Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-09-08

organs 4 Is purposod 10 end II would Dc
hideous piece OF treachery-and cold
blooded deliberate treachery at that. AZ
would be equivalent to Turing a man into
ambush. under the pretcnce OF cement
ing friendship. and then assass'na''hs
him. II would be a worse act OF treach-
cry than our deception Of Agrinaldo'
or course. there are grave doubts as 10
the validity OF our treaty with the SUI"
sultan. Outside Of the guarantee, TEN
porary. guarantee" we give as 10 the
sacredness OF certain Sulu domestic IN
stitutions." the arrangement carries
phases which raise the issue, Whe'nei
Mr.. Mckinley. in instlgating, or conii'N-
ing at, or permitting the treaty, was not
guilty OF grosser usurpation than Is IN
volved in his philippines proclamation
But. admitting that there can be con-
struction Of the Constitution that Wcuiu
validate the agreement, the adminslra-
ton would be simply advoiding the Scyila
OF usurpation 10 wind up on the CharyDuis
Of fraud and treachery. In fact, IN no
event can It escape the latter. III
no event can the country escape standing
in the light Of being party 10 most
outrageous fraud, unless the masses rise
up and repudiate McKinleyism.
The practical point for the considera-
ton Of the people is that the Sulu treaty
IS the browning act Of the administra-
ton in piling humiliation upon us. First
came our breach OF faith with Aguinaido
and his followers then the PRESIDENT
proclamation defining what we
were going TO accomplish in the Philip
pines; then an abortive campaign regard
ing which the truth was suppressed IN
the interest Of the Presidents poltical !
ambition; then the confession that we had
bitten off more than we could chsw'
and then the purchase of the sultan ana |
his gang. which emphasized that cenfes-
sion. Now we have the acknowledgment |
Of predeterrnination to dishonor our bond |
And these gradations in our humilia- |
ton fairly represent the gradations of |
Of the administration. which, |
rom the beginning. staked all on the sue
,ess Of the Philippines war. The old |
heory that an administration could not |
De defeated during the progress Of war
las been greatly discredited in the case |
IF Mr.. Mckinley, and the desperate ex-
oedlent resorted TO in the Sulu treaty |
With the idea that keeping the Sulus |
uilet would expedite our subjugation of |
he Filipinos is a recognition of the ad-
Of the extent Of this dis
,redit. But the situation should cause |
he masses 20 appreciate the great OPP |
,0rtunity that is before them TO draw
inc at the establishment Of the prestige |
II American arms in the Philippines:
hat is to say. the Sulu treaty and the
thereof by the Presi-
lents immediate organs has. taken with
he Administrations general Philippines
,olicy. made it more than possible Tor
nti-imperialsm to carry the Democratic
,arty-the party of the rnasses-to VIC
DRY. We must not stop short of press
ng the honor of American arms to vindi-
alton, now that we are at war, but there
$ more than the chance OF victory in
PRESSING to vindication the honor Of the
ountry which demands that Mckinley
SIN and all who sympathize with it shall
,ass away and a new order shall regu-
ate events after peace in the Philippines.
Viii the Democratic leaders organize the
orces for trial of conclusions on the
nomentous issue, or will they supinely
ccept the theory. now discredted. as
We have said, that, come what may, a
condition of war is tantamount 20 po-
itical triumph for the powers that be?
Viii they fail to recognize the desperate
traits the administration admits that it
$ in and let Imperialism. usurpation, and
reachery go by default? We shall see.