Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-07-23

On Thursday night General e. b.
Finley, Of Ohio, delivered the follow
Ing speech at the Chicago mass meet
ing:
I'VE are told tina; we must not crit
icize the policy of President Mcliinley's
so-called Philippine war and TO do SO.
is species OF disloyalty to the flag
II giving aid and comfort to the en-
envy.
some of the administration papers
so so far as to make our acquiescence
in the policy OF President Mckinley
touching the Philippine question. the
test of loyalty and dcnOunce as traitors
those who dare TO question the right
OF President Mckinley to carry on 4
war. as they put it, to suppress the
orS.
NO one can truthfully say that the
sympathy of every American does not
extend 10 our brave and loyal soldiers
and sailors, who, by direction Of their
commander n-chief. President Mcl[in-
ley, arc heroically shedding their blood
for n policy which they as obedient
soldiers and sailors have no right to
question.
we are all of one mind on that sub
jcct: but if the test of loyalty to the
flag is to be measured by loyalty to
President McKinley's Philippine policy.
| predict. that long before the next
Presidential election. the truly loyal
element In this country will he found
To be In n hopeless minority.
PERTINENT CONUNDRUMS.
The people at the risk of being call
cd traitors are making some very per-
tinent conundrumS as to what the war
is about; who it was that declared war
against the Fiiipinos; and why we are
sacrificing the lives OF our soldiers and
sailors. and spending, as it Is said. one
million dollars per day in so-called war
against mixed race of people whose
country we have neither the right nor
the inclination to forcibly annex and
make par, Of the United States. and
whom we. under no circumstances
would admit to citizenship with equal
rights and privileges of the citizens of
this country.
They are saying, the power TO de-
clare war belongs TO Congress, and that
Congress has not declared war against
the Filipinos.' When il is wered
THAI -Aguinaldo and his followers are in
rebellion or have raised an insurrec-
ton against the United States they re-
ply. that rebellion against a govern
ment implies the right of the nation or
government rebeled against. to control,
govern. and make laws for the rebels;
and they very pertnently inquire
wien. and how President McKinley's
administration acquired that right If
the reply is that his administration
bought the right from Spain, they an
swcr that Spain. by its treaty with us
attempted to sell what she did not own;
that Aguinaldo ana his countrymen
were at the time successfully resisting
the attempt of Spain to acquire do
minion over the Philippine Islands. and
that Spain could not sell nor McKin-
ley'S administration buy either the Fill
lpino government or its people and
that the resistance of Aguinaldo and
the Fiipinos to the demand of prasi-
dent McI<inley's administration for
submission TO his military government
car in no sense be called either a re-
bcilion or insurrccton against the
United States.
FREE SPEECH ASSERTED.
Our candidate for President. Mr.
Rryan. together with the Democratic
party. Is bitterly aSsl1IeI by adm1nrs-
tration organs for daring to criticize
President Nckinlcy's Philippine policy.
These organs point with pride to the
present commercial prosperity as a
complete vindication OF the argument
advanced in 1896. that the safety. pros
perty and general welfare of the coun
try, depended upon the maintenance of
the single gold standard which. they
say. is illustrated and proven by the
abundance of sound currency and great
activity of all branches of business ana
trade under Mr.. Mckinley's admins
tration.
Present conditions are not attrihu-
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