The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-10-31

authority to establish government IN
! those islands. He is the COMMANDMENT
chief of the army and navy of the
United States, and in the capacity is
| charged with the responsibility of main
tanning peace and order In all territory
belonging to the United States. The con-
stitution provides that congress shall
have power to dispose of and make all
I needful rules and regulations respecting
the territory or other property belonging
to the United States. Congress has not
yet acted, and until 1t does, the president
is charged with the duty of protecting
life and property in those islands. This
he is doing, and on account of his po-
sition. he has been assailed, from Boston
to Medicine Lodge.
at is not the question of the kind Of
government that should be given the
Philippine Islands, as thaht matter can
only be determined by congress in the
future. The question IS. Shall the po-
sition of the president be endorsed or
Shall the army and navy be brought
home and the islands left to Aguinaldo
and his folIowers?' There are about sixty
different tribes in the Philippines Islands,
speaking as many different languages,
and but one of these tribes. the Tagals,
is opposing the authority of the United
States.
The president, in his recent speech at
Pittsburg, stated his position as follows:
They assailed our sovereignty, and there
will be no useless pariey-no pause-until
the instruction is suppressed and Ameri-
can authority acknowledged and estab-
lished.'
cat Ocean Grove he also said: Peace
first, then, with charity for all, establish
a government of law and order, protect
ing life and property and occupation, for
the well-being of the people who will par
ticipate in it under the stars and stripes
Gas to how long the war will continue,
the president recently said at Galena,
H.: We are having a little trouble over
in the Philippines, and. remembering
Grants requirements of unconditional
surrender, hostilities will cease when
those who commenced the war on our
flag shall lcease to fire upon our troops,
and acknowledge American authority
This position OF the president has been
assailed, and an effort has been made to
make a political question of this issue on
which all Americans should agree The
supreme overshadowing question of the
hour is, Shall President Mckinley be in
dorsed or condemned in suppressing the
Instruction in the Philippine Islands?'
I'm Populist and Democratic conven-
lions all over Kansas, the acts of the
Twentieth Kansas have been commended
and the cause in which they have been
engaged has been condemned. Is this po-
stion of the opposition either just or
tenable?
This regiment was raised in the war
with Spain. and its members enlisted to
take part in that war. Deweys victory
in Manila bay and the destruction of Ger
veras fleet compelled Spain to sue for
peace, and the Twentieth Kansas took no
part in the Spanish-American war. 1t
left San Francisco for Manila on Octo-
Der q, 1898, after hostilities between the
United States and Spain had ceased. L
went to the Philippine islands to assist
in maintaining peace and order, for the
United States had destroyed the only rec
ognized government that existed in those
islands.
"On February 4, 1899. Aguinaldo and his
misguided followers fired upon the flag
of the United States which was in those
islands to protect them from Spanish op-
preston, and the Twentieth Kansas at
last saw active service. 1t had no oppor-
tunity of firing upon Spaniards, but the
Filipinos have cause to remember the
accuracy of its lam.
ION the 18th of April, 1889. the presi-
dent, by proclamation, declared that the
war with Spain was over. and under the
terms ftheir enlistment every member
of the Twentieth Kansas could have de-
manded his muster-out. and refused to
continue longer in active service. This
they did not do. and their fighting after
that date was voluntary, and it is impos-
sible to commend their acts and condemn
the war in which they were done. Before
the war with Spain ended, they were
obliged TO obey orders. and it was no
part Of their duty to question the policy
Of the government or determine the just
ness of the cause in which thye were en-
gagged. After the presidents proclama-
ton they could do both, and they only
remained in the service because they be-
lieved that the government Of the United
States was doing its duty in the Philip
pine islands.
''Malolos. the rebel capital, was cap
tured on March 81. Colonel Funston and
detachment of the Twentieth Kansas be-
ing the first TO enter it. Fey a month,
the Twentieth occupied this town. 1t was
during this period that the presidents
proclamation was issued. Refusing to be
mustered out. on April II the advance on
Calumpit began. ION the morning Of the
18th, in the crossing OF the Bagbag river,
Colonel Funston performed one Of the
most brilliant and daring acts Of the war
With Lieutenant Ball and three privates
who had volunteered for this SPECIAL
duty. he crossed over the iron Of the
burned bridge. swan the current to the
opposite shore. and attacked the Fii.pinos
en- the other side. CalumDit was taken
and the Twentieth Kansas was response
be tor its capture.
ION April .. the lines reached the south
hank OF the Rio Grande river. Here again
the colonel ot The Twentieth directed the
operations. Rats were constructed, and
two private soldiers. White and TFem6ly,
swan the stream. carrying line almost
70 the Philippine entertainments Rats
were safely propelled across the stream
and the attack was made CO the Philio-
rirs position. which was captured after
a shors resistance
The operations Of the Twentieth Kan
sas from the 24;h to ,he =.Jh % April
made its coJoael q 5rigadier general on
Nay and the regiment Earou throega-
cut the World
"It the Twentieth kansas had done
al SIS .ghtiag during the terms q as
enlistment SIS members w-UuId oriy have
done their duty as saiG1erS. oct tEelr
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