The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-05-24
Rebuked In Their Own Camp.

Hon. Charles Francis Adams was not
present. Hitherto Mr. Adams has
been one of the most pronounced of
anti expansionists, and, by reason of
his historic name as well as his individ-
ual eminence in American affairs, he
has been cited as particularly illustri-
GUS example of the character of the
opposition to the Philippine policy of
the United States government. Mr..
Adams was not present at the meeting
but he sent trenchant letter, which,
however, was not read, and probably
the little coterie of dismal malcontents
could hardly be blamed for suppressing
the missive. 1t was not inspiriting to
men holding their views on the subject
they had met to consider.
Mr.. Adams expressed his regret at
his inability to attend the meeting,
particularly as he desired to listen to
what Mr.. Atkinson might have to say
on 1.-The Way Out" On this point
Mr.. Adams wrote:
SO far as 1 am concerned, must frankly
confess "the way out" of the present diff
Guilty is not clear, and is rapidly growing
less SO. Nevertheless / am not wholly sat
istied that the time is opportune for discuss
ing the difficulty, inasmuch as we, who
have been opposed to the course of events
from the beginning, see our way even less
clearly, II possible, than those more re-
sponsible for those events. The tendency,
therefore, at our meetings is to protest,
criticise and find fault; all OF which, good in
a way is yet plainly wearing on the public
patience, and, consequently. barren of re-
suits. Something tangible is called for;
and that tangible something no one seems
to rise to suggest,
This is truth and candor. The eff
feet on the minds of men who are able
to see the truth and are disposed to be
candid will be wholesome. On the
men of opposite mental and moral
qualities, who make up the great body
of the anti-imperialists, the only effect
of Mr.. Adams words will probably be
to confirm them in their ways of
thought and action, and probably give
dash of added venom or bitterness to
their hostility to their government, and
their denunciation of its Chief Execu-
tive.
Mr.. Adams discusses at some length
the situation as it was, and the choice
of policies that was presented. The
government having made it's election of
the policies that were open to it, Mr..
Adams periodically concludes that "the
only practical question for us to con-
slider is what objection exists to the
form OF government, proposed for the
Filipinos,O andiwhat we, who were not
primarily in favor of it, have to pro-
pose in its place." Here he is brought
to halt, but, "under the guidance of
the administration, and through the
force of circumstances, the choice seems
to have been made" and he is forced
to say that he does not "see what
course is open to us, save to accept it,"
The true course for the anti-imperial-
lists would seem to be to develop to
the utmost extent possible the policy
and principle of autonomy-the fact of
native home rule, to limit the inter-
ference of the United States to an alb
solute minimum" aud this, Mr.. Adams
understands, sis now the wish of the
administration-so far as it has a wish
or policy of its own" And here, he
finds, "a wide field for the exercise of
useful influence is open" to the anti
imperialists.
Mr.. Adams is still somewhat pessi-
mistc in his expectations, but the ex-
amples of efficient and successful ad.
ministration under General Wood at
Santiago, and at other places here and
there in the late possessions of Spain,
should dispel his forebodings on the
score Of American administration
there. Notwithstanding his regrets at
the policy adopted and the fears and
doubts he expresses, he wisely and
periodically concludes:
/ do not feel disposed at this time further
to protest, or to indulge in harsh or unnec.
cessary criticism. Rather, l would heartily
! cooperate. In this life, we can rarely have
our own way but when the course OF
events has made it clear, as now, that our
way is no longer open, it is the course OF
wisdom to do what is in our power to
eliminate 80 far as may be the evil we fancy
we see in the policy imposed upon us, how
ever originally mistaken"
To this conclusion have been coming
men and newspapers who have MOI
some selfish or partisan purpose tc
serve, or who are not fatally impressed
by sense of their own infalibllity il