The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1899-12-15

heFieWlnR lne increase or trade br0ugh
about by the efforts Of the state depart
ment to keep in touch with the govern
ment of the Latin-American republics il
South and Central America, President
Mckinley thinks it eXpedient that the
various republics should be invited t.
hold at an early date another conference
in capital of one of the countries Other
than the United States and in this con
nection refers to the Pan-American expo
sition to be held on the Niagara frontier
in New York in the year 1901 and says
! satisfactory assurances have already
been given by the diplomatic representa-.
tives of Great Britain, Mexico, the
Central and South American republics
and most of the states of the United
States that these countries and states
will make unique, interesting and in
structiye exhibit peculiarly illustrative OF
their material progress during the cen
fury which is about to close"
President Mckinley expresses satisfac-
ton over the outcome of the peace con-
gress held at The Hague and hopes for
beneficial results from the permanent
tribunal for arbitration established by it.
lie calls attention to the fact that in
signing the convention the representative
of the United States carefully guarded
the historic position of this country anent
the Monroe doctrine.
PRAISE FOR THE ARMY.
In a brief reference to the number of
men comprising the army of the United
States in this country and Manila the
president says:
Il cannot withhold from officers and
men the highest commentator for their
soldierly conduct in trying situations,
their willing sacrifices for their country
and the integrity and ability with which
they have performed unusual and diff
cult duties in our island possessions"
The message then goes into an extend
ed review of the postal service not only in
the United States, but the recently ac-
quired colonies. 1t also calls the atten-
ton of congress to the report of the sec
rotary of the navy concerning armor
plate for vessels now under contract and
building and asks that legislation be en-
acted to make contracts early in the year
for armor of the best quality that can
be obtained in this country for the Maine
Ohio and Missouri, and that the provision
of the act of March 3, 1899, limiting the
price of armor to $500 per ton be re-
moved.
Concerning pensions the president finds
that the pension roll on June 80, 1899,
numbered 991 $40, and the number add
ed during the year was 4O,999, the num-
Der dropped being 43, 1876. The amount
disbursed for army and navy pensions
during the year was $13S, 1856, O52.95,
which was 1851, 461.61 less than the
sum of the appropriation. He recon-
mends that in order to make the prac-
tice of the department at all times uni
form and to do justice to the dependent
widows of officers and enlisted men who
served 80 days or more during the war
of the rebellion and were honorably dis
charged the amount of income allowed
Independent of the proceeds of their
daily labor should be not less than $3.50
per annum. The present ruling allows
such widow only 500.
THE PHILIPPINE WAR.
President Mckinley devotes ten type
written pages to the war in the Philip
nines He ,recites how the islands came
to the United States by the terms of the
treaty with Spain and says that he has
every reason to believe that this trans
fer of sovereignty was in accordance
with the wishes and aspirations of the
great mass of the Filipino people He
says that no opportunity was lost of as
surfing the people of the island of our
ardent desire for their welfare and of the
of this government to do ev-
erything possible to advance their inter-
Psts. He reviews the appointment of the
Philippine commissioners and then says:
But before their arrival at Manila the
sinister ambition of a few leaders of the
F'ilipinos had created Il situation full of
for us and most grevOUs
in its consequences to themselves" He
refers to the report of the commission to
show that the claim of the rebel leader
that he was promised independence in
return for his assistance has no founda-
ton in fact.
NO sooner had our army captured |
says the president, than the
Filipino forces began to assume an atti- |
tude of suspicion and hostility which the |
utmost efforts of our officers and troops |
were unable to disarm or modify. Their |
kindness and forbearance were taken as
a proof of cowardice. The aggressions
IF the E'ilipinos continually increased |
until finally, just before the time set by
the senate of the United States for a
vote upon the treaty, an attack, evidently
prepared in advance, was made all along
he American line, which resulted in a
terribly destructive and sanguinary re-
pulse of the insurgents"
THE INSURGENT PROCLAMA-
TION.
President Mckinley then quotes from
he insurgent proclamation, which CON
emplated the massacre of the Americans
II Manila, of which General Otis said
hat "for barbarOus intent it is unequaled
II modern times" He then quotes as fol-
ows from the report of the commission
tent to the Philippines, in which the fol-
owing words were used 1T is not to be
conceived of that any American would
AVE sanctioned the surrender of Manila
o the insurgents. Our obligations to
,ther nations and to the friendly Filipi-
los and to ourselves and our flag de-
handed that force should be met by
orce Whatever the future of the Phil b,
ppines may be, there is no course open
o us now except the prosecution of the
var until the insurgents are reduced to
ubmission. The commission is of the
pinion that there has been no time since ,
he destruction of the Spanish squadron /,
y Admiral Dewey when it was possible !
0 with withdraw our forces from the ,
stands either with honor to ourselves or ,
nth safety to the inhabitants :
I