The record-union., 1899-05-08
Weather Forecast.
THE PHILIPPINE QUESTION IN
BRIEF

I'VE hold that our Government ere
ated the conditions which have brought
about the sacrifice" So runs declara-
ton of the anti-expansionists in SOL
emn conclave assembled in Chicago the
other day First and foremost, it re-
cites a bald, blatant lie. Our Govern
ment did not create the conditions.
Our Intervention in Cuba was APP
proved heart and soul by the very
people who passed the resolution we
have quoted. They declared it to be
an act of mercy, humanity, and
of duty to a nearby suffer
ing neighbor 1t happened that
previous to that. time the tribes
of the Philippines arose in rebellion
against Spain. as they had done be-
fore. Spain sent to- those waters pow
erful feet and considerable army.
and in most part suppressed the insur-
rection and bought off the prime lead
ers in it. Being at war with the Unit
ed States, she saw her opportunity to
use the fleet she had gathered at Ma
Mia to harass our commerce upon the
Pacific, and assault the cities and
towns Of this coast which were exposed
to her guns.
Our fleet was at the time in Asiatic
waters. There was but one thing to
do, and that was to destroy the Span
ish naval power before it's design
against us could be carried out Dew
ey on that fateful first day Of May
accomplished the work and legitimate
1y took possession of Spain's Philip
pine territory. That we did not actu-
ally occupy it all with arms and men
cuts no figure in the case whatever.
We attacked such force as Spain left
behind, captured the capital, made the
army prisoner, and concluded a treaty
with Spain whereby she ceded to US
the islands upon our paying her the
round sum of $2O,00OO00.
Thereupon certain of the insurrec-
tfonists, who it is conceded had aided
us to a limited extent, demanded that
they be admitted to the reduced cap
ital, there to loot and gather spoil at
will The thing was absurd. We de-
MED the application as a matter of
course, and instantly the Instruction
lists made war upon us, purposely fur
nishing the excuse for the firing of
the first shot by an American sentry.
That is the story in every essential
detail. Did Dewey agree with Aguin-
aldo that his organization should be
recognized, and the so-called Filipino
Republic be seated in power? The Ad-
miral denies it. and that is sufficient.
But If he had SO agreed it could not
bind US, and before the nations of the
world our responsibility would not
have been released. We were and are
held responsible for order law and
good government in the Philippines.
Tne Marysville Appeal very well
states thu situation from another stand
point:
The deplorable conditions at present
existing in the Philippines are the d.
rect but Unforeseen consequences fol-
lowing our victorious war with Spain.
Had we not been successful, undoubt-
eddy similar state of affairs would
have followed in the islands any way,
the only difference being that the
Filipinos would now be fighting the
army of Spain instead Of the United
States.
But the idea that our Government is
responsible for this Filipino insurrec-
ton is preposterous. How the Admin
istration could have created" this
condition is a mystery Dewey was
ordered to seek out, and, If possible,
destroy the Spanish fleet in the South
Pacific In obedience to his orders he
discovered and sank Montejo's ships in
Manila Bay. This left him master of
the situation, which the subsequent
surrender of the Spanish land forces
simply confirmed
Dewey's victory made us responsible
Tor the preservation of law and order
at Manila ard the protection Of our
own and other foreign residents of that
city. When peace was declared the
islands passed into our possession as
natural result of the war This be-
ing so. the nations of the world ac-
knowledged our right to them, and on
legations which belong to responsible
and intelligent ownership Now, had
we refused to recognize or to discharge
these duties, what a condition of an
archy would have followed in the ISL
ands, and in what a despicable light
the Government of the United States
would have appeared. Yet these anti
annexationists would have had the Ad-
ministration pursue the cowardly and
1gnoble course of withdrawing from
the islands, leaving the European and
American residents at the mercy of
such scoundrels as Aguinaldo and his
savage followers. These Filipinos are
incapable of self government. This
they have demonstrated, and to com
pare their spirit or condition to the
feelings and circumstances which con-
trolled our forefathers in rs is almost
sacrilege
History will justify the Administra-
ton in all its course in the Philip
pines. 1t will justify the present de-
mand for unconditional surrender
But recognition of them as a political
or military force is simply out of the
question. There must be, as it was at
Appomattox in 1865, first and fore
most a laying down of arms and a
return to the arts of peace. Then let
the people of the islands trust to US tc
do justice, to establish a wise, humane
and republican form of government. II
they have not faith in Us for that