New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-08
SECRETARY LONGS LETTER.

as very likely other friends feel as you DO ana
would write me in the same way
SECRETARY LONGS LETTER.
Ny Dear Mr. Bachelor: l have your letter
and entirely appreciate the considerate spirit IN
which you write l have no doubt the state OF
public feeling TO which you refer exists 10 soihe
extent But the tide always Gibbs ana n0ws.
You remember II was so during the Civil war;
and should say. from my memory ana from my
reading that there is nothing like the ialllns
off from President Mckinley when .here VIE Me
at one time from President Lincoln. w nle
there is truth in what you say there Is n siSd
deal which you have left unsaid on Lhe gu" ha
side. l do not think the matter ougnt 10 T
approached exclusively from the point OF wei
fare Of the Republican party. OF when you man.
so much account Neither is II question oI
the personal popularity OF the President OF the
ninistratlon II is a question or rlgnI, As
for myself to whom you so kindly refer, nave
been SO long in public life that l am alWdys
prepared for the rough as well as the siiloo III
side and have always been aware I'm eiat 20 he
plaudits Of one day more than likey 70 oT
succeeded by the condemnation or tho mex. l
am contented II the immediate duties OF my
Department for which alone | am responsioie'
are honestly and faithfully discharged.
NOT WEAKLY LEADING TO DISASTER
Answering you more definitely. you are mis-
taken in supposing that letter TO the fresi,
dent would not come 10 his notice or Woulu
mean nothing 10 him II would nave the Weient
10 which your position as an exponent OF puo"O
sentiment ana as. IN your tutOlldi NRP"~'N''
maker OF it. entities you ! take IT, however,
that YOU would write him very much az you
have written me. II you or those 10 WHOM
you refer would only read his dispatches. mes
sages and instructions. you would see at once
that he is not weakly leading us 10 disaster
but is meeting the situation in exactly the spirit
in which you would have him. AS for any am
hilton to be the first great American eXpahsloh-
let " he is so far from any ambition Of that sort
that the suggestion seems like a JOKE NOT Is
there the least intention OF supJugauhe tle
Philippines" All his military EFFORTS are al,
rected solely TO the preservation or the law ana
order there; and II the Filipinos Would CO.
operate in this respect he and the Peace com
mission which he has sent 10 them would enter
at once upon the work Of their political regen-
Grafton with view to giving them all the PRIV
ileges which the Territories of the United states
between the Pacific and the Atlantic no"
enjoy.
President might he not at once say In reply
that you state a condition of public feelng' Dur
do not state whether or not you snare H. anu
do not saw in case you do. what you desire or
recommend? II you think the public feeling 10
which you refer is unjust to the Administration
ought you not at once to 90 All you can 10
meet and correct it? II you think the feeling
against the Administration is justified, then
you should suggest what ought TO be dohe
which Of course you do not suggest. wish
that you, or some leader Of public opinion, ike
Yourself could come 10 WasEir gton and go
over-as I should be glad TO aid you in DOING
all the instructions 10 our PEOPLE at Mania
then whether It resulted in your approval or
criticism, frankly develop your views and COM
nunicate them TO the public | claim mat you
would find a record that for humane ana help-
ful direction and dealing is unparalleled in
political history
A CAMPAIGN OF EPITHETs.
I know you will admit that judgment should
not be formed upon epjthets. There are some
OF our leading papers and some or our leading
men who as you we'll know. started with an
extreme bias against the Republican party and
the President. All the elements that wish
to break him down seize at once upon
the epithetic opportunities; they indulge IN
such words as "subjugation," "vassalage
etc: they draw comparisons with Wey-
Ter and the Turks; they hunt up passages
in the letters Of some dissatisfied soldier. and
print them in headlines. and carefully ignore the
hundreds of patriotic instances Of the contrary
spirit They pick up some rumor that prls-
oner has been shot instead OF being captured.
and overlook the multitude Of prisoners that
have been taken and treated with the utmost
kindness their wounds bound up, their sick
ones taken 10 hospitals. and many Of them set
free as messengers to their own people TO con-
vev n them the fact OF our humane treatment
OF them OF course. these attacks are not with
out their effect as, indeed, they are not ntenoed
10 be They arrest attention. and friends OF the
Administration like yourself begin 10 doubt even
its honesty OF purpose.
7 have written you do not fail 10 appreciate
botb vour generous interest in us all In writing
and the very great Importance OF the Gohul.lon
~ nuhlc feeling TO which you reier Whatever
he cause Justified or not the feeling undouot-
ediv NAV exist as YOU say and may be growing
as Won say I cannot. however, help thinking
that with these Filipinos now on our hands
Great trust and responsibility are upon us Tor
thoir condition and future. ! can hardly believe
that Won feel that we ought TO abandon TINS
trTet at once I can hardly doubt that you reel
that we should first Of all things-and tnal
is the Presidents policy although you sus
rest that he has none-restore theii 10 10
q condition Of law and order' lhat
20 tho first step-one evidently that needs al
our energy and the help and influence or all
trre men. AS l read the fremont Temple
rasolutions I find that It is the first thing in
ststeS ON there-very wisely so. That Is Itself
q g-eat Iabor and earnestly believe that II the
vhoIe country would unite In securing this nrst
sten and II those who are doing all they can 10
s,,barrass the President in his efforts 10 take
a. mould helm him in that respect, II would be
Tho hest and most patriotic thing that can be
done. . 49,. zAo,,,s 10
After that the next step TO take should De
CON s,dered in the same patriotic spirit. ana
taken with the same unanimity. l believe II
sbo,id he step toward the self-government OF
tho islanders as soon as they show themselves
6tted for IT, and as soon as peace and good
order are guaranteed-prohably under some pro-
,ac,orate OF our Government. as our own Ter
r,tor,es are under it's protectofte All this can
ne taken I'D as soon as quiet Is restored and
Congress meets. 49, .
Thanking you for your letter ana with cordial
regards. I am very truly yours.