The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-09-01
FRIDAY. SEPTEMBER /. 1899.
THE GOVERNMENTS POLICY.

President Mckinley, in a speech a
Ocean Grove, N. j., the other day
spoke Of the governments policy in the
Philippines. which he tersely defined
il these few sentences:
There has been some doubt in some
quarters respecting the policy Of the
government in the Philippines. see
no harm in stating it in this presence.
Peace first, and then, with charity fol
all, establish q government OF law and
order, protecting life and property. and
occupation for the we'll being Of the
people who will participate il it under
the stars and stripes.
Peace. charity. a government of law
and order for the we'll being Of the PEG.
pie. lii n single sentence. that is the
presidents policy. It ought to be good
enough, it seems, for anyone. Even
the little Americans who are shouting
against the war admit that peace must
be restored, while theycertainly Cannot
object to the United States exercising
charity toward the conquered and estab-
fishing for them Il government for the
we'll being Of the people. That is all
the president il trying to do. He il
acting according to the spirit Of the
constitution Of the republic. Congress
will do the rest, after the president has
done his duty. 1t remains for the peo.
pies representatives to say what shall
ultimately be- done with tho Philip.
pines, 81 we'll as,with CUBA; the presi.
dent is not tying to and has 10 desire
to usurp the functions of congress-.
It is strange, then. that the chief OK
ecutive is not supported i'll the perform.
auce Of his duty by loyal citizens of
all parties. especially when the flag aud
the honor Of our county l,avs been rs.
sailed. lie would be sustained, too, il
it was not for the ambition Of schem.
ing and designing politicians. They
are endeavoring to encite the people
against their own government; these
politicians want the control Of 1t to fall
into their own hands. We're they in
power, they would pursue the same
course that PRESIDENT Mckinley is fol.
lowing; thoy would moi dare to do
otherwise. else they would be guilty OF
reason. Yet, for political effect, they
are trying to make it appear that the
president is no longer worthy Of the
trust bestowed upon him.
The very men who are doing this
thing know better themselves. II is a
political trick they are resorting to.
They would trife with loyalty. smother
patriotism and shake the very tounda.
tion Of the government itself to gain
their selfish ends. And again 1t ie the
denocratic party that is doing this
thing. 1t tried it before. in the most
critical hour Of this nations history,
when the government was divided
against itself with internal strife and
the best blood Of the country was spill.
cd in an effort to discredit the policy
OF Lincoln. But it failed, AZ it will
fail now. The people understand the
situation and can be trusted. Presi.
dent Mckinley will be sustained in
crushing the rebelliCn in the Philip.
pines, as Lincoln was sustained in
crushing the civil war. Then, after
it is all over, history will repeat itself
again. The republicans will see to it
that a form of government is estab.
lished for the well being of the people
who were rebelling against it; and they
will wonder that they were so foolish
as to fire upon the flag that insures
them peace. plenty and the pursuit OF
happiness.