The record-union., 1899-10-18
THOUGHTS FOR ANTI -EXPAN-
SIONISTS.

John Aubrey Jones of Alameda, who
feels regret that he has not been earlier
honored by personal notice in these col
eums. has replied at length to the REC
ord-Union's" review of a recent mono
graph of his in the San Francisco
"Argonaut"
The reply really necessitates no new
statements by us. The reasons we adj
vanced in the first instance against tbs
sentimental anti-expansion argument
Of Mr.. Jones, need no reassertion. In
his reply he proceeds upon false prem
ises, and the chief of these is that thl
President is pursuing a personal policy
towards the Philippines.
More careful students Of current his
tory understand that the President is
not conquesting, is not oppressing; he
is simply maintaining as an executive
must the authority Of the United
States, declared by the nation when il
ratified the treaty OF peace with Spain
He has no power to pursue any other
course. Congress mapped out the lines
OF his action, he dare not reverse them
He would be recreant to his trust and
a poltroon If he failed to assert the
authority Of the nation in the Philip
pines and maintain it by arms. The
augmented forces were provided for
precisely that purpose. He has no
power to prescribe and offer a form OF
government to the Filipinos; if he had
he could as we'll promise them a mon
archy as seIf-government. Provision
ally he can and must provide govern
ment for them, and to this hour such
froms and systems have been reflective
of our own free institutions.
Mr.. Jones insists that we are for
ctbly annexing, and are "subjugating'
the natives. 1t is profitless to quarre
over terms. If he prefers to treat our
occupation and assertion as forcible an.
nexation and subjugation it is his priv.
1lege. But we are doing neither one
nor the other thing.
Mr.. Jones asks for what reason /:
the President prosecuting war against
the Filipinos? He is not The Filipinos
or some Of them, are prosecuting a wal
against US; a war they began-despite
Mr.. Jones assertion that we fired the
hrst shot, which, however, cuts no fig
ure in the case-provoked, and coward.
ly and ungenerousIy and selhshIy pros
ecute.
1t IS war of conquest, insists Mr.
Jones, because President Mckinley has
said that our arms have extended the
jurisdiction of liberty. The conclusion
is unsound for the President dealt witt
a fact, not a theory.
If the Filipinos fight for independ.
ence and we resist them and refuss
f-government to them, are we not
making war Of conquest? asks Mr.
Jones. By no means. They are moi
yet refused government, they art
simply required to lay down their arms
and not until then will we talk to them
about that degree of self government
they are capable of exercising. Ever
Mr.. Jones comedies that complete in
dependence should not be given them
Tor he would have the United States
become the suzerain of the islands. anc
would extort from the people certain
exclusive privileges and a large sun
of money. Mr.. Jones logic is loose.
jointed.
Likewise his facts are awry when ht
AYERS that at the time Of the ratifca.
ton Of the treaty of peace the insur.
gents outside Manila and Cavite pos.
sessed Luzon and maintained an auto
nomous civil government Not so
Aguinaldo, as the representative Of tn,
so-ealled autonomous government. hat
concluded a treaty with Spain, clos d u,
his autonomous shop, taken his blood
money and left the archipelago. H,
AYERS in his official letters that he re-
turned to organize his government
anew in order to aid US in driving ou
the Spaniard.
As a matter Of fact Filipinos were II
insurrection against Spain during tn,
war Of the latter with the Cubans. Thae
lnsurrection arose and fell ftfully. Blu
the only government known to tn,
world, recognizable or recognized tha.
we found in the Philippines. was tn,
Spanish. AS the Secretary of State 2.
the time wrote to our Consul Genera
in the East, I'VE know the followers q
Aguinaldo only as people in insurrec
tion against the lawful authority o.
Spain"
But 1t is not necessary to further pur
sue this line of debate with Mr.. Jones
Every point he now makes was sue
cinctly treated in the editorial which
drew from him the communication t,
which we opened our columns on IN,
10th inst. To go over the ground i
but to restate the Record Union s.
position which is well understood. S,
here the controversy ends so far a.
Mr.. Jones and his views are concerned
Upon general lines, however. we hav,
something more to say to all fearful
souls-namely that behind nations ar
forces of progress they may not resist
History proves that it is diversion o
resistance of such impulsion that bring
ruin to a state. Opportunity is an in
spiration to action in the line Of tn