The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1899-07-29
TIE PHILIPPINES.

posing the policy of the admins
tration in regard to the Philippines
do not offer cny better policy or
propose any practical solution of
the Philippine question, Mr.. Bry-
an, who is eager to make party
issue against the prosecution of the
war in the Philippines, suggests no
plan of procedure that would con.
sist with the dignity and RESPONSE
bity of our government, or even
with common sense and decency.
He does not 60 as far Gas the bull
headed and conceited Edward At
kinson and say that the govern
ment Of the United States should
haul down its cOlors, confess that
its officers and soldiers are brutal
murdt rers and tuck tail and aban-
don the Philippines to their fate,
but he condemns the administra-
ton for prosecuting the war for the
establishment Of Americon author
ity in our Philippine possessions
and says the United States should
deal with the Philippines just as it
is dealing with Cuba.
This is an absurd contention and
has for its main motive merely the
encouragement of a political Oppo-
sition to the administration and a
desire to make some campaign cap
ital. No American who has any
pride of country would advocate q
cowardly hauling down of our flag,
and abandonment of the Philippin.
es to misrule and anarchy. Such
action would bring upon the United
States the condemnation of the CIV
ilized world and would make our
own countrymen blush for shame.
Should our government withdraw
its ships and troops and abandon
the islands to their fate, other gov
ernments would have to interfere
to protect their citizens in the is
lands and compel submission up
on the part of Aguinaldo and his
followers. England and Germany
would of necessity have to protect
their interests when. the United
States abandoned the islands and
her own interests, and Americans
left on the islands would have to
look to other powers for protection
Such course upon the part of oul
government would be disgraceful
and shameful. 1t will not be taken
as long as Americans have respect
for their flag and patriotic pride in
their country and its history.
Mr.. Bryan does not advocate such
a shhmeful course, but his proposal
is little more worthy of considera-
ton and quite as impracticable
He says we should pursue the
same course in the Philippines as
we persue in Cuba. This PROPOSE
ton needs only little consideration
to show its absurdity. How can
the United States adopt the same
course in the Philippines which ii
has adopted in Cuba until the Phil
ipinos recognize American author
ity and cease all resistance? How
would Mr.. Bryan have our govern
ment do it? Suppose we say to
Aguinaldo, "Surrender your arms
and submit to American protection
and we will allow the inhabitants
of the Philippines to establish an in
dependent government of their own
in proper time" Does anybody be-
lieve that Aguinaldo would agree
Would he be willing to let the ma
tives, all the different tribes, with.
out his dictation and under protect.
ion of America, choose their own
form of government and their own
rules? Oh, no. He does not want
the people to choose. He wants to
be their dictator, although they do
not want dictatorship. Instead
of surrendering his arms, he would
first demand the withdrawal OF
American troops and ships. Gould
our government acceede to such q
demand? 1t would be preposter
Gus.
But suppose our government,
were so weak and foolish as tt
withdraw its forces and make such
humiliating and cowardly terms
the Filipino dictator, what would
result? Would not the English
men and the Germans and the
Americans who have property in
terests in the Philippines at once
appeal to some other power tor pro
lection? And would not some 9th
er power be forced to come to theil
relief after such a base abandon