The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-11-09
PROBLEM Of THE HOUR
Senator Hoar Asks What Shall
Be Done With the Philippines.
SUBJUGATION OR FREEDOM
II We Declare That We Do Not Intend
to Enslave the People, the War
Can Be Ended in an
Hour,

New York, Nov. s-Senator George
F. Hoar of Massachusetts has contrib
uted an article on "Our Duty to the
Philippines" to the Independent, which
Will appear tomorrow. He begins with
a review of the circumstances leading
up to the war with Spain, of which he
says:
Il think it might have been avert
ed and that Cuba could have been lib
Grated by peaceable means if the coun-
sci of Grant and Fish had been fol-
lowed and if our public men in the
senate had remembered that they were
a part of the diplomatic power Of this
country, and that it was unbecoming
in them to indulge in bitter and sting
ing invectives against Spain, whether
such invectives were just or not. But
do not feel inclined to judge these
utterances severely. Something, as
Burke said, must be pardoned to the
spirit of liberty and those utterances,
though in my judgment unfortunate,
came from brave, humane and liberty
loving men,"
Continuing, the senator says that
down to Jan. l. 1899, the American peo-
pie and the republican party were COM
nlitted to the doctrine that just gov
eminent rests upon the consent of the
governed, and that every people has
the right to dissolve at will the politi-
cal connection that binds it to another
people. In dealing with Cuba, says the
writer. we acted upon those princi-
pies. but the treaty of peace disclosed
different purpose as to the Phlllp-
pines, the inhabitants of which We're
SY,Io
treaty of peace was signed than ever
had been the people Of Cuba.
Their leader writes Senator Hoar,
had been brought over to the islands
in United States ship by the United
States authorities and was in arms at
the head Of his forces with our full
concurrence and cooperation II the
statement attributed to high official
in one Of our departments, VINO is
sometimes called on to sit in the CAB
met with the president, We're actually
made, their leader had been offered by
colonel in the regular army OF the
United States. an offer which itself
is a sufficient refutation of all the
charges against him. They had framed
a provisional constitution, model oL
its kind, and established dictatorship
like those established by Bolivar in
South America, to give place to re-
public as soon as the military condl-
ton should make it possible
Looking back, can any sane man
doubt the wisdom Of those VINO De
sired to amend the treaty and to deal
with the Philippine islands as we did
with Cuba; to compel Spain to re-
nounce her sovereignty; to keep off all
foreign nations and to aid the lsiand-
ers in establishing their own govern,
ment according to their own desires
The senator refers to the eplthet
traitor and other harsh words ap-
piled to those who voted against the
peace treaty, and asks:
when the president said that forci-
bic annexation according to our Amer
lean code of morals would pc cTimlnal
aggression, was he a copperhead? was
he disloyal to the flag? Was not ne
republican? Was there even an utter
ance so calculated to give courage TO
Asuinaldo and his people as that!
AS to our future attitude toward the
Philippines, Senator Hoar writes.
"'rhe time has come to make up your
minds, If you are to declare that you
do not mean to subjugate them or TO
enslaye them. that you will act toward
them on the principles and spirit OF
your own declaration of independence,
the war can be ended in an hour. The
refusal to make this declaration IN the
beginning brought on TINS war ana your
refusal now to declare yourselves is
what is alone responsible for its con-
tinuance.
Nov we have got to settle the ques-
ton, What the president has repeat
edly declared is for congress or 1or the
people, whether we will complete the
subsection of the Filipinos; whether we
will undertake to govern them as SUP,
iects or serfs, or whether we Will aid
them to become a self-governing ma
tion. either as a republic, as they seem
to desire, or as a limited monarchy ike
Japan, or whether they shall exist here
after as an absolute monarchy after the
fashion in which we are MAINTAINING
in power to-day the sultan of Sulu with
his slaves and his harem.'
Senator Hoar then writes that this
great question has been discussed with
intolerance and with an appeal to low
motives and to cheap passions, rarely
paralleled in political history.
In conclusion, the senator says:
1.-THE American people, the brave and
lust people, who made the Immortal
declaration, and who maintained with
life and fortune their sacred honor,
who established our wonderful consti-
tuition, to whose Monroe doctrine is due
the freedom of the American continent
from the Rio Grande to Cape Horn,
have not changed the character Of their
principles in the tWinkllng or an eye
under the temptation of any base mo-
tive or advantage, or under the eXclLe-
ment of war. They are subject Doubt
less. as all masses of men are subject,
however intelligent, or however upright
to Great waves of passion.
"Rut their sober second thought Is to
bA trusted. Their deliberate action Will
be wise and just. The great passions
by which they are stirred and by winch
their judgment is now clothed are gen,
erous, noble and humane. Reason Will
III