Mexico weekly ledger., 1899-02-23

S@4
that only 5000 people were g~uiTlotined
during the reign Of terror What are
they to compare with 5000. 900 Of luck
less FilipinoS who are to be unceremo-
nionsly shot in order that we may enter
upon the glorious and self imposed task
Of civilizing the resti True that among
the heads that fell into the sawdust
during the wild dance Of death at Paris
were those Of Louis Capet. his wife,
Marie Antoinette, Philip Egalite, Count
ess Lamballe and other aristocrats and
bigwigs- But l think the fact win be
ascertained to he that General Aguinal-
do will not enjoy having his head cut
off any more than did Louis the Lock-
smith. and, what Is more, he will be
more disposed to fight to keep his nog-
gin on his shoulders than was the Bour-
bon king
Governing the FfIipfnos.
In this connection 1t may not be con-
sidered impertinent to inquire how
many American soldiers the Filipinos
viii butcher while we are killing
1000, 900 Of them, for from what we
know Of them they are not likely to
meekly permit themselves TO be led to
slaughter.
Once two things is absolutely true
the Fifipinos are either ft for self gov
eminent or they are not Jingoes must
take n horn Of the dilsmma or the
other, and whichever they take they
viii be impaled upon ii. In neither
event do we want them. II they are ct
for self government, under what pre-
text can we refuse them the right II
they are unfit, how can we justify our
selves to ourselves for incorporating
them into our body politicf
Wanting ourselves as the originators
and proponents Of the doctrine that
governments derive their just powers
from the consent Of the governed" how
shall we escape tho scorn Of despots II
we force these people Vi ct arms to be-
come American citizensf
Even II they were clamorous to take
shelter beneath our flag we are under
no obligation to annex them, for surely
no nan In his sober senses viii for one
moment contend that we must receive
all who knock at out doors for admis-
sion. II would DO Just as reasonable to
say that a man Is in duty bound to en-
terrain in his home every person that
might come unbidden TO his house or
that a woman should be compelled to
marry any suitor that laid his heart and
fortune at her feet, however repulsive
he might be-
Colonies Unconstitutional.
A great many patriotic American
citizens, including some Of the very best
lawyers in the individually ex-United
States Senator George F. Edmunds Of
Vermont, whose ~prodigious ability has
been freely admitted for a third Of a
century-object to this Philippine prof.
ect on the ground that the federal gov
eminent has no constitutional right to
acquire territory except for the purpose
of making states out of it Indeed the
supreme court of the United States de-
cided that very point In express terms
against the lingo theory.
The bare mention Of the constitution,
however, the simple suggestion that
such a document exists, the slightest
intimation that anybody is bound by
its provisions, appears to have had the
same effect upon the pro-Phiippine
jingoes that seeing water has upon @
dog suffering from rabies They snap
and snarl and roar. They ridicule the
constitution and reviie those who are
sufficiently old fashioned as 10 believe
in it, as though they had committed
the objectionable sin. Ahowl Of derision
has gone up among the jingees from
sea to sea at the idea that the constitu-
ton should stand In their way, thwart
any ambition they may cherish or for
bid any job which they may be incu-
batting. Some Of them veil their scorn
under polite words and hedge It about
with vague terms, but the newspapers
state that at the New England society
banquet recently General Merritt, with
a soldiers bluntness, blurted out what
was In his own mind Of well as In the
minds of a great many other people by
saying: 1--WE have outgrown the con-
stitution. II is not worth while to dis
cuss It. That is a very curt settlement
Of a very grave matter. Il should set
people to thinking seriously and prayer
Merritt wears the double stars Of
q major general Of the army Of the
United States, won by approved con-
duct on many a bloody field He has
long since passed the e~ffervescent period
Of youth. He has not been noted for
speaking at random He presumably
said what he meant, and meant what he
said, and it Is enough 10 arouse lovers
Of liberty from their lethargy. Verify,
the world moves. and fastest Of all the
world Does any sane man
believe that any soldier wearing Uncle
Sans uniform would have dared 70 ut
Der such language boldly and above
board a year agof One major general
Of the United States, George Washing
ton by name, was the president of the
convention, Justly considered the most
august assembly Of men since the world
which formed the constitution
bis share in producing that marvellous
Instrument has been by many historians
deemed a more valuable contribution TO
liberty, prosperity and hap
pines than hia services in the fela
Now comes another major general. and
n the most laconic and matter Of courss
way announces the end Of that consti-
tution-not only that, he manifests
such supreme contempt for the work Of
Washington, Franklin, Hamilton, Mad
In nna Ill -A AL--a -