The times., 1899-01-26
THURSDAY. JANUARY %, 1899.
The Treacher, in the senate.

The news from Manila, in connection
with the filing of an 'ultimatum'' by the
agent of the outlaw Aguinaldo at Wash
ington, should be warning enough to the
obstructionists in the Senate that they are
near the point where they will be over
whelmed by the execrations of the Ameri-
can people and where the masses Of the
Democratic party will publicly repudiate
and denounce the men who misrepresent
that organization in the Senate.
The obsructionfsts are chiefly to blame
for the growing sggressiveness of the self
appointed dictator in the Philippines. 1t
will not be long before an attack will be
made on the American soldiers there, and
no one is so dull as not to know that it
will be due TO the unreasonable. ineXcusa-
bic. and insincere attitude of the Senate
minority.
It is useless to reason with men who 90
not themselves believe in the arguments
they offer. who are not agreed among
themselves. and who are never twice on
the same platform. But in passing it may
be worth while to call the attention of the
country to the fact that nearly every
obstructionist first opposed the Treaty on
the ground that the Filipinos were savages
and incapable OF becoming intelligent citi
zens of a republic. They asserted that
England had been successful as co,onist
nation only because she did not foster any
hopes OF self government, but employed
force to maintain her supremacy. These
men, every one OF them, were strongly and
vociferously opposed TO any recognition
OF the alleged Cuban government and 10
any official reception OF the Cuban Junta
How lhey profess to be fighting for the
recognition OF the dictatorship Of Aguinal-
DO. which is all his government" stands
for. and tor official relations with Aguin-
aIdo's Junta. This is not more consistent
than Their arguments against the Peace
Treaty.
What IT is that moves the Democrats of
the minority We do not know, and. it is
not worth while 10 guess; but they are
10 more sincere than Senator Hoar, whose
speech against expansion was merely a
presentation of the ideas of the Hamilton
Federalists who were smashed by the
sentiment OF The American people under
the leadership OF Thomas jefferson and
other fathers OF Democracy. That the
Democratic minority should hurl itself
against the desires and convictions of the
great body Of the people in the interest
OF long-defeated and un- Democratic pro-
vncialism is a wonder Of The time.
How long viii any of these obstruction
lists stand up TO oppose the Administra-
tion when the American flag has been
fired upon? DO they fancy the people
will forget. in the midst Of war, that it
is they who have brought the unauthorized
outlaws TO this point? DO they think
that The Democratic party, which gave its
best men 10 the army. will tolerate OBJ
strucrioHs 10 the army in its efforts to
establish the Just authority OF this Gov
ernment? When the first Maxim gun is
fired into the ranks Of the American SOL
diers they viii hear things that will classi-
fy them in a way no patriotic American
can enjoy. The time is very short in which
they can retreat
Senator Davis Was absolutely right in
refusing 10 bring the Treaty TO a vote until
he WAS assured Of its unconditional ratii-
calion- j is a treaty and only that II
is not . body Of laws for the government
OF the philippines. To attempt to inject
into il legislation that has no place in
treaty oi peace is outrageous. The excuse
offered by The minority is that the Amer
lean people are not 10 be trusted to deal
fairly By the Filipinos. The obstrue-
tionists virtually charge that If Congress
is not restrained and bound by a distinct
provision of the Treaty, II viii never con-
slider the best interests Of the natives For
the ratification of the Treaty without mod
iGeation does not prevent Congress-or the
American people through Congress-from
conferring absolute independence on the
Islands. The obstructionists affirm that