude the matter, with the damn
Ing proof Of its talsity 50 near at hand
why Din HE CHANGE HIS MIND?
Mr.. Chairman, whydid the President
change his original intention Is to the
terms to be incorporated into the treaty
What were the influences that brought the
change about? | have heard it stated
thar the applause Of the people who greeted
him Just about this juncture OF public al
fairs. while he was on his tour in the West,
WAS the reason for IT, Was it, then, the
condition of public sentiment, rather than
the right or wrong Of the matter, which
Influenced the presidential mind Does
the Chief Executive regard his great pre-
negatives to be 50 supinely representative
that he must needs abdicate them at every
popular wind that blows
Does he feel that his high office gives
him no latitude for the exercise Of indi-
yidual Judgment and of independent ac-
tion Did he make no allowance for tran
sicut ebulitions Of popular enthusiasm and
excitement, overlook his opportunity to
save the people for themselves, lose sight
of all the sacred traditions of the country,
and fear to make his appeal to that ulh-
mate tribunal which has 81 often in our
national history vindicated those who have
fearlessly stood for the right in public af-
fairs-the sober second thought Of the
great American people
.'And is his Excellency quite sure that
he properly gauged the condition of the
public mind on the subject of Philippine
annexation?
HOW THE TREATY PASSED.
SIS he absolutely certain that one swal-
low really makes a whole summer? 1t
would seem SO, for in this Home Market
address he exultingly declared that the
annexation treaty had passed the Senate
by over two-thirdS and was sanctioned by
the Judgment of nine e-tenths of his country
men. How that treaty finally got its two
thirds majority in the Senate-the tre-
mendous pressure necessary to secure it
there, where its fate hung, doubtful and
trembling in the balance until the very
last moment, aud was then only saved by
the votes of Senators who had most of them
spoken against it-no man knows better
than Mr.. Mckinley
"Adulation has indeed sorely blinded
the Chief Executive to the truth if he
imagines that even the majority of his
countrymen approve of this permanent
holding III the Orient. Let him not pin
his faith tnO securely IN the Sordid inter