The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1899-09-01
IF FRANK WERE PRESIDENT.

Some time ago, says the Argus
Leader, we called attention to the fact
that the opponents of the adlninistra-
tion were very free with their criti-
cisms but that they were eloquently
silent when asked what they would do
with the rebellion in the Philippines,
if they had the doing. Mr. Bryan, it
will be remembered, was courteously
asked this question when he last spoke
in Sioux Falls, but his admirers in the
audience jeered down the gentleman
who asked the question and while MIR.
Bryan affected to reprove them and
said the question was a fair one and
deserved an answer, he did not answer
it and has not yet answered it, But
Mr.. Pettgrew has. Whatever may be
said in criticism of Mr.. Pettigrew, it
cannot be said that he is a dodger.
When he gets in motion, he swings the
whole circuit, like pendulum, and like
pendulum, also, he never stops until
he goes the limit. For instance in the
campaign of 1896 he demanded the en-
tire demonetization of gold. This was
a bold declaration for silver mono
mentalism-just what most OF the
silver men were saying they did not
want-but Mr.. Pettigrew had plunged
in and he proposed to wade through.
And:he did-though his head was un-
der water most of the time.
And now Mr.. Pettigrew is telling US
what he would do, if he were president
tsThis government should recall every
soldier in the Philippines Immediate
ly," he said the other day to a cores
pondent of the Associated Press at
Chicago. sit should apologize to the
world for the error we have made, and
turn the island over to the native
government" "Any people," he ad-
ded, "can maintain as good govern
ment as they have right to have, and
you can not give them better one. "
In other words, the senior senator from
this state, speaking through the public
channel known to the journalism OF
this country, and affecting to represent
the people of this state, advises that
for the first time in our history the
American flag shall be lowered in the
presence of armed rebellion. These is
lands are American soil. The savages
who are in arms in the rebellion against
American authority. We have been
fighting for months to put down the re-
bellon. We have broken up an army
of $4,000 and driven it into the morases
and the mountains. until the total force
is not estimated at from 10000 to 20
900. The next campaign would finish
the work, quickly decisively and finally
and would result in in the recognition
of American authority and the restor
alton of law and order for ten million:
of people. But Mr.. Pettigrew would
not fight this campaign. He would al
once withdraw every American soldier
would confess to the world that we hat
Started out to do great wrong, bu
could not succeed, would "apologize'
to the whole world, and for the frs
time since 1776 make the United State
the laughing stock of the natives. Ant
he would do this right on the eve O
certain success. He would not onl
humiliate his country, but he woul'
have US throw away the key to th
rich eastern trade which chance ha
trust into our hands, as a thing of n
moment.
1t is too bad that the people of thi
state will have no chance this year t
show what they think of such a COW
ardly program But they will spea
next year in way which there will b
no excuse for misunderstanding.