Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1899-11-01
THE HARD, COLD FACTS.
MeKinley's Statements arc at n Vari-
ance with Matters of Record.

LII Ills 6p0oCuoS LID QoIeDSo OF the
Philippine war Mr.. Mckinley is CIV
ing point to the cynical observation
that "history is fiction agreed upon.
It is not pleasant duty to correct
misstatements of facts made by the
President, but when President
takes the stump, he cannot object to
the public criticism upon which the
people rely to separate truth from er-
TOR.
In his speech at Fargo, N. D., Mr..
Mckinley said:
ave did not go to war until every
effort at peace was exhausted"
If true, this statement would justi-
fy the war. Unfortunately it is not
true. Did the President offer to the
Filpinos, our accepted allies at Ma
Mia, the terms and conditions which
Congress imposed upon the United
States and held out to the Cubans
when it set about freeing Cuba? Did
he assure the Filipinos
"That the United States hereby
dsclaims any disposition or intention
to exercise sovereignty Jurisdiction or
control over said island, except for
the pacificahon thereof. and asserts
it's determination when that is COM
pleted to leave tie government and
control of the island to it's people,"
Does anybody doubt that if Mr..
Mckinley had given this assurance
tc the Fiipinos after the capture Of
Manila there would have been no war?
Was not this an effort for peace
which the President was in duty
bound to make?
If he should give this assurance
now is there any reason to doubt that
it would end the war? The Presi
dent himself admits that the leader
Of the insurgent forces says to the
Anne rican government: aYou can have
peace if you will give US indepen-
dence." Would not such a termina-
ton Of the trouble be more honor
able and just, more in accordance with
American principles than to send an
army IF $4,000 men to subjugate a
people who after all are only fighting
for their freedom as our forefathers
did?
The cold truth is that, alike III his
proclamation of December u and the
subsequent proclamation of his com
missioners, the President demanded
the unconditional surrender and sub
mission Of the Filipinos to the "sov-
ereignty" OF the United States. New
er one effort has he made for peace
by Offering them autonomy under
a protectorate.
But Mr.. Mckinley said further at
Fargo:
"Ehe insurgent leader made an at
tack upon our men and then our boys
let loose"
1t this were true it would justify
shooting back. No American worthy
OF the name would whatev-
er his views of the main question
that onr soldiers should not repel an
attack. But the official record con.
tradicts the President. His own gen.
eral-the one and only Otis-in his
report Of the opening OF hostilities
said:
"Feb. A. 1899. Firing upon the Eli.
pinos and killing one of them by the
Americans, leading them to return
the fire. The chief insurgent leaders
did not wish to open hostilities at
that time"
Mr.. Mckinley further says:
awe never gave d bride for peace
in all our history and we never will
Again, this would be important il
true. But the Presidents peace
commissioners, Mr.. Schurman, reports
that he made bargain Of treaty with
the Sultan Of Sulu, agreeing for the
sake OF peace and for the privilege of
flying our flag at the seaport to pay