The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-08-20
THE PRESIDENT AND THE PHILIP
PINES.

A Washington dispatch says President
McKinley's recent expression that Rebel
lion may delay, but it can never defeat the
flags blessed mission of liberty and human
ity." Is not regarded among public men in
Washington as foreshadowing definitely the
purpose OF the administration ultimately to
give to the Filiplnos self-government.
The President Is receiving a great deal
OF unmerited abuse on account of his al
legged Philippine policy. and 1t is based
mainly on ignorance and Misrepresentation.
When Mr.. Lincoln. in 1861. recognized his
duty as President to put down rebellion
and establish the authority Of the United
States over all the territory belonging to
it. he was denounced as a tyrant and
charged with inaugurating a war of con-
quest and ~subjugation. Just before hostil-
tiles began a Democratic convention in Vir-
ginia sent commissioners to Mr.. Lincoln
with instructions to ask him to communi-
cate to the convention the policy which he
intended to pursue in regard to the Con-
federate States. In reply he said:
Having, at the beginning of my official
term, expressed my intended policy as
plainly as / was able, il Is with deep re-
greet and modification 1 now learn there is
great and injurious uncertainty in the
public mind as to what that policy is and
what course 1 intend to pursue Not hav-
ing as yet seen occasion to change, II is
marked out in the inaugural address. AS 1
then and therein said, / now repeat, The
power confided in me will be used 10 hold.
longing to the government and to collect
the duties and imposts; but beyond what
is necessary for these objects there will be
no invasion. no using of force against or
among the people anywhere
This was equivalent on Mr.. Lincoln's part
to saying that his policy would be not to
make war against States or people further
was necessary to suppress armed re-
bellion and re-establish the rightful au-
thority of the government. 1t took four
years hard fighting to do this, and when
1t was lone the war was ended.
President McKinley's position in the Phil
ippines is substantially the same. The
United States having by treaty acquired the
islands it is his constitutional duty as
President to suppress the existing rebellion
and establish the authority of the govern
ment. He is not making war against any
Oh the flllpluOS SACcpl tnOSC "hO ~
arms in their hands are making war against
the United States. Mr.. Lincoln said in his
first proclamation calling for 5000 volun-
teers:
The first service assigned to the forces
called forth will probably be to repossess
the forts, places and property which nave
event the utmost care will be preserved,
consistently with the objects aforesaid, to
avoid any devastation, any destruction OF
or interference with property, or any dis
turbance of peaceful citizens In any part
of the country.
This emphasizes the idea that the war
was not to be one of conquest or s%ubjuga-
ton, but only for the suppression of rebel
lion and the establishment of the rightful
authority of the United States. The ques-
ton of the future government of the Sc
ceded States was not then thought Of. The
word reconstruction" in a political sense,
had not been heard. The duty of the hour
and the only policy the President had was
to suppress armed rebellion and establish
ritory %rightfulIy its own.
Those who are criticising President Nc
Kinley for prosecuting the war in the Phil
ippines and demanding that he withdraw
our troops from the islands show their ig-
norance of the situation. His oath of office
makes it his duty to prosecute the war. and
he would be subject to impeachment if he
hauled down the flag and withdrew our
troops from American territory before reb-
els in arms. 1t is not necessary for him to
have any policy regarding the future gov
eminent or reconstruction of the islands,
but 1t is on him to suppress the
insurrection. Congress. when 1t meets, can,
If 1t sees fit, order the withdrawal of our
troops and the surrender of the islands to
the natives, but Mr.. Mckinley has no more
right TO do so. without the authority of
Congress, than Mr.. Lincoln had to let the
Union be broken up without making an
effort to prevent 1t.