The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-11-07

claiming Independence" and that de
plorable as war is, the one in which we
are now engaged was unavoidable by
| us. We are attacked by a bold, Nad
venturous and enthusiastic army. No
alternative was left us except ignomin-
| ious retreat"
Letous see whether these statements
are true. The war was begun on Febru-
ary 4, 1899. General Merritt had sent
word to Aguinaldo commanding him not
to let any of his troops come into Manila
| (which Aguinaldo's army had virtually
captured. Aguinaldo sorrowfully COM
plies with the order. Merritt then de-
manded him to withdraw all his troops
| beyond a certain line which is designat-
| ed. Aguinaldo was astounded at this,
but he again reluctantly complied. The
| ratification Of the treaty hung fire in
the American senate. 1t was necessary
| that something should be done to fire
the American heart. Merritt command
ed his troops to vigorously inforce the
| order.
THE FIRST SHOT.
| a Filipino lieutenant carelessly strolled
across the line, and was instantly shot
| and killed by a squad of the Nebraska
TeSlIuS1h WllHOuI Vi pdIlty
His comrades returned the fire and the
war was begun. The treaty was at
once ratified in the American senate.
Is it true that this war was "unavoida-
BILE by us2"
Aguinaldo at once sent an officer to
say to the American commander that
he was grieVed at the exchange of
shots between friends; that 1t was de-
MI hln md yyhn11U onni6nnfa1 nd
he asked that a truce be declared that
proper explanations might be made and
peace at once restored.
General Otis sternly replied that
the fighting, having once begun, must
go on to the grim end" So says our
General McReeve, on duty in Manila.
And here follows the official proofs:
February 4, 1899-Firing on the Fill
pinos and the killing of one of them
| by the Americans leading to return fire."
Major General Z. S. Otis. Report up
! to April 6, 1899.
February 4, 1899--The chief insurgent
| leaders did not wish to open hostilities
at that time."-Major General e. S.
| Otis. Report up to April 6, 1899.
February 6, 1899
"Aguinaldo now applies for a cessa-
| tion of hostilities and conference; have
declined to answer" Major General e.
S. Otis's report.
Can 1t with any truth be said that a
war thus begun by us and thus persisted
| in by us was unavoidable" and that
| mo alternative was left us except ig-
| nominous retreat?"
THE PITTSBURG SPEECH.
The presidents apologists forgot in
| this report to explain the presidents IS
| repeated and flagrant violation of law
| in his effort to bring on the war. In
his Pittsburg speech he said: Until
the treaty was ratified we had no auth
ority beyond Manila City, bay and har-
bor."
| But on January 3, last, more than a
| month before the treaty was ratified
either by Spanish or American govern
ments, he ordered General Miller to
lombard and capture the city of Iloilo,
400 miles south of Manila, and two days
later he declared war against the Fill
pinos in the following amazing pro-
clamation: "The military government
heretofore maintained by the United
States in the city, harbor and bay of
Manila is to be extended with all pos
sible dispatch to all Of the ceded ter
ritory." This was many weeks before
any territory whatever was ceded. Did
this make war unavoidable" by us?'
"As to the general intellectual capac-
tiles Of the Filipinos, the commission is
4 disposed to rate them high" And
yet the commission finds that the Fill
pinos are not capable OF self-govern-
ment. The four gentlemen forget, OF
perhaps have never learned. one of the
most important facts in political dyna-
mics, namely; that any people are
entitled to elf-government who are will
ling to lay down their lives for 1t.
HAVE GOVERNED THEMSELVES.
They go on to express the conviction
that the archipelago would be reduced
to a state of anarchy II the Filipinoi
were allowed to govern themselves
| quite ignoring the fact that for hun
| dreds of years they have governed
themselves with one hand, AMI tough
off Spain with the other; and ignoring
. also the equally obvious fact that peac
i and order prevail today everywhere II
the Philippine islands, except where tn
J American troops are.
n If we have not treated exhaustivel.
J this latest apology for the criminal ag
gression" in the land of the Filipinos
J II 10 because we cannot venture TO tress
+ pass further on the valuable spac