The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-08-27
TWENTY-SIX PAGES.
THE m,kIsIEY roLroY ANNOUNCED:

There can no longer be any speculation
as to the Philippine policy Of the admin.
istration--so far as that policy can be set.
tied by the president IL has been settled
In bis speech Friday at Ocean Grove, N
j., he was outGpoken and explicit, waving
the flag as usual and concluding as fol-
lows:
There has been doubt expressed In some
quarters regarding the policy of the gov
errmeBt In the Philippines. l can see no
harm IN stating II In this presence. Peace
first. then. with charity for ALL establish
u governm ent Of law and order. protecting
life and property and occupation for the
well-being of the people WHO WILL PAR
TICIPATEl IN IT UNDER THE STARS AND
STRIPES"
We now knew, in a few words, the ex-
act purpose of the edminstration-th
ton of the Philippines. OF course, intelli-
gent reople have understood for some tine
past, from the developments of the stua-
ton. that this was the policy of the presi-
dent. but never before Friday had ne so
boldly confirmed the popular suspicion.
The gage OF political battle has now
been deliberately thrown before the peo-
plc of the United States by the president
the line has been drawn. and the public
can form on either side.
The question is now a plain and pointed
ope--shall the old spirit and inspiration
of free government continue to control
American policies, or viii we ignore the
past and the cardinal principles OF our
system and enter upon new and untred
course of national life and action?
Shall our government be revolutionized
by a particular and partisan adminislra-
ton. or shall we rebuke the attempt at
revolution and retain our old form OF gov
eminent. It's principles, it's customs and its
policies?
There is no middle ground.
The administration policy means wars
conquest, the shedding of blood vast bur-
dens upon the people the beginning of a
military republic, like that of France, for
example. the assertion that the decIara-
ton of independence and the advice OF
the fathers are out of date. and steady
misinterpretation, mIsapplication aud ig
norlng of the constltution-leading inev-
itably to Capitalization of an imperialistic
nature under either an aristocracy, in its
political sense, a putocracy. or a virtual
dictatorship!
This is not an overdrawn statement
III the Nation allows any party administra
ton. or any president, to work such rev
olutlon In our political affairs, as sure as
late the republic has begun Its downward
career as a republic. or as a happy and
peaceful nation.
Every conservative man in this country
ought to aid In rehutlng this high handed
attempt OF the present administration to
absolutely reverse the time honored poll
cies Of the American government To de,
nounce the methods OF Turkey, or Russia,
or Spain as despolc, and yet deliberately
abandon the basic principle of our own
liberties, that governments derive their
Just powers from the consent of the gov
erned. would be as ridlculously as 1t
would be lamentably inconsistent
But 1t is gratifying In one sense to find
the administration policy boldly declared. |
The people have been put on their guard
the extent of the aggression contemplated
and the degree OF the revolution in our
form OF government. which Mr.. Mckinley
is inaugurating, are now explicitly de-
clared
Has the republic the vitality to reassert
It's lifelong policies or has 1t become de-
generate and callous?