The evening times., 1899-01-23
MONDAY. JANUARY %, 1893
aruinuIdn's HeIpers

On Sunday night the Academy of Mu-
sic in New York, being the only place OF
public amusement open. was packed by
people curious TO hear what the anu-eX-
pansionist speakers could say in defence
of their narrow and unpatriotic course.
They we're addressed by Mr.. Eustis. form
er ambassador to France; by Samuel Comp
ers. of the Labor Union, and by Bourke
Cochran. But they We're sadly disappolnt-
ed From the synopsis of his speech that
is printed. the chief objection of Mr.. Eustis
TO the acquisition of the Philip
pines appeared TO be that after the
present Congress adjourns and until
the next meets President Mckinley
will be a military dictator over the islands,
and this will give him a swelled head. -
-rhe other speakers repeated the insincere
and inadequate arguments that have been
made in the Senate and promptly refuted.
This demonstration was not needed TO
prove 10 the American people that there is
no valid ground Of opposition to the re
tention of the Philippines. Every reason
presented by the speakers was as false as
the assertion OF Mr.. Eustis that the senti-
ment of the American people is opposed TO
the rash idea of expansion" In the No
vember elections the supreme issue was the
Presidents policy. The fight was made
on the lines laid down in his own call on
the people. The result was a sweeping
victory, which was against all precedent.
The supporters of the Administration re-
tained majority in the House of
NJ
not less than eighteen in the Senate
thing unknown in the Congressional cleo
tions following a Presidential contest.
Since then every Republican newspaper
in the country and -tenths of the
Democratic journals have advocated the
unconditional ratification of the Treaty ot
Peace Two States, California and Maine
have spoken through their legislatures
and both unanimously in favor of ratifica-
tion and the retention OF the Philippines
IN Maine an enthusiastic vote carried the
resolution in spite OF the fact that with
the single exception of Senator Frye all
Names representatives at Washington
are known to oppose expansion. To
assert that the American people are
not heartily and almost unanimously
with the President is TO disregard
all evidence and to make a deliber-
ate Misrepresentation of the truth
for no one who has the least interest il
the subject can be ignorant of the fact
This. however. is in line with all tht
statements of the minority.
Every word that was uttered against eX-
nansion was reflection on the intelli-
gence, republicanism, and honesty of the
American people They were charged with
purely selfish motives in their purpose to
extend the benefits of our political system
10 the Filipinos they were charged with
ignorance and weakness. In spite of the
success of England in carrying to oppress-
ed peoples who are incapable of self-gov-
ernment the blessings of civilization, the
minority in this country denies the abili-
ty of the Republic TO administer the gov
ernment of the Filipinos in the interests
of that race. The platform of the obstruc-
tionists is simple distrust of the peo-
pie who have made the American Repub-
Tic what it is. The object of the meeting
was to bolster up the minority in the Sen
ate, but the latter will not be deludet
into the belief that any important part Of
the public approves its war on the Treaty
The only practical effect will be t.
strengthen the resolve of the German
agents at Hongkong TO push Aguinaldc
into an aggressive campaign that will END
in his own destruction.