The times., 1899-04-24
MONDAY. APRIL "A. 1899.
Punish the Traitors.

Americans might reasonably nesitate 10
believe that there are some men in this
country who would deliberately encourage
mutiny among the troops in time of war
The crime is of kind peculiarly shocking
to the loyal citizens of this Republic. Dut
we have seen enough of the narrow
minded or selfish and cowardly provincial
lists and maudlin sentimentalists TO doubt
the report of their evil Vaccinations.
That they have sent kilograms and letters
to the volunteers in the Philippines mis-
representing popular sentiment in this
country, is stated on trustworthy authority
That they are capable of this. no one can
doubt who has heard their utteranees since
il was resolved to retain the archipelago.
Many of them were opposed to the war
with Spain TO free Cuba. They represented
the Cubans as unfit for self government
When it was first proposed to annex the
Philippines. they declared the Inhabitants
of that country were savages, unfit ever
TO become citizens of the American Re
public.
There are many and various reasons
given By the anti-expansionists for their
opposition to the policy of the Government.
II is only recently that any of them, ex-
cept Andrew Carnegie. professed 20 regard
the Fiipinos as capable of governing them
selves The real motive underlying all
their arguments is the cost, trouble, and
danger TO this country. Some Of them
mostly foreign born or with foreign symps-
thies-do not believe Americans have the
brains and skill TO govern the Philippines.
because We have no aristocracy like Great
Britain from which to draw able states
men. we cannot do what that nation does.
Indeed, all of them distrust the wisdom
and honesty Of the American people. All
OF them profess TO believe that we shall
become involved in foreign politics which
may lead TO wars and they are partisans
of universal peace. All of them doubt the
value of republican institutions extended
10 other peoples.
The situation has been against them
from the start They would have pre-
ferred to restore Spanish power in the
Philippines. bu. that shocked the con-
science Of civilized mankind. So they are
compelled TO advocate the independence OF
people whose unfitness for self government
they have admitted 1t is evident that in
spite OF their pretence of concern for the
Filpinos, they are willing to see them
condemned to the tyrannical rule of a
dictator. to anarchy. and final seizure by a
foreign oppressor. rather than have this
country incur the cost and dangers Of a
worid-power career. The only cry they can
raise to touch the feelings of the American
people is utterly insineere. They proclaim
the right of the Filipinos TO independence.
although they 90 not believe in it; they
profess to be hoTror-stricken by the spec
tacle of the natives shot down by the
Americans in order to establish our au-
,hority, when in fact they would commi,
them to a worse condition by withdrawing
our army. To achieve their purpose. they
are guilty OF treason in its most despcable
and damnable form-the melting TO mu-
tiny Of our soldiers.
severe spirit or all criminals on earth
they are the least excusable, the most dis
honest. They are responsible for this war
But for their treason in speech, Aguinaldo
would never have rebelled. They have
prolonged t. Every drop OF blood shed in
the Philippines may be charged against
them, in the face OF their lying pretence
OF horror at the bloodshed. They should
not be exposed merely, but were there
law for it. they should be hanged.