The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-02-25

mean by telling those who gathered
around the banquet board at Boston
that up to the ratification of the treaty
he had simply held the Philippines as
commander in chief without any policy
of his own, leaving the whole matter to
be determined afterward by the Con-
gress? Was he foolish enough to be-
lieve that his mere statement would be
allowed TO pass unchallenged? Was he
vain enough to suppose that his ipse
dixit would conclude the matter, with
the damning proof of its falsity so near
at hand?
Mr.. Chairman, why did the Presi-
dent change his original intention as to
the terms to be incorporated into the
treaty? What were the influences that
brought the change about? 1 have
heard it stated that the applause of
the people who greeted him just about
at this juncture of public affairs while
he was on a tour in the West was the
reason for it. Was it, then, the cond1-
ton of public sentiment rather than
the right or wrong of the matter which
Influenced the Presidents mind? Does
the chief executive regard his great
prerogatives to be so Supinely repre-
sentative that he must needs abdlcate
them at every popular wind that ploWs :!
Does he feel that his high office gives
him no latitude for the exercise OF IN
dividual Judgment and of independent
action? Did he make no allowance Tor
transient ebullitions of public enthusl-
asm and excitement, overlook his OPP
portunity to save the people from
themselves, lose sight OF all the sacred
traditions of the country and fear to
make his appeal to that ultimate trt-
bunal which has so often in our ma
tionaI history indicated those who
have fearIessly stood for the rlgnt IN
public affairs-the sober second tnougnt
of the great American people! And is
his FxcelIency quite sure that he prop
erIv gagged the condition of the public
mind on the subject of Philippine an
nexation? Is he absolutely certain one
swallow really makes whole sum
mer? 1t would really seem so, LOT IN
this Home Market address he exultlnsly
declared that the annexation treaty nad
bassed the Senate by over two-thirds
and was sanctioned by the Judgment OF
.nire-tenths of his countrymen- how
that treaty finally got its two-thlrds
majority in the Senate-the tremendous
pressure necessary TO secure 1t tnere-
where its fate hung doubtful and trem-
hing in the balance until the very
latest moment and was then only saved
nv the votes of Senators who mad most
of them spoken against II, no man
knows better than Mr. Mckinley. Adu-
IatiOn has lnQeeQ SOIeiy DllAdeu liz
chief executive to the truth if he mag
ines that even the majority of his coun-
trynen approve of this permanent nod
ing in the Orient Let him not pin his
faith too securely to the sordid inter
ests which clamor so loudly in his hear
ing. If he will but quiet the noisy
throng which surrounds him long
enough to put his ear to the ground
and listen he will distinguish the
oremonitions of the coming storm; he
will hear the steady tread, not of the
100. 900 men he demands for crusade
against liberty, but of mighty army
of people who are beginning to move in
defense of their cherished traditions
and their violated honor.
I'VE have been told, further. that the
President yielded UP his first blush I'M
pressions at the importantly OF Ad7
niral Dewey, who urged that the Phll-
ippines should be retained. Mr.. CHAR
man, the chief executive cannot screen
himself behind the gold lace of the nero
of Manila. No one can honor more
profoundly than do the officers of our
regular army and navy, but their pre-