Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-02-09

Senate, Monday, ratified treaty of peace
with Spain, the s20,0oo,oo0 indemnity
and all. Perhaps it is as well to have
the peace between the countries lately
ut war formally declared, but the fact
that this country thereby binds itself
to give $40, 500, 600 to its yanquished
enems, for relinquishing claim upon |
the Philippine Islands which it posi-
lively could not have held for another
year against the war thai the people of
those islands were waging for indie
pendence, will always be matter of
yexation and regret to the majority of
the people of this country. 1t will
always be looked upon as an act OF
folly, under the guise Of generosity to
q defeated foe.
However, there is reason to hope that
the ratification of the treaty will not
carry with it the assumption Of com
plete jurisdiction over the troublesome
and undesirable Philippines. At Mon
| days session of the senate, Senator
McEnery of Louisiana, one of those
who reluctantly voted for the treaty,
offered a resolution providing as fol-
lows; "That by the ratification of the
| treaty it is not intended to incorporate
the inhabitants of the Philippines into
citizenship of the United States, nor to
permanently annex the islands as an
integral part of the territory of the
United States.'' On the other hand,
| it is declared to be the intention of the
United States to establish on the
islands government suited to the
present wants and conditions of tho
people of the islands, to prepare them
for elf-government, and in due time
tic make such disposition of the islands
as will best promote the interests of
the United States and the inhabitants
of the islands. .
By adopting this resolution, and ad-
herring strictly to its letter and spirit,
the Senate may yet save the country
much Of. the serious trouble, expense
and loss of life that is already being
incurred, as a result of the steps alread,
taken towards acquiring possession o.
the Philippine Islands. Let us hope
|. that the policy sought to be inaugu
rated by the McEnery resolution viii
be followed in the end.
-e.----- Dr.
Technically speaking General Mile
has violated regulations in critioisini
the service through newspapers says thu
New York Commercial Advertiser "bu
he has done this in an entirely tenn
= perate and dignified way, to bring t
public notice charges of grave i'm
portance affecting army administration
1t should be impossible 10 punis
General Miles for technical irregularit
. and at the same time ignore thes
q serious charges. Knowing this, probabl
9 he is willing to court punishment. jill
L attitude from the beginning has bee
- the reverse of selfish. He will WELDON
! discipline for himself, il it shall resu
y in improvement of service. This is
Y necessary consequence, because |
81 cannot be tried without trial of IL
~ system against which he has ,brougl
% indictment. HE case is different fro
= General Eagan'si When the comman
r. ing general Of the army charges ma
% feasance in the War Department, it
- impossible to punish him for disrespe
es to superiors and ignore the charge.
wv --.------
A nice little game of politics is bell
played with Representative Hush
Mt beck's Single Tax bill. The House
n Representatives, on Monday, by
affirmative vote composed entirely
Republicans, passed the measure. I
expectation, Of course, is that t
Democratic Senate will defeat the bi
ny and then the Republican political
no will say to the Single Takers in I
Is next campaign; "We voted for a
N passed your bill, but the Democrats I
~ feated il: now vote our ticket at
election. = All the same, the Sem
70 will do we'll to defeat the undesira
~ measure, despite any or all politi
the consequences. s.
49,