Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-06-05
DEMOCRACY AND THE war.

In noting the fact hat the war in the
Philippines still continues, despite the
predictions of an early peace, the Ana
conda Standard Of Sunday morning con-
cludes its editorial with the following
sentence: 1T is a nasty state Of affairs.
That was what the New York Day BOOK
and the Chicago Times, and all the other
comprehend publications Of the early SOS,
said when the volunteers called into ser
vice by President Abraham Lincoln fail
ed to suppress the war of the rebellion IN
thirty days.
Not approaching the extent to which
the outgoing democratic administration
had permitted the southern states to alb
sorb the available resources Of the gov
eminent, it was the belief Of Mr.. Lincoln
that the Instruction could be suppressed
in thirty days. When it was demon
strated that the confederacy was fully
prepared to meet all the conditions Of a
mighty struggle. and achievements
We're called for to preserve the union Of
the states, the democracy Of the north
declared that the Maynard sisters of the
south should be permitted to depart in
peace. The war was pronounced a fail
ure and the administration a fraud
While thousands Of war democrats went
bravely to the front to fight and bleed
and die if need be. for the integrity Of the,
nation and the honor Of the flag, their
party associates at home dedicated their
energies to the aid and comfort Of the
south, by doing all that lay within their
power to embarrass the national adj
war to a triumphant conclusion.
History repeats itself. Through no de-
Sign on the part Of this government, the
Philippine islands fell into American
hands IN the fortunes of war. To have
returned these islands to Spain, at the
close of a contest waged for human rights
in Cuba, would hav given the lie to the
humane purposes Of our republic. For 800
years they had withered under the blight
ing shadows of the throne Of CASTLE.
The rebellion that was in progress when
Manila fell was lettering upon the bor-
ders of defeat. Aguinaldo had accepted
a Spanish bride and fled to China.
With Dewey's victory he assumed a
loyalty to the American cause, n
gained his scattered forces and made
treacherous warfare upon the would-be
benefactors of his people. He taught his
ignorant soldiery that the rulership Of
the republic was more to be dreaded
than the iron hand of Spain. Encour-
aged by the attitude of the Americans
who opposed the ratification Of the treaty
with Spain, and believing that a renewal
of hostilities would enable them to drive
the soldiers of the republic into the sea,
the barbarians of Aguinaldo made the
historic assault that precipitated the war
of the Philippines.
1t became the duty Of our government
to meet the situation as best it could,
ard accomplish with arms what it was
loo ita5 ~ SiieC liIOuSA lHG happier
medium of peace-the recognition OF
American sovereignty acquired under the
treaty with Spain. To this end the ma
tional administration has z%ealously
1abored. In every battle our soldiers
have been triumphant, and at times
peace seemed but a question of hours.
But the possibilities of pIlarri1la warfare
in the jungles and swamps of Luzon are
long drawn out, and it may be months
before the savages who murdered our
boys under a flag of truce are run to
earth.
Instead of giving a patriotic support
TO the government in conducting a war
from which it could not retreat. the
democratic press is consuming the adj
ministration for not recalling the volun-
teers, with one breath, while with the
next it is lou in it's condemnation be-
cause there are not enough soldiers in
the Philippines to garrison Manila and
the scattered guerrilla forces of
Because the war drags it's
weary length along, the administration