Warren sheaf., 1899-11-16
KNAVE OR FOOL,
PERHAPS BOTH.
-: H. s.fY4ha:

AThrough the courtesy OF DR.. G. S.
Wattam, we have had the privilege
to see copy of Freedom, all Ameri-
can paper published at Manila.
From it we clip the following editor
ial explaining the position of the
United States in regard to the Philip
pines, and severely criticising the an
ti-expansionists OF this country:
In speech at Pittsburg not long
since, President Mckinley said:
"Peace brought us the Philippines
by treaty concession from Spain. |
The Senate Of the United States rati-
fed the treaty. Every step taken
was in obedience to the requirements
Of the constitution. 1t became our
territory, and is ours, as much as the
Louisiana purchase, or Texas, or
Alaska."
This is what we call 'thitting the
nail on the head" All this anti-ex-
pansion nonsense that seems to ema-
nate from the improperly regulated
lives OF B. A. Atkinson, grandma
Hoar, ct al, is not only disgusting to
people who can read and think, but
is positively and maliciously devilish
These loud mouthed, light Drained
seekers Of notoriety are adopting
every means at their command to
have people think the United States
government is trying to take by
force OF arms that to which it has no
right and title; that in the Philip
pines at least the Stars and Stripes
are waving over a gigantic theft, in
order to do so, has degenerated into
an ''emblem of butchery and depres-
sion." They have screeched them
selves hoarse in their attempt to in
fuence the American soldier to look
upon his occupation in these islands
as anything but honorable, and to
instill into the shallow minds of the
enemy the idea that the great Ameri-
can people are in sympathy with
them, and that at an early date
those now in power and who are re-
sponsible for the present campaign,
will be succeeded by Others, who will
befriend the Insurgent cause. They
are busy publishing to the world the
deliberate and pernicious lie that en-
deavors to make our government
appear as a marauder among ma
tions, a giant thief, the destroyer Of
the peace and happiness OF weaker
peoples, an institution that has for
gotten the honored tradition Of it's
glorious past, and is now carving a
history OF blood and shame to Salts
fy the commercial cravings OF some
OF the millionaire trust class at home.
Their argument, if such it may be
called, is rottenly false.
This paper has time and again
pointed out that in matters pertain
ing to the Philippines, our govern
ment has adopted and is pursuing
the only honorable, just and upright
policy, The merits and capabilities
OF the Philippine islanders need not
enter into the consideration OF our
rights in the premises at all; and
though it is plain to men who have
the opportunity of studying this
question and Of observing the vari-
Gus phases OF the Filipino character,
that Aguinaldo and his followers are
wofully incapable of administering
the government OF these islands, and
keeping under control the many war;
ring, wrangling factions and tribes
that claim them, the question OF our
rights here would be just the same
if they were capable. The fact will
always remain that it was American
ships, and men, and powder, and lead,
that wrested the islands from the on
ly government they ever had; and |
that government ceded them to the
Americans by treaty, which was duly
ratified by the United States Con-
gress. The fact will always remain
that while Congress was wrestling
with the treaty before it's ratification,
the Aquinaldoites OF Luzon, through
their boorishness, their unpardona-
ble vanity and egotism, brought on
the conflict that is still raging. The
fact will always remain that at that
time the United States government
was responsible to all the world for
the administration of affairs here,
and that these responsibilities were
of such nature that they could not
be shirked, even if our government
had a cowardly, sneaking desire to
do so.
The Philippines are ours, and we
have to stand responsible for their
government, to the other powers of
the earth that have interests here.
We can not Withdraw, and the
who o1oiminr RI ho on