El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-10-09
Philippine Problem
Criminal Aggression"
Written For the HERALD.

Written For the HERALD.

and the good name OF this
country, our administration al
Washington wisely decided to main
tain q proper form of government in
support such government with a nee
essary military force, until such a
time as the Inhabitants of either cOun-
try should demonstrate their capacity
to govern themselves, and furnish
sufficient guarantees of their ability TO
maintain q government of a stable and
enduring character when once estab-
lished, Such Is the sum ana substance
of the action of our government in all
of the territory received from Spain
pursuant to the terms of the Treaty of
| Paris.
But certain tribes in the Philippines
have refused to recognize our authOri-
ty over the islands, and, under the
| leadership of Aguinsldo, have attempt
ed to defeat the execution of such
authority, and have announced pur-
pose to set up and maintain an indie
pendent form of government for the is
lands. Such resistance to the only law
full authority of the islands constitutes
an insurrectiOn-which the govern
ment is attempting by the usual and
appropriate modes to suppress, and to
exert it's authority over the whole
archipelago. Such an attempt to
maintain law and order and prevent
condition of anarchy in the islands,
has been termed by certain misguided
sdherents of Aguinaldo in this country.
as Criminal Aggression"
If such designation OF the attempt
to suppress the insurrection in the
Philippines be appropriate, then this
country has often been guilty of an Of
tense of this character. Our country
has often been compelled to commit
- -, ooI 81 ,, fr,O ,-I0
to protect its people from the ruthless
Indians who fingered on the outskirts
of civilization. So with reference to
Shay's Rebellion, and in numerous in
| stances where an attempt was made to
set at naught the authority of the only
lawful government. When the Mex
lean army invaded the state of Texas,
after it's independence was fully estab-
lished and recognized by our govern
ment, acts of Criminal Aggression"
were necessary in order to repel the
invaders and protect the people OF the
infant republic. No doubt the action
of our troops under Gen. : jackson in
forces Of Packenham at New
Orleans. might be termed an act of
''Criminal Aggression" yet the cir
the action in question. So in numer
GUS cases of local Instructions, the
government has been obliged, in order
to m aintain it's authority. to commit
acts OF Criminal Aggression" Thus
when the anarchists under Spies and
Lingg, created a bloody riot at Hay
market Square, Chicago, some years
ago, the government felt called upon
to commit acts of Criminal Aggres-
of the law. So during the great labor
war at Chicago, in 1898, the acts of
both state and federal governments in
putting down the formidable insurrec-
ton might be termed Criminal
Aggression" yet that was The only
course that could be adopted.
If the attempt to suppress the insur-
rection in the Philippines be an act of
Criminal Aggression" then upon the
same principle, our Intervention in Gu
ba was utterly BILE. For, in
the case of Cuba, our intervention was
directed TO prevent the Spanisrds from
butchering the wretched, half-starved
natives of the island, and our present
efforts in the Philippines are intended |
to prevent the fanatical followers of
A guinaldO from Dutcher1ng the help |
less people of the islands who might |
refuse to submit to his authority. If
such an act can be justly termed one of |
"Criminal Aggression" let us plead |
guilty at once. just as our act of |
"Criminal Aggression" in Cuba was in
tended to free the people of the |
islands from Spanish slavery, and |
render such freedom effective and |
so in the present instance |
we are attempting,-by what the anti
term, 'sCrimip al agrees
sion," to secure to the Filipinos full |
measure of civil liberty, a1d to render
such a status effective, stable, and
permanent. That is the sum and
substance of our Criminal Aggres-
ons" in the Malay archipelago. If an
attempt to maintain law and order in
,he Philippines, and to lay the founds-
lions of a stable and responsible home
government to exert its suthori-
~ all times and places, be termed an
,ct OF Ger minsl Aggression" then
,he whole ssuperstructure of our gov
has been reared upon q series
If ruthless and unjustifble acts of
Criminal Aggression"
ABANDON THE PHILIPPINES. WHAT
THEN?
Suppose our government,-follo
he preferred advice of the anti i'm
,erialists. should abandon the Philip
pines, and leave the people to settle
be question of government for them
elves, what would occur? A state of
would inevitably follow. And
he results would be more terrible
han the Reign of Terror in France.
The Inhabitants of Manila, knowing
ull we'll the character and ambition
# Aguinaldo and his utter incapacity
or government. would never submit
to his vaulting ambition,
lis native cruelty. What then? Manila
would fortify itself and attempt to re-
ist the authority of Aguinaldo. The
esult would be a terrible warfare
etween the inhabitants of
he city and the island
f Luzon, and the forces under
AguinalCO. The foreign residents of